History of Bill Gates in Timeline
Bill Gates is an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, becoming a central figure in the microcomputer revolution. He led Microsoft to become a dominant force in the software industry and became the youngest billionaire in 1987 following the company's IPO. For many years, Gates was ranked as the world's wealthiest person by Forbes, even becoming the first centibillionaire. As of May 2025, he is the thirteenth-richest person globally, with a net worth of $113 billion.
22 hours ago : Bill Gates to Close Foundation and Give Away Wealth by 2045.
Bill Gates plans to close the Gates Foundation by 2045 and give away virtually all of his wealth, as explained in interviews. The foundation will accelerate spending before winding down.
1925: Birth of William H. Gates Sr.
In 1925, William H. Gates Sr., the father of Bill Gates, was born.
1929: Birth of Mary Maxwell Gates
In 1929, Mary Maxwell Gates, the mother of Bill Gates, was born.
October 28, 1955: Birth of William Henry Gates III
On October 28, 1955, William Henry Gates III was born in Seattle, Washington. He is the son of William H. Gates Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates.
1970: End of CCC Arrangement
In 1970, the arrangement between Lakeside Programmers Club and CCC (Computer Center Corporation) ended when CCC went out of business.
1972: Congressional Page
In 1972, at the age of 17, Bill Gates served as a congressional page in the House of Representatives.
1973: Enrolled at Harvard College
In 1973, Bill Gates enrolled at Harvard College, where he took math and computer science courses.
1973: Graduation and SAT Score
In 1973, Bill Gates graduated from Lakeside School as a national merit scholar and enrolled at Harvard College in the autumn of 1973. He scored 1590 out of 1600 on the Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT).
1974: Joining Paul Allen at Honeywell
In the summer of 1974, Bill Gates remained in contact with Paul Allen and joined him at Honeywell.
January 1975: Discovery of Altair 8800
In January 1975, Bill Gates read the issue of Popular Electronics which demonstrated the Altair 8800, prompting him to contact MITS about developing a BASIC interpreter.
November 1975: Working at MITS
In November 1975, Bill Gates took a leave of absence from Harvard to work with Paul Allen at MITS in Albuquerque.
1975: Co-founding Microsoft
In 1975, Bill Gates co-founded the Microsoft software company with his childhood friend Paul Allen, marking the beginning of his career in the microcomputer revolution.
1975: Dropping out of Harvard to start Microsoft
In 1975, Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard to start his own computer software company, seeing an opportunity with the release of the MITS Altair 8800.
1975: Product Strategy Responsibility
In 1975, Bill Gates had primary responsibility for Microsoft's product strategy from the company's founding.
February 1976: An Open Letter to Hobbyists
In February 1976, Bill Gates wrote "An Open Letter to Hobbyists" asserting that most users of Microsoft Altair BASIC hadn't paid for it and the hobby market endangered software development.
1977: Steve Ballmer Graduates from Harvard
In 1977, Steve Ballmer, who would later become the President of Microsoft, graduated from Harvard University. The Maxwell Dworkin Laboratory at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences is named after the mothers of both Gates and Ballmer.
January 1, 1979: Microsoft Moves to Bellevue
On January 1, 1979, Microsoft moved its operations from Albuquerque to Bellevue, Washington.
July 1980: IBM Approaches Microsoft
In July 1980, IBM approached Microsoft about software for its upcoming personal computer, the IBM PC.
June 25, 1981: Microsoft Restructuring
On June 25, 1981, Bill Gates oversaw Microsoft's company restructuring, becoming president and chairman of the board.
1981: Microsoft Incorporation
In 1981, Microsoft incorporated, and Bill Gates became president and chairman of the board.
1981: Reputation for Being Distant
In 1981, an industry executive complained that 'Gates is notorious for not being reachable by phone and for not returning phone calls'.
1983: Allen Leaves Microsoft
In early 1983, Paul Allen left Microsoft after receiving a Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis, effectively ending his formal business partnership with Bill Gates.
