Bill Gates' Early Life and Microsoft Foundation Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, began his journey with a passion for computers during high school. He partnered with Paul Allen to create software for the Altair 8800 computer after seeing its potential in Popular Electronics magazine. Dropping out of Harvard University, he focused on building their company—Microsoft—which revolutionized personal computing by developing operating systems like MS-DOS and later Windows.
The Rise of Microsoft's Dominance Under Bill Gates’ leadership, Microsoft became synonymous with innovation in technology through products like Internet Explorer and strategies that dominated the market. The company's success turned him into one of the wealthiest individuals globally while shaping how people interact with computers daily.
Philanthropy Through Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation After stepping back from day-to-day operations at Microsoft, Bill shifted focus towards philanthropy alongside his wife Melinda through their foundation. They addressed global issues such as health care access and education reform while inspiring other billionaires to pledge significant portions of their wealth toward societal betterment via initiatives like The Giving Pledge.