Career Timeline of Bill Gates: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Bill Gates made an impact.
Bill Gates is an American businessman and philanthropist, most famous for co-founding Microsoft with Paul Allen. He held various leadership roles within the company, including CEO and chief software architect, and was its largest individual shareholder for many years. Gates is recognized as a pivotal figure in the microcomputer revolution during the 1970s and 1980s, shaping the landscape of modern computing.
1970: CCC Went Out of Business
In 1970, Computer Center Corporation (CCC) went out of business, ending the arrangement where Gates and others found bugs in their software in exchange for extra computer time.
1974: Gates Joined Allen at Honeywell
In the summer of 1974, Bill Gates joined Paul Allen at Honeywell.
January 1975: Gates Reads Popular Electronics
In January 1975, Bill Gates read the issue of Popular Electronics featuring the Altair 8800.
November 1975: Gates Takes Leave from Harvard to Work at MITS
In November 1975, Bill Gates took a leave of absence from Harvard to work with Paul Allen at MITS.
1975: Microsoft's founding
From Microsoft's founding in 1975 until 2006, Bill Gates had primary responsibility for Microsoft's product strategy.
1975: Gates and Allen founded Microsoft
In 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
1975: Gates and Allen See Opportunity to Start Company
In 1975, upon the release of the MITS Altair 8800, Bill Gates and Paul Allen saw the opportunity to start their own computer software company, leading Gates to drop out of Harvard that same year.
February 1976: Gates Writes Open Letter to Hobbyists
In February 1976, Bill Gates wrote 'An Open Letter to Hobbyists' expressing his concern about the widespread unauthorized copying of Microsoft's Altair BASIC.
January 1, 1979: Microsoft Moved to Bellevue
On January 1, 1979, Microsoft moved 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. IBM initially proposed that Microsoft write the BASIC interpreter and, after discussions with Digital Research (DRI) faltered, asked Microsoft to provide an operating system.
June 25, 1981: Microsoft Restructured
On June 25, 1981, Microsoft underwent a company restructuring, re-incorporating in Washington state. Bill Gates became the president and chairman of the board, while Paul Allen served as vice president and vice chairman.
1983: Allen Leaves Microsoft
In early 1983, Paul Allen left Microsoft after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, ending the formal business partnership between Gates and Allen.
November 20, 1985: Microsoft Windows Launched
On November 20, 1985, Microsoft and Bill Gates launched their first retail version of Microsoft Windows.
1985: Microsoft Excel Announced
In 1985, Bill Gates announced Microsoft Excel, which Jerry Pournelle described as a 'neat hack.'
August 1986: Microsoft Strikes Deal with IBM
In August 1986, Microsoft struck a deal with IBM to develop an operating system called OS/2.
1987: Listed as a billionaire in Forbes magazine
In 1987, Bill Gates was listed as a billionaire in Forbes magazine's first ever America's richest issue; he was the world's youngest-ever self-made billionaire, with a net worth of $1.25 billion.
1989: Last Code Shipped with Product
As late as 1989, Bill Gates wrote code that shipped with Microsoft's products.
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, discussing the growth and importance of the BASIC language.
1993: Ranked first on the Forbes 400 list
In 1993, Bill Gates was ranked first on the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans.
1994: Creation of William H. Gates Foundation
In 1994, Bill Gates donated Microsoft stock to create the "William H. Gates Foundation" after studying the work of Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller.
November 1995: Publication of "The Road Ahead"
In November 1995, Bill Gates, along with Nathan Myhrvold and Peter Rinearson, published "The Road Ahead," which discussed the impact of the personal computing revolution.
1995: Ranked as the richest person in the world
In 1995, Bill Gates was ranked as the richest person in the world on The World's Billionaires list.
January 1996: Gates Computer Science Building Completion
In January 1996, the Gates Computer Science Building at Stanford University was completed, housing the Computer Science Department and the Computer Systems Laboratory (CSL).
1996: Ranked as the richest person in the world
In 1996, Bill Gates was ranked as the richest person in the world on The World's Billionaires list.
1998: Rejection of Software Industry Regulation
In 1998, Bill Gates rejected the need for regulation of the software industry in testimony before the United States Senate.
1998: Ranked as the richest person in the world
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 the 1998 United States v. Microsoft case, Bill Gates gave deposition testimony that several journalists characterized as evasive.
1999: Donation to MIT
In 1999, Bill Gates donated $20 million to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the construction of the William H. Gates Building.
1999: Wealth surpassed US$100 billion
In 1999, Bill Gates's wealth briefly surpassed US$100 billion, making him the first person to reach this net worth.
1999: Publication of "Business @ the Speed of Thought"
In 1999, Bill Gates, along with Collins Hemingway, published "Business @ the Speed of Thought," exploring the integration of business and technology.
January 2000: Gates Stepped Down as CEO of Microsoft
In January 2000, Bill Gates stepped down as CEO of Microsoft and was succeeded by Steve Ballmer, but he remained chairman of the board of directors and became chief software architect.
