Childhood and Education Journey of Bill Gates in Timeline
Discover the defining moments in the early life of Bill Gates. From birth to education, explore key events.
Bill Gates is an American businessman and philanthropist, renowned as a pioneer of the microcomputer revolution. He co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, leading the company to global dominance in software. Gates became a billionaire at age 31 following Microsoft's IPO in 1986. He was consistently ranked as the wealthiest person globally by Forbes for many years. In 1999, he became the first centibillionaire. As of May 2025, his net worth is estimated at $115.1 billion, ranking him among the world's richest individuals.
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: William Henry Gates III born
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: CCC Went Out of Business
In 1970, the company CCC, which provided computer time to the Lakeside Programmers Club, went out of business.
1972: Served as a 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 University
In 1973, Bill Gates enrolled at Harvard University, where he took classes including Math 55 and graduate level computer science courses.
1973: Graduated from Lakeside and Enrolled at Harvard
In 1973, Bill Gates graduated from Lakeside School as a National Merit Scholar and subsequently enrolled at Harvard University in the autumn.
November 1975: Joined MITS
In November 1975, Bill Gates took a leave of absence from Harvard to work with Paul Allen at MITS, following the successful demonstration of their BASIC interpreter.
1975: Co-founded Microsoft
In 1975, Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen, marking the beginning of their journey in the software industry.
1975: Dropped out of Harvard to co-found Microsoft
In 1975, Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard University to co-found and lead Microsoft.
1975: MITS Altair 8800 Release and Dropped out of Harvard
In 1975, the MITS Altair 8800 was released, which led Bill Gates and Paul Allen to see an opportunity to start their own computer software company, leading Gates to drop out of Harvard.
1977: Ballmer graduates from Harvard
In 1977, Steven A. Ballmer graduated from Harvard. The Maxwell Dworkin Laboratory of the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences is named after the mothers of Bill Gates and Steven A. Ballmer.
1987: Meeting Melinda French
In 1987, Bill Gates met Melinda French at a trade fair in New York; Melinda had recently started working at Microsoft.
1987: Listed as a Billionaire
In 1987, Bill Gates was listed as a billionaire in Forbes magazine's first America's richest issue. He was the world's youngest-ever self-made billionaire, with a net worth of $1.25 billion.
1993: Engagement to Melinda French
In 1993, Bill Gates and Melinda French became engaged after dating for six years.
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: Creation of William H. Gates Foundation
In 1994, Bill Gates donated some of his Microsoft stock to create the "William H. Gates Foundation."
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, the mother of Bill Gates, passed away.
January 1996: Gates Donates to Stanford University
In January 1996, Gates donated $6 million to the construction of the Gates Computer Science Building on the campus of Stanford University, housing the Computer Science Department and the Computer Systems Laboratory (CSL).
1997: Purchase of a Private Jet
Until 1997, Bill Gates flew coach in commercial aircraft. In 1997, he bought a private jet.
1998: Purchase of Lost on the Grand Banks
In 1998, Bill Gates reportedly paid $30 million for the painting "Lost on the Grand Banks", setting a record price for an American painting at the time.
1999: Donation to MIT for Computer Laboratory
In 1999, Bill Gates donated $20 million to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the construction of the "William H. Gates Building", a computer laboratory designed by architect Frank Gehry.
2000: Co-Chaired the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
From 2000, Bill Gates and his then-wife Melinda French Gates co-chaired the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest private charitable organization.
2005: Interest in Global Sanitation Problems
Since 2005, Bill Gates and his foundation have shown an interest in solving global sanitation problems, marked by the announcement of the "Reinvent the Toilet Challenge".
May 2006: Dislike of Being the Richest Man
In May 2006, Bill Gates remarked that he wished he was not the richest man in the world, because he disliked the attention it brought.
2007: Criticism of Foundation's Investments
In 2007, the Los Angeles Times criticized the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for investing in companies accused of worsening poverty, pollution, and pharmaceutical firms that do not sell to developing countries. A review of investments was subsequently canceled, and the foundation upheld its policy of investing for maximum return.
2009: Wealth Doubled
Between 2009 and 2014, Bill Gates' wealth doubled from US$40 billion to US$82 billion.
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, on a total 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: 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: Founded the Giving Pledge
In 2010, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett founded the Giving Pledge, encouraging billionaires to donate at least half of their wealth to philanthropy.
2011: Gates on Energy and Leadership
In 2011, Bill Gates expressed that he would prioritize ensuring environmentally friendly and affordable energy over choosing the next 10 presidents, highlighting the critical importance of energy solutions.