November 20, 1985: Launch of Microsoft Windows
On November 20, 1985, Microsoft and Bill Gates launched their first retail version of Microsoft Windows to compete with Apple's Macintosh GUI.
1985: Microsoft Excel Announcement
In 1985, Jerry Pournelle mentioned Bill Gates' enthusiasm for the Microsoft Excel program.
August 1986: OS/2 Development Deal
In August 1986, Microsoft struck a deal with IBM to develop a separate operating system called OS/2.
1986: Microsoft's IPO
In 1986, Microsoft had its initial public offering (IPO), leading to significant financial success for Bill Gates.
1987: Meeting Melinda French
In 1987, Bill Gates met Melinda French, who had recently started working at Microsoft, at a trade fair in New York.
1987: Billionaire Status
In 1987, Bill Gates was listed as a billionaire in Forbes magazine's first-ever America's richest issue, becoming the world's youngest self-made billionaire with a net worth of $1.25 billion.
1987: Youngest Billionaire
In 1987, at the age of 31, Bill Gates became the youngest billionaire ever at the time, after Microsoft's IPO.
1989: Last Code Shipped
Bill Gates last wrote code that shipped with Microsoft's products in 1989.
1989: Founded Corbis
In 1989, Bill Gates founded Corbis, a digital imaging company.
1989: Foreword to Learn BASIC Now
In 1989, Bill Gates wrote the foreword to the Microsoft Press book Learn BASIC Now by Michael Halvorson and David Rygmyr. He reflected on BASIC's growth and its potential as a universal language for software applications.
1993: Engagement to Melinda French
After dating for six years, Bill Gates and Melinda French became engaged in 1993.
1993: Forbes 400 List
From 1993 Bill Gates was ranked first on the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans.
January 1, 1994: Marriage to Melinda French
On January 1, 1994, Bill Gates married Melinda French at the Manele Golf Course on the Hawaiian Island of Lānaʻi.
1994: Gates Creates the William H. Gates Foundation
In 1994, Bill Gates donated some of his Microsoft stock to create the "William H. Gates Foundation" after studying the work of Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller.
1994: Purchase of the Codex Leicester
In 1994, Bill Gates purchased the Codex Leicester, a collection of scientific writings by Leonardo da Vinci, for US$30.8 million at an auction.
1994: Death of Mary Maxwell Gates
In 1994, Mary Maxwell Gates, Bill Gates' mother, passed away.
November 1995: Publication of The Road Ahead
In November 1995, Bill Gates, along with Nathan Myhrvold and Peter Rinearson, published "The Road Ahead". The book summarized the personal computing revolution's implications and the future impact of a global information superhighway.
1995: Richest Person
In 1995, Bill Gates was ranked as the richest person in the world on The World's Billionaires list.
1995: World's Wealthiest Person
In 1995, Forbes magazine ranked Bill Gates as the world's wealthiest person, a position he held for many years.
January 1996: Donation to Stanford University
In January 1996, Bill Gates donated $6 million towards the construction of the Gates Computer Science Building at Stanford University. The building houses the Computer Science Department and the Computer Systems Laboratory (CSL) of Stanford's Engineering department.
April 26, 1996: Birth of Jennifer Katherine Gates
On April 26, 1996, Bill and Melinda Gates's first child, Jennifer Katherine Gates, was born.
1996: Richest Person
In 1996, Bill Gates was ranked as the richest person in the world on The World's Billionaires list.
1997: Purchase of a Private Jet
Until 1997, Bill Gates flew coach in commercial aircraft. In 1997, he bought a private jet.
1998: Gates Rejects Software Industry Regulation Before US Senate
In 1998, Bill Gates rejected the need for regulation of the software industry in testimony before the United States Senate.
1998: Purchase of Lost on the Grand Banks
In 1998, Bill Gates reportedly paid $30 million for the original 1885 maritime painting "Lost on the Grand Banks", setting a record price for an American painting at the time.
1998: Richest Person
In 1998, Bill Gates was ranked as the richest person in the world on The World's Billionaires list.
