Bill Gates
Chair of the Gates Foundation and co-founder of Microsoft1
Bill Gates is chair of the Gates Foundation and the co-founder of Microsoft. He started the software company with Paul Allen in 1975 and moved to full-time foundation work in 2008.1
In 2025 he said the foundation will shut in 2045 and that he will give away his remaining fortune. AP put that pledge at an estimated $107 billion, set against a foundation endowment of $77 billion.3
BASIC for the Altair
Gates was born in Seattle in 1955. He left Harvard to pursue Microsoft. The company began in 1975 with Gates and Allen, who developed BASIC for the Altair 8800.248
The foundation says Microsoft grew into a worldwide leader in business and personal software and services.1
From software to a 2045 deadline
In 2008 Gates moved to focus full-time on the foundation. As chair he shapes and approves its strategies and sets its overall direction. Gates Ventures covers climate change, clean energy, Alzheimer’s research, health and education technology.1
In 2010 he, Melinda French Gates and Warren Buffett founded the Giving Pledge, which asks wealthy people to commit more than half their wealth to philanthropy. AP reported in 2025 that the closure plan followed Gates’s pledge to give away 99% of his remaining tech fortune. Forbes estimated his net worth at $114.8 billion on 11 September 2026.138
What philanthropy can and cannot do
Gates has been consistent that giving supports government and does not replace it. He told Time in 2017 that "The role of philanthropy will often be to fund pilot approaches, to find breakthrough approaches." In the same interview: "Philanthropy is a very strong complement to the government in that." He added: "Philanthropy will never take over the role of government."9
Cases against Microsoft
The US Department of Justice sued Microsoft in United States v. Microsoft Corp., Civil No. 98-1232. The DOJ said the case alleged that Microsoft unlawfully maintained an operating-system monopoly by excluding middleware competitors. The court record says Microsoft was found liable for violations of sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, and in 2001 the US and Microsoft agreed a revised proposed final judgment to resolve the case.5101112
In Europe, Microsoft challenged a periodic penalty in Case T-167/08. The General Court upheld the Commission's decision but cut the penalty from €899 million to €860 million. These were actions against the company.56
In 2024 the Cyber Safety Review Board said its review of the 2023 Microsoft Exchange Online intrusion detailed operational and strategic decisions that led to it. Microsoft replied that security would be its top priority, above other features.713
Gates, year by year
Born in Seattle2
Gates and Allen developed BASIC for the Altair 88004
The US government and Microsoft agreed a revised proposed final judgment to settle the antitrust case5
Moved to full-time work at the foundation1
Founded the Giving Pledge with Melinda French Gates and Warren Buffett1
The EU General Court upheld the Commission's penalty decision against Microsoft but cut the fine from €899 million to €860 million6
The US Cyber Safety Review Board published its report on the 2023 Microsoft Exchange Online intrusion7
Announced the foundation will close in 20453
Forbes estimated his net worth at $114.8 billion8
Questions people ask about Bill Gates
Who is Bill Gates?
Chair of the Gates Foundation and co-founder of Microsoft, which he started with Paul Allen in 1975.1
What is Bill Gates's net worth?
Forbes estimated his real-time net worth at $114.8 billion on 11 September 2026.8
What does Bill Gates do now?
He chairs the Gates Foundation, where he shapes and approves strategies and sets its overall direction. He moved to full-time foundation work in 2008.1
When will the Gates Foundation close?
In 2045, according to Gates's 2025 announcement as reported by AP.3
What is the Giving Pledge?
A campaign founded in 2010 by Gates, Melinda French Gates and Warren Buffett that asks wealthy people to commit more than half their wealth to philanthropy.1
Bill Gates on Kenning
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Sources
- Gates Foundationgatesfoundation.org · primary
- Biography.combiography.com · secondary · 12 February 2025
- Associated Pressapnews.com · secondary · 8 May 2025
- Microsoft Learnlearn.microsoft.com · primary · 2008
- U.S. Department of Justicejustice.gov · primary · 6 November 2001
- General Courtcuria.europa.eu · primary · 27 June 2012
- U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agencycisa.gov · primary · 2 April 2024
- Forbesforbes.com · secondary · 10 March 2026
- TIMEtime.com · secondary · 19 December 2017
- U.S. Department of Justicejustice.gov · primary · 2 November 2001
- Midpage (PACER docket)app.midpage.ai · primary · 3 April 2000
- U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Divisionjustice.gov · primary · 7 June 2000
- Microsoft Security Blogmicrosoft.com · primary · 3 May 2024
Checked against these sources. We review every page at least every three months.