March 2014: Gates Interview in Rolling Stone Magazine
In March 2014, Bill Gates discussed climate change, charitable activities, tech companies, and the state of America in an interview published in Rolling Stone magazine. He expressed concern about potential future pandemics or nuclear/bioterrorism causing mass casualties, and identified innovation as the key to progress.
June 2014: Carlos Slim Regained Top Position
In June 2014, Carlos Slim regained the top position as the wealthiest person, but then lost it back to Bill Gates.
2014: Gates Drinks Water Produced from Human Feces
In 2014, to raise awareness for sanitation solutions, Bill Gates drank water produced from human feces, processed through the Omni Processor.
2014: Interview with Rolling Stone
In a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, Bill Gates discussed his faith and moral beliefs, stating, "The moral systems of religion, I think, are super important... I think it makes sense to believe in God."
March 2015: Gates Recommends "Superintelligence" at TED Conference
During a TED conference in March 2015, Bill Gates recommended Nick Bostrom's book "Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies." He also warned that the world was unprepared for the next pandemic during the conference.
2015: Gates on Energy System Transition
In 2015, Bill Gates wrote about the challenge of transitioning the world's energy system from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources, emphasizing the need for increased government funding and private-sector investment in diverse areas such as nuclear energy, grid energy storage, and solar fuels.
2015: Gates Announces Initiatives at UN Climate Change Conference
In 2015, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, Bill Gates spearheaded Mission Innovation, where 20 national governments pledged to double spending on carbon-free energy R&D. He also launched Breakthrough Energy, a group of investors who agreed to fund high-risk clean energy startups, committing an additional $1 billion of his own money.
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 and bottled water.
January 31, 2016: Guest on Desert Island Discs
On January 31, 2016, Bill Gates was the guest on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, where he discussed his relationships with his father and Steve Jobs, meeting Melinda Ann French, the start of Microsoft, and his habits. His choices for the desert island were: music: "Blue Skies" by Willie Nelson; book: The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker; and luxury item: a DVD Collection of Lectures from The Teaching Company.
2016: Gates Reveals 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 playing in the Match for Africa 4, a noncompetitive tennis match in Seattle to support the Roger Federer Foundation's charity efforts in Africa. They raised $2 million for children in Africa.
October 2017: Surpassed by Jeff Bezos
In October 2017, Bill Gates was surpassed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as the richest person in the world.
November 2017: Donation to Dementia Discovery Fund
In November 2017, Bill Gates announced a $50 million donation to the Dementia Discovery Fund, aiming to find treatments for Alzheimer's disease, along with an additional $50 million for Alzheimer's research start-ups.
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. Gates and Federer won the match by a score of 6–3.
March 2018: Gates Meets with Mohammed bin Salman
In March 2018, Bill Gates met with Mohammed bin Salman in Seattle to discuss investment opportunities for Saudi Vision 2030.
June 2018: Free ebooks offered to US 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 help flood victims in Kerala, India.
October 2018: Death of Paul Allen
In October 2018, Paul Allen passed away, solidifying the end of an era for Bill Gates and his long-time friend and business partner.
2018: Jeff Bezos Surpassed Bill Gates
In 2018, Jeff Bezos surpassed Bill Gates' wealth, ending his run as the richest person in the world.
2019: Cameo on Silicon Valley
In 2019, Bill Gates appeared in a cameo role on the series finale of Silicon Valley.
2019: Gates Begins Divesting from Fossil Fuels
In 2019, Bill Gates started to divest from fossil fuels, stating that while divestment itself may not have a significant impact, he would not want to personally benefit from fossil fuel stock price increases if his efforts to provide alternatives failed.
2019: Melinda Consulted Divorce Attorneys
In 2019, Melinda Gates began meeting with divorce attorneys, with concerns including Bill Gates's ties with Jeffrey Epstein.
2019: Gates Convinces Manchin on Climate Bill
Starting in 2019, Gates tried to convince Joe Manchin to support a climate bill. He continued his efforts in the months leading up to the adoption of the bill.
March 2020: Gates Leaves 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 work related to climate change, global health, development, and education.
November 2020: Gates Favors Normalization of COVID-19 Masks
In a November 2020 interview, Bill Gates expressed his support for normalizing COVID-19 mask-wearing, comparing it to the social norm of wearing pants.
December 8, 2020: Gates Speaks at Singapore FinTech Festival
On December 8, 2020, Bill Gates spoke at the Singapore FinTech Festival, discussing building infrastructure for resilience and applying lessons from the COVID-19 response to scale financial inclusion.