1998: United States v. Microsoft Case
In 1998, during the United States v. Microsoft case, Bill Gates gave deposition testimony that was characterized as evasive, arguing over the meaning of words such as 'compete'.
May 23, 1999: Birth of Rory John Gates
On May 23, 1999, Bill and Melinda Gates's second child, Rory John Gates, was born.
1999: Publication of Business @ the Speed of Thought
In 1999, Bill Gates and Collins Hemingway published "Business @ the Speed of Thought". The book discusses the integration of business and technology and how digital infrastructures can enhance competitive edge.
1999: First Centibillionaire
In 1999, Bill Gates became the first centibillionaire when his net worth briefly surpassed $100 billion.
1999: Donation to MIT for Computer Laboratory
In 1999, Bill Gates donated $20 million to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the construction of a computer laboratory. Named the "William H. Gates Building", it was designed by architect Frank Gehry and marked Gates's first personal donation to the institution.
1999: Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 1999, Bill Gates was named as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century by Time magazine.
1999: Wealth Surpasses $100 Billion
In 1999, Bill Gates's wealth briefly surpassed US$100 billion, making him the first person to reach this net worth.
2000: Decline in Microsoft Holdings
After 2000, the nominal value of Bill Gates' Microsoft holdings declined, partly due to the dot-com bubble burst and partly due to charitable donations.
2000: Gates and His Wife Create the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
In 2000, Bill Gates and his wife combined three family foundations and donated stock valued at $5 billion to create the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
2000: Stepping down as CEO
In 2000, Bill Gates transitioned from CEO to chief software architect, being succeeded by Steve Ballmer as CEO of Microsoft.
2000: Ballmer Succeeded Gates as CEO
In 2000, Steve Ballmer succeeded Bill Gates as Microsoft's CEO, marking a significant transition in the company's leadership.
2000: Foundation of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Starting in 2000, with the foundation of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates shifted his focus to philanthropy, spending over $50 billion on causes like health, poverty, and education.
September 14, 2002: Birth of Phoebe Adele Gates
On September 14, 2002, Bill and Melinda Gates's third child, Phoebe Adele Gates, was born.
2004: Berkshire Hathaway Board Member
In 2004, Bill Gates became a board member of Berkshire Hathaway, the investment company headed by Warren Buffett.
2005: Focus on Global Sanitation
Starting in 2005, Bill Gates and his foundation began focusing on solving global sanitation problems, including initiatives like the "Reinvent the Toilet Challenge".
May 2006: Dislike of Richest Man Attention
In May 2006, Bill Gates remarked that he wished that he was not the richest man in the world, because he disliked the attention that it brought.
June 2006: Announcement of Transition
In June 2006, Bill Gates announced his transition out of his role at Microsoft to dedicate more time to philanthropy.
2006: Microsoft Salary and Bonus
In 2006, Microsoft paid Bill Gates a salary of US$616,667 and a bonus of US$350,000, for a total of US$966,667.
2006: Product Strategy Responsibility
Until 2006, Bill Gates had primary responsibility for Microsoft's product strategy from the company's founding.
2007: Richest Person
In 2007, Bill Gates was ranked as the richest person in the world on The World's Billionaires list.
2007: Los Angeles Times Criticizes Gates Foundation Investments
In 2007, the Los Angeles Times criticized the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for investing its assets in companies that have been accused of worsening poverty and pollution. While a review of investments was announced, it was canceled, and the foundation upheld its policy of investing for maximum return.
June 27, 2008: Completion of Transition
On June 27, 2008, Bill Gates completed his transition out of day-to-day operations at Microsoft, having divided his responsibilities between Ray Ozzie and Craig Mundie.
2008: Chief Software Architect Role
In 2008, Bill Gates stepped down as chief software architect at Microsoft, further transitioning his role within the company.
2009: Wealth Increase
Between 2009, Bill Gates' wealth doubled from US$40 billion to US$82 billion.
2009: Richest Person
In 2009, Bill Gates was ranked as the richest person in the world on The World's Billionaires list.
2009: Gates Donates to Carnegie Mellon University
In 2009, Bill Gates, through his foundation, donated $20 million to the Carnegie Mellon University for a new building to be named Gates Center for Computer Science.