2000: Microsoft holdings declined
After 2000, the nominal value of Bill Gates' Microsoft holdings declined, partly because of the decline in Microsoft's stock price after the dot-com bubble burst, and partly because of the multi-billion dollar donations he had made to his charitable foundations.
2000: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Established
In 2000, Bill Gates and his then-wife Melinda established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a private charitable foundation.
2000: Creation of 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: Steve Ballmer Became CEO of Microsoft
In 2000, Steve Ballmer became Microsoft's CEO, and he maintained that position until his resignation in 2014.
2004: Became a board member of Berkshire Hathaway
In 2004, Bill Gates became a board member of Berkshire Hathaway, the investment company headed by Warren Buffett.
2005: Focus on Global Sanitation Problems
Since 2005, Bill Gates and his foundation have focused on solving global sanitation problems.
June 2006: Gates Announces Transition
In June 2006, Bill Gates announced that he would transition out of his role at Microsoft to dedicate more time to philanthropy.
2006: End of primary responsibility for Microsoft's product strategy
From Microsoft's founding in 1975 until 2006, Bill Gates had primary responsibility for Microsoft's product strategy.
2006: Salary and bonus from Microsoft
In 2006, Bill Gates received a salary of US$616,667 and a bonus of US$350,000 from Microsoft, totaling US$966,667.
2007: Ranked as the richest person in the world
In 2007, Bill Gates was ranked as the richest person in the world on The World's Billionaires list.
June 2008: Gates Transitions to Part-Time Role at Microsoft
In June 2008, Bill Gates transitioned into a part-time role at Microsoft and began full-time work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
June 27, 2008: Gates' Transition Completed
On June 27, 2008, Bill Gates completed the process of transitioning out of his role at Microsoft, dividing his responsibilities between Ray Ozzie and Craig Mundie.
2009: Wealth doubled since 2009
Between 2009 and 2014, Bill Gates' wealth doubled from US$40 billion to US$82 billion.
2009: Donation to Carnegie Mellon University
In 2009, Bill Gates donated $20 million to Carnegie Mellon University for a new building named Gates Center for Computer Science.
2009: Ranked as the richest person in the world
In 2009, Bill Gates was ranked as the richest person in the world on The World's Billionaires list.
March 2010: Second wealthiest person
In March 2010, Bill Gates was the second wealthiest person after Carlos Slim.
December 9, 2010: Giving Pledge Commitment
On December 9, 2010, Bill and Melinda Gates, along with Warren Buffett, signed the "Giving Pledge," committing to donate at least half of their wealth to charity over time.
2010: Gates and Buffett Founded The Giving Pledge
In 2010, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett founded the Giving Pledge, an agreement where they and other billionaires pledge to give at least half of their wealth towards philanthropy.
2011: Focus on Energy
In 2011, Bill Gates emphasized the importance of environmentally friendly and cost-effective energy, stating he would prioritize it over choosing the next 10 presidents.
October 2013: Gates Foundation grant to International Peace Institute
In October 2013, the International Peace Institute received a $2.5 million "community engagement" grant from the Gates Foundation.
2013: Regained top position on Bloomberg Billionaires Index
In 2013, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Bill Gates regained the top position as the wealthiest person.
February 5, 2014: Gates Leaves Chair of Microsoft
On February 5, 2014, Bill Gates left the chair of Microsoft, and John W. Thompson replaced him.
February 2014: Gates Becomes Technology Advisor
In February 2014, Bill Gates stepped down as chairman of Microsoft to become technology advisor at the firm to support newly appointed CEO Satya Nadella.
February 2014: Gates Stepped Down as Chairman of the Microsoft Board
In February 2014, Bill Gates stepped down as chairman of the Microsoft board and assumed the role of technology advisor to support Satya Nadella, the newly appointed CEO.
March 2014: Rolling Stone Interview
In March 2014, Bill Gates discussed climate change, charitable activities, tech companies, and the state of America in an interview published in Rolling Stone. He expressed concerns about potential future pandemics, nuclear or bioterrorism, and emphasized innovation as the key to progress.
May 2014: Gates No Longer Largest Individual Shareholder
In May 2014, Bill Gates was no longer Microsoft's largest individual shareholder.
June 2014: Slim regained top position
In June 2014, Carlos Slim regained the top position as the wealthiest person, surpassing Bill Gates, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
2014: Ranked first on the Forbes 400 list
In 2014, Bill Gates was ranked first on the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans.
2014: Steve Ballmer Resigned as CEO of Microsoft
In 2014, Steve Ballmer resigned as CEO of Microsoft.
2014: Drinking Water Produced from Human Feces
In 2014, to raise awareness about sanitation, Bill Gates drank water produced from human feces using the Omni Processor sewage treatment process.
March 2015: TED Conference Interview
In March 2015, during a TED conference interview with Baidu's CEO Robin Li, Bill Gates recommended Nick Bostrom's book, Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies, and warned that the world was unprepared for a future pandemic.
2015: Transitioning to Sustainable Energy
In 2015, Bill Gates wrote about the challenge of transitioning the world's energy system from fossil fuels to sustainable sources, emphasizing the need for increased government funding for basic research and private-sector investment in areas such as nuclear energy and solar fuels.