December 2020: Gates Calls for Clean Energy Research Institutes
In December 2020, Bill Gates advocated for the U.S. federal government to establish institutes for clean energy research, similar to the National Institutes of Health. He also urged rich nations to transition to 100% synthetic beef industries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
2020: Death of William H. Gates Sr.
In 2020, William H. Gates Sr., the father of Bill Gates, passed away.
2020: Trump's Ban From Social Media
In 2020, after Facebook and Twitter banned Donald Trump from their platforms, Gates shared his views on the ban on February 18, 2021.
2020: Gates's Foundation Establishes COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator
In 2020, the Gates Foundation established the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator to expedite the development and evaluation of drugs and biologics for COVID-19 treatment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gates has been looked at as an expert.
February 2021: Gates Collaborates with Anthony Fauci on Pandemic Matters
As of February 2021, Bill Gates and Anthony Fauci frequently collaborated on matters including vaccines and other medical innovations to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
February 18, 2021: Gates on Trump's Ban from Social Media
On February 18, 2021, following Donald Trump's ban from Facebook and Twitter after the January 6 Capitol attack related to the 2020 election, Bill Gates expressed that a permanent ban "would be a shame" and an "extreme measure", warning of potential political polarization.
April 2021: Gates Criticized for COVID-19 Vaccine Patent Stance
In April 2021, Bill Gates faced criticism for suggesting that pharmaceutical companies should retain patents for COVID-19 vaccines, raising 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.
June 2021: TerraPower Announces 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, hailed as a step toward carbon-negative nuclear power.
August 2, 2021: Divorce Finalized
On August 2, 2021, Bill and Melinda Gates's divorce was finalized; the financial details remained confidential.
October 2021: Jennifer Gates's Wedding
In October 2021, Bill Gates's eldest daughter, Jennifer, married Olympic equestrian Nayel Nassar.
2021: Free eBooks offered to Students Worldwide
In 2021, Bill Gates offered free ebooks to all college and university students around the world.
2021: Shift in Public Opinion
In 2021, the announcement of the divorce between Bill and Melinda Gates, and the following details of romantic pursuits of women and a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein resulted in a deterioration of Bill Gates' public image.
May 10, 2022: Gates Tests Positive for COVID-19
On May 10, 2022, Bill Gates announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 and was experiencing mild symptoms.
July 2022: Reiterating Commitment to Charity
In July 2022, Bill Gates reiterated his commitment to giving 'virtually all' his wealth to charity, aiming to move off the list of the world's richest people.
2022: Gates Supports Inflation Reduction Act
In 2022, Bill Gates supported the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which aimed to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions significantly. He thanked Joe Manchin and Chuck Schumer for their efforts, calling the Act a potentially crucial piece of climate legislation.
February 2023: Dating Paula Hurd
In February 2023, Bill Gates confirmed that he was dating Paula Hurd, the widow of Mark Hurd.
March 2023: Birth of Granddaughter
In March 2023, Bill Gates's eldest daughter Jennifer had her first child. He became a grandfather.
May 6, 2023: Gates Receives Honorary Doctorate from Northern Arizona University
On May 6, 2023, Bill Gates delivered a commencement address at Northern Arizona University, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate. He also shared insights on climate change.
2023: Interview and Documentary Appearances
In 2023, Bill Gates was interviewed 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: Ranked Sixth on Forbes 400
In the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans in 2023, Bill Gates was ranked sixth with a wealth of $115.0 billion.
October 2024: Birth of Granddaughter
In October 2024, Bill Gates's eldest daughter Jennifer had her second child. He became a grandfather for the second time.
October 2024: Gates Donates to Future Forward USA Action
In October 2024, it was reported that Bill Gates recently donated $50 million to Future Forward USA Action, a 501(c)(4) organization supporting Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign.
2024: Melinda French Gates Resigned as Co-Chair
In 2024, Melinda French Gates resigned as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation following the couple's divorce, and the foundation was renamed the Gates Foundation with Bill Gates as its sole chair.
February 2025: Relationship with Paula Hurd
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, "Source Code", was published.
February 17, 2025: 16th Richest Individual in the World
As of February 17, 2025, Bill Gates' estimated net worth stood at US$108.8 billion, making him the 16th richest individual in the world, according to Forbes.
2025: Published Memoir "Source Code: My Beginnings"
In 2025, Bill Gates published the first of three planned memoirs, "Source Code: My Beginnings".
2025: Gates Believes he is Autistic
In 2025, in his memoir, Source Code, Bill Gates wrote that he believed he was autistic.
2025: Gates's 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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