2009: Property Taxes on Xanadu 2.0
In 2009, the property taxes on Bill Gates's mansion, nicknamed "Xanadu 2.0," were reported to be US$1.063 million, based on an assessed value of US$147.5 million.
March 2010: Second Wealthiest Person
In March 2010, Bill Gates was the second wealthiest person after Carlos Slim.
December 9, 2010: The Giving Pledge Commitment
On December 9, 2010, Bill and Melinda Gates, along with Warren Buffett, formalized their commitment to philanthropy by signing the "Giving Pledge." This pledge represents their promise to donate at least half of their wealth to charitable causes over time.
2010: The Giving Pledge
In 2010, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett founded the Giving Pledge, encouraging billionaires to donate at least half their wealth to philanthropy.
2011: Gates on Climate Change and Energy Access
In 2011, Bill Gates stated that he would prioritize environmentally friendly and affordable energy over choosing the next 10 presidents, emphasizing the critical and interrelated nature of climate change and global access to energy.
2011: Relationship with Jeffrey Epstein Begins
In 2011, Bill Gates' relationship with Jeffrey Epstein started, just a few years after Epstein was convicted for procuring a child for prostitution. Gates said in 2011 about Epstein: 'His lifestyle is very different and kind of intriguing although it would not work for me'.
March 2013: Meeting with Nobel Committee Chair
In March 2013, Jeffrey Epstein and Bill Gates met with Nobel Committee chair Thorbjørn Jagland to discuss the Nobel Prize at his residence in Strasbourg, France.
October 2013: International Peace Institute Grant
In October 2013, the International Peace Institute received a $2.5 million 'community engagement' grant from the Gates Foundation.
2013: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation identified as world's largest charitable foundation
In 2013, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was identified by Funds for NGOs company as the world's largest charitable foundation, with assets reportedly valued at more than $34.6 billion.
2013: Regained Top Position
In 2013, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Bill Gates regained the top position as the wealthiest person.
2013: Visit to Epstein's House
In the fall of 2013, Bill Gates visited Jeffrey Epstein's house with his wife, despite her declared discomfort.
February 5, 2014: Gates Leaves Chair of Firm
On February 5, 2014, Bill Gates left the chair of the firm to John W. Thompson.
February 2014: Stepping down as Chairman
In February 2014, Bill Gates stepped down as chairman of Microsoft to become technology advisor at the firm, supporting newly appointed CEO Satya Nadella.
March 2014: Gates Discusses Climate Change and Other Issues in Rolling Stone Interview
In March 2014, Bill Gates provided his perspective on climate change, his charitable activities, various tech companies, and the state of America in an interview published in Rolling Stone magazine. He expressed concern about potential future pandemics and identified innovation as the real driver of progress.
June 2014: Wealth Ranking Fluctuation
In June 2014, Carlos Slim regained the top position of wealthiest person from Bill Gates, but then lost it back to Gates.
2014: Forbes 400 List
From 2014 Bill Gates was ranked first on the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans.
2014: Drinking Water from Human Feces
In 2014, Bill Gates drank water that was produced from human feces via the Omni Processor sewage sludge treatment process to raise awareness about sanitation and potential solutions.
2014: Stepping down as Chairman
In 2014, Bill Gates stepped down as chairman of the board at Microsoft, becoming technology advisor to CEO Satya Nadella and other Microsoft leaders.
2014: Ballmer Resignation
In 2014, Steve Ballmer resigned as CEO of Microsoft, after having maintained that position from 2000.
2014: Interview with Rolling Stone
In a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, Bill Gates discussed his views on religion, morality, and the role of science in explaining the world.
March 2015: Gates Recommends "Superintelligence" and Warns of Pandemic Preparedness at TED Conference
In March 2015, at a TED conference, Bill Gates recommended Nick Bostrom's "Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies" and warned the world was unprepared for a future pandemic.