2015: United Nations Climate Change Conference Initiatives
In 2015, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, Bill Gates announced 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, committing $1 billion of his own money to the initiative.
2015: Appearance on The Tonight Show
In early 2015, Bill Gates appeared with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show and challenged him to taste reclaimed water from human feces against bottled water.
April 2017: Match for Africa 4
In April 2017, Bill Gates partnered with Roger Federer in the Match for Africa 4, a tennis match held in Seattle. They raised $2 million for children in Africa by winning the match (6-4) 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 Alzheimer's Research
In November 2017, Bill Gates pledged $50 million to the Dementia Discovery Fund and an additional $50 million to start-ups focused on Alzheimer's research.
2017: Ranked first on the Forbes 400 list
In 2017, Bill Gates was ranked first on the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans.
March 5, 2018: Match for Africa 5
On March 5, 2018, Bill Gates and Roger Federer played in the Match for Africa 5 in San Jose, raising over $2.5 million for charity. Their opponents were Jack Sock and Savannah Guthrie, and Gates and Federer won the match 6-3.
March 2018: Meeting with Mohammed bin Salman
In March 2018, Bill Gates met with Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman in Seattle to discuss investment opportunities for Saudi Vision 2030.
June 2018: Free Ebooks Offered to U.S. Graduates
In June 2018, Bill Gates offered free ebooks to new graduates of U.S. colleges and universities.
August 25, 2018: Kerala flood relief donation
On August 25, 2018, Bill Gates, through his foundation, donated $600,000 via UNICEF to aid flood victims in Kerala, India.
2018: Surpassed in wealth by Jeff Bezos
In 2018, Jeff Bezos surpassed Bill Gates' wealth on The World's Billionaires list.
June 2019: Admission of Mobile OS Mistake
In June 2019, Bill Gates stated that losing the mobile operating system race to Android was his biggest mistake.
November 2019: Became 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: Convincing Joe Manchin to support a climate bill
In 2019, Bill Gates attempted to convince Joe Manchin to support a climate bill.
2019: Divestment from Fossil Fuels
In 2019, Bill Gates began to divest from fossil fuels, stating that he does not expect divestment itself to have much practical impact but does not want to personally benefit from an increase in fossil fuel stock prices if his efforts to provide alternatives fail.
March 2020: Gates Leaves Board Positions to Focus on Philanthropy
In March 2020, Bill Gates left his board positions at Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway to focus on philanthropic efforts related to climate change, global health and development, and education.
March 2020: Departure from Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway Boards
In March 2020, Microsoft announced that Bill Gates would be leaving his board positions at Berkshire Hathaway and Microsoft to focus on philanthropic endeavors related to climate change, global health, development, and education.
December 2020: Call for Clean Energy Research Institutes
In December 2020, Bill Gates called for the U.S. federal government to create institutes for clean energy research, similar to the National Institutes of Health, and urged rich nations to shift to 100% synthetic beef industries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
2020: Establishment of COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator
In 2020, Bill Gates' foundation established the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator to accelerate the development and evaluation of new and repurposed drugs and biologics for treating COVID-19 patients.
February 2021: Collaboration with Anthony Fauci
In February 2021, it was reported that Bill Gates and Anthony Fauci were frequently collaborating on vaccines and other medical innovations to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2021: Stepping Down Amidst Investigation
In May 2021, The Wall Street Journal reported that Bill Gates stepped down from Microsoft's board before the completion of an investigation into an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship with a Microsoft employee.
June 2021: Sodium Nuclear Reactor Announcement in Wyoming
In June 2021, Bill Gates's company TerraPower and Warren Buffett's PacifiCorp announced the first sodium nuclear reactor in Wyoming, hailed as a step toward carbon-negative nuclear power.
2021: Free Ebooks Offered Globally to College Students
In 2021, Bill Gates offered free ebooks to 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 from his study of climate change and related innovations.
July 2022: Gates Pledges Wealth to Charity
In July 2022, Bill Gates reiterated his commitment to give 'virtually all' of his wealth to charity, aiming to move off the list of the world's richest people.
2022: Publication of "How to Prevent the Next Pandemic"
In 2022, Bill Gates published "How to Prevent the Next Pandemic", proposing a "Global Epidemic Response and Mobilization" (GERM) team under the WHO.
2022: Support for the Inflation Reduction Act
In 2022, Bill Gates supported the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, thanking Joe Manchin and Chuck Schumer for their efforts and calling it potentially the most important piece of climate legislation in American history.
2023: Ranked sixth on Forbes 400 list
In 2023, Bill Gates was ranked sixth with a wealth of $115.0 billion on the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans.
February 2025: Estimated net worth at US$108.8 billion
As of February 2025, according to Forbes, Bill Gates' estimated net worth stood at US$108.8 billion, making him the 16th richest individual in the world.
February 2025: Publication of Source Code
In February 2025, the first of Bill Gates's planned three memoirs, titled Source Code, was published.
2025: Charitable Donations Total
In 2025, Bill Gates stated in an interview with the BBC that his charitable donations had totalled $100 billion, with $60 billion going to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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