While at Harvard, Gates developed a version of the programming language BASIC for the first microcomputer. Bill’s passion for computers’ programs forced him to leave Harvard in order to establish a software company with his partner Paul Allen. They both started to develop software for personal computers since they believed that computers are important tool in people’s everyday life. His vision for personal computing contributed to the success of Microsoft and software industry. Under his guidance, Microsoft’s projects were improving and succeeding in the software domain. This company reflected in its investment of approximately $7.1 billion on research and development in the 2007 year. In 1980, IBM company contacted Microsoft in order to make the Basic interpreter for its personal computer. After becoming the owner of 86-DOS operating system, Microsoft delivered it to IBM for $80,000 fee. This business deal made Microsoft a main contributor in the computer programming industry. Later, Microsoft launched its first retail version of Microsoft windows in 1985. From Microsoft’s foundation until 2006, the company’s strategies was under Gates control and supervision. He expanded the company’s range of products. His role at Microsoft for most of its history was a management and executive role. However, in 2006, he decided to reduce his day-to-day role in the company in order to fully dedicate himself to charitable work. Therefore, he placed Ray Ozzie in charge of day-to-day management and Craig Mundie in charge of long-term product strategy. One of his last inventions before his leaving was the creation of a robotics software group at Microsoft.
Bill was not only a successful businessman but also a generous person who committed himself to charitable work. He donated the money raised from selling his two books to organizations that support the use of technology in education. Gates' first book, The Road Ahead, published in 1995, held the number one spot on the New York Times' bestseller list for seven weeks. His second book, Business @ the Speed of Thought, shows how computer technology can solve business problems in fundamentally new ways, and is available in more than 60 countries. Apart from his books, Gates founded an archive of photography and art collections from all over the world. In addition to his love of computers and software, Gates is interested in biotechnology. He sits on the board of ICOS, a company that specializes in protein-based and small-molecule therapeutics, and he is an investor in a number of other biotechnology companies. He and his wife also supported philanthropic programs in the global health areas. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation provided money to organizations working in global health, to the Gates Library Initiative to bring computers and to community projects and campaigns. The foundation’s funding provided money for college scholarships for underrepresented minorities, AIDS prevention and other diseases in the third world countries.
Bill’s success is due to his personal beliefs which revolve around working hard and trying your hardest to succeed. He believes that if you are intelligent and know how to apply your intelligence you can reach your goal. Bill thinks that if you don't work your hardest you will never succeed. Bill is obviously a visionary, and he works very hard to achieve his vision. His belief in his intelligence and his dedication to work is what lead him where he is today. Interestingly, one of Bills favorite games is the game of Risk, the game of world domination. These beliefs are few but they are dominant in the computer software industry and will continue to increase his wealth and his domination on the industry.
Due to his important achievements, Gates was and is still a famous and well-known man in the business world. Times magazine, for instance, named him one of the one hundred most influential people in the last three years. He was also listed in The Guardian as one of the “Top 100 influential people in the media” in 2001. He and his wife were also named as the 2005 Persons of the Year for their charitable and humanitarian efforts. In addition, Gates receives many doctors honoris causa from a number of institutions and universities and an honorary Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in 2005. In 2006, he and his wife were awarded the for their efforts and their philanthropic work around the world in the areas of health and education. Bill’s wealth makes him one of the richest men in the world. Beside to Microsoft’s profits, his investments outside the company raised his salary up to $966,667. His wealth surpassed $101billion. Accordingly, he was named by the media as a “centibillionaire” in 1999. However, he does not like the fact that he is the richest man on earth because of the attention drawn to it. However, because of his wealth, he lives in a house in Washington which worth $125 million with his wife Melinda and his three children: Jennifer Katharine Gates (1996), Rory John Gates (1999) and Phoebe Adele Gates (2002).
Bill Gates is the most successful business man in the world today, and he is also in the fastest growing industry in the world. Being the head of Microsoft, he is the richest man alive, and one of the most powerful and influential men in the world. There are many battles going on about the vast monopoly Microsoft has on the industry. However, he earned this domination because of his dedication to his work and his high level of competition and intelligence.