2015: Gates Writes About Transitioning to Sustainable Energy Sources
In 2015, Bill Gates wrote about the challenge of transitioning the world's energy system to sustainable sources, emphasizing the need for increased government funding and private-sector investment in areas like nuclear energy and grid energy storage.
2015: Gates Announces Climate Change Initiatives at UN Conference
In 2015, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, Bill Gates spearheaded two initiatives: Mission Innovation, where 20 national governments pledged to double their spending on research and development for carbon-free energy, and Breakthrough Energy, a group of investors who agreed to fund high-risk startups in clean energy technologies. Gates committed a further $1 billion to Breakthrough Energy, adding to the $1 billion he had already invested in innovative energy startups.
2015: Appearance on The Tonight Show
In early 2015, Bill Gates appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, challenging him to taste the difference between reclaimed water (produced from human feces) and bottled water.
2016: Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2016, Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates were jointly awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for their philanthropic work.
2016: Revelation of Color-Blindness
In 2016, Bill Gates revealed that he was color-blind.
April 2017: Match for Africa 4
In April 2017, Bill Gates partnered with Roger Federer in the Match for Africa 4, a charity tennis match held in Seattle, raising $2 million for children in Africa. They played against John Isner and Mike McCready.
October 2017: Surpassed by Jeff Bezos
In October 2017, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos surpassed Bill Gates as the richest person in the world.
November 2017: Donation to Dementia Research
In November 2017, Bill Gates pledged $50 million to the Dementia Discovery Fund for Alzheimer's treatment and an additional $50 million to Alzheimer's research start-ups.
2017: Forbes Ranking
In 2017, Forbes magazine ranked Bill Gates as the world's wealthiest person for 18 out of 24 years between 1995 and 2017.
March 5, 2018: Match for Africa 5
On March 5, 2018, Bill Gates and Roger Federer played in Match for Africa 5 in San Jose, raising over $2.5 million. Their opponents were Jack Sock and Savannah Guthrie. They won the match with a score of 6-3.
March 2018: Gates Meets with Saudi Crown Prince to Discuss Investment Opportunities
In March 2018, Bill Gates met with Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, at his home in Seattle to discuss investment opportunities for Saudi Vision 2030.
June 2018: Free Ebooks to Graduates
In June 2018, Bill Gates offered free ebooks to all new graduates of U.S. colleges and universities.
August 25, 2018: Donation to Kerala Flood Victims
On August 25, 2018, Bill Gates, through his foundation, distributed $600,000 via UNICEF to aid flood victims in Kerala, India.
October 2018: Death of Paul Allen
In October 2018, Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft and long-time friend of Bill Gates, passed away.
2018: Wealth Surpassed
In 2018, Jeff Bezos surpassed Bill Gates' wealth on The World's Billionaires list.
June 2019: Gates Admits Losing Mobile Operating System Race to Android Was His Biggest Mistake
In June 2019, Bill Gates admitted that losing the mobile operating system race to Android was his biggest mistake, partially blaming antitrust litigation.
November 2019: Richest Person Again
In November 2019, Bill Gates once again became the richest person in the world after a 48% increase in Microsoft shares, surpassing Jeff Bezos.
2019: New York Times Article on Jeffrey Epstein Relationship
A 2019 New York Times article reported that Bill Gates's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein started in 2011 and continued for some years.
2019: Silicon Valley Cameo
In 2019, Bill Gates appeared in a cameo role on the series finale of Silicon Valley.
2019: Gates Divests from Fossil Fuels
In 2019, Bill Gates began to divest from fossil fuels due to concerns about climate change, stating that he did not want to personally benefit from increases in fossil fuel stock prices if his efforts to provide alternatives were to fail.
2019: Denial of Connection
In 2019, Bill Gates completely denied any connection between Jeffrey Epstein and the Gates Foundation or his philanthropy generally.
2019: Gates Convinces Joe Manchin to Support Climate Bill
In 2019, Bill Gates tried to convince Joe Manchin to support a climate bill. He especially worked on it in the months leading up to the adoption of the bill.
2019: Melinda Gates Consults Divorce Attorneys
In 2019, Melinda Gates began meeting with divorce attorneys, reportedly due to concerns including Bill Gates's ties with Jeffrey Epstein.
March 2020: Gates Leaves Microsoft Board to Focus on Philanthropy
In March 2020, Microsoft announced that Bill Gates would be leaving his board positions at Berkshire Hathaway and Microsoft to dedicate himself to philanthropic endeavors.
November 2020: Gates Favors Normalization of COVID-19 Masks
In a November 2020 interview, Bill Gates expressed his support for the normalization of COVID-19 masks.
December 8, 2020: Gates Speaks at Singapore FinTech Festival
On December 8, 2020, Bill Gates delivered his thoughts in a fireside chat moderated by journalist Shereen Bhan virtually at the Singapore FinTech Festival on the topic, "Building Infrastructure for Resilience: What the COVID-19 Response Can Teach Us About How to Scale Financial Inclusion".
December 2020: Gates Calls for Clean Energy Research Institutes
In December 2020, Bill Gates called for the U.S. federal government to create institutes for clean energy research, analogous to the National Institutes of Health, and urged rich nations to shift to 100% synthetic beef industries.
2020: Resignation from Microsoft Board
In 2020, Bill Gates resigned from the board of Microsoft, further distancing himself from the company's operations.
2020: Death of William H. Gates Sr.
In 2020, William H. Gates Sr., Bill Gates' father, passed away.
2020: Gates Foundation Establishes COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator
In 2020, the Gates Foundation established the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator to hasten the development and evaluation of new and repurposed drugs and biologics to treat patients for COVID-19.
February 2021: Gates and Fauci Collaborate on COVID-19 Pandemic Response
As of February 2021, Bill Gates and Anthony Fauci frequently discussed and collaborated on vaccines and medical innovations to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
February 18, 2021: Gates Comments on Trump's Social Media Ban
On February 18, 2021, after Facebook and Twitter banned Donald Trump from their platforms, Bill Gates said a permanent ban of Trump "would be a shame" and would be an "extreme measure".
April 2021: Gates Criticized for Suggesting Pharmaceutical Companies Hold COVID-19 Vaccine Patents
In April 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bill Gates was criticized for suggesting that pharmaceutical companies should hold onto patents for COVID-19 vaccines, which raised concerns about vaccine access for poorer nations.
May 3, 2021: Announcement of Divorce
On May 3, 2021, Bill and Melinda Gates announced their decision to divorce after more than 27 years of marriage.
May 2021: Gates Stepped Down Before Microsoft Board Finished Investigation Into Alleged Inappropriate Relationship
In May 2021, The Wall Street Journal reported that Bill Gates stepped down before Microsoft's board finished its investigation into Gates's alleged inappropriate sexual relationship with a Microsoft employee, which an external law firm had begun probing in late 2019.
June 2021: TerraPower and PacifiCorp Announce First Sodium Nuclear Reactor in Wyoming
In June 2021, Bill Gates's company, TerraPower, and Warren Buffett's PacifiCorp announced the first sodium nuclear reactor in Wyoming, which was hailed as a step toward carbon-negative nuclear power.
August 2, 2021: Finalization of Divorce
On August 2, 2021, the divorce between Bill and Melinda Gates was finalized, with the financial details remaining confidential.
August 2021: Meetings with Epstein
In August 2021, Bill Gates said the reason he had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein was because Gates hoped Epstein could provide money for philanthropic work, though nothing came of the idea.
October 2021: Marriage of Jennifer Katherine Gates
In October 2021, Jennifer Katherine Gates married Olympic equestrian Nayel Nassar.
2021: Free Ebooks to All Students
In 2021, Bill Gates offered free ebooks to all college and university students around the world.
2021: Publication of How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
In 2021, Bill Gates published "How to Avoid a Climate Disaster", presenting insights gained from over a decade of studying climate change and investing in innovations.
2021: Shift in Public Opinion Due to Divorce
In 2021, the announcement of Bill and Melinda Gates's divorce led to a further shift in public opinion, with information surfacing about romantic pursuits and a friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
May 10, 2022: Positive COVID-19 Test
On May 10, 2022, Bill Gates announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 and was experiencing mild symptoms, despite having received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
July 2022: Reiterating the Giving Pledge Commitment
In July 2022, Bill Gates reiterated his commitment to the Giving Pledge on his Twitter channel, announcing his plan to give 'virtually all' his wealth to charity.
September 2022: Politico Exposé Critical of NGO Leadership
In September 2022, Politico published an exposé, in cooperation with Die Welt, critical of NGO leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic response. Criticisms included the interconnectivity of non-profits with Gates.
2022: Publication of How to Prevent the Next Pandemic
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Bill Gates published "How to Prevent the Next Pandemic" in 2022, proposing a GERM team with annual funding of $1 billion.
2022: Gates Supports Inflation Reduction Act
In 2022, Bill Gates supported the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which aimed to cut global greenhouse gas emissions and limit the warming of the planet.
2022: "Solving for Zero: The Search for Climate Innovation" Series Inspired by Gates's Book
In 2022, the educational streamer Wondrium produced the series "Solving for Zero: The Search for Climate Innovation" which was inspired by Bill Gates's book "How to Avoid a Climate Disaster".
February 2023: Dating Paula Hurd
In February 2023, Bill Gates confirmed that he was dating Paula Hurd, the widow of former Oracle Corporation and Hewlett-Packard chief executive Mark Hurd.
March 2023: Birth of First Granddaughter
In March 2023, Bill Gates became a grandfather with the birth of his first granddaughter, born to Jennifer Gates.
May 6, 2023: Gates Delivers Commencement Address and Receives Honorary Doctorate at Northern Arizona University
On May 6, 2023, Bill Gates gave a commencement address at Northern Arizona University, where he received an honorary doctorate and further discussed insights on climate change.
2023: Forbes 400 Ranking
In 2023, Bill Gates was ranked sixth on the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans with a wealth of $115.0 billion.
2023: BBC Two Interview
In 2023, Bill Gates was the interviewee in an episode of the Amol Rajan Interviews series on BBC Two, and was the subject of an episode of the UK Channel 4 series The Billionaires Who Made Our World.
2023: Epstein's Threat
In 2023, it was reported that Jeffrey Epstein threatened to expose an alleged affair Bill Gates had with a Russian bridge player.
October 2024: Birth of Second Granddaughter
In October 2024, Bill Gates became a grandfather for the second time with the birth of a second granddaughter, born to Jennifer Gates.
October 2024: Gates Donates $50 Million to Future Forward USA Action Supporting Kamala Harris
In October 2024, The New York Times reported that Bill Gates had recently donated $50 million to Future Forward USA Action, a 501(c)(4) organization supporting Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign. While not explicitly endorsing Harris, Gates stated, "this election is different."
2024: Melinda French Gates Resigns from Gates Foundation
In 2024, Melinda French Gates resigned from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation following the couple's divorce. The foundation was subsequently renamed, with Bill Gates as its sole chair.
February 2025: Paula Hurd as a 'Serious Girlfriend'
Appearing on the Today show in February 2025, Bill Gates described Paula Hurd as a "serious girlfriend", stating he had "moved past the divorce".
February 2025: Publication of Source Code
In February 2025, the first of Bill Gates's planned three memoirs, titled "Source Code," was published.
February 17, 2025: Net Worth
As of February 17, 2025, Forbes estimated Bill Gates' net worth at US$108.8 billion, making him the 16th richest individual in the world.
May 2025: Net Worth Update
As of May 2025, according to Forbes, Bill Gates' net worth stood at US$113 billion, making him the thirteenth-richest individual in the world.
2025: Publication of Memoir
In 2025, Bill Gates published the first of three planned memoirs, "Source Code: My Beginnings".
2025: Source Code
In 2025, in Source Code, Gates wrote that he believed he was autistic.
2025: Gates Charitable Donations Total $100 Billion
In an interview with the BBC in 2025, Bill Gates stated that his charitable donations have totalled $100 billion, with $60 billion going to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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