Bill Gates
Left Harvard to sell a BASIC interpreter; a 1980 IBM licensing deal set Microsoft's course.
Bill Gates was born in 1955 in Seattle, Washington, US. Bill Gates's background is described as White American; English, German, and Scots-Irish descent. Growing up, the family was affluent — prominent Seattle family — attorney father; mother served on corporate and national nonprofit boards. Left Harvard to sell a BASIC interpreter; a 1980 IBM licensing deal set Microsoft's course.
- Born
- 1955 · Seattle, Washington, US
- Roots
- White American; English, German, and Scots-Irish descent
- Family
- Affluent
- Prominent Seattle family — attorney father; mother served on corporate and national nonprofit boards.
- Education
- Lakeside School → Harvard (dropped out)
- Started with
- Terminal time
- His school bought mainframe access when he was 13 — rare for the era; Microsoft itself was funded from early contract revenue.
- Affiliations & societies
- None documented.
- Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.
The pathway
- 1968 · age 13Computer access at Lakeside
His school buys terminal time on a mainframe — rare for the era.
- 1975 · age 19Founds Micro-Soft
Leaves Harvard; sells a BASIC interpreter for the Altair with Paul Allen.
- 1980 · age 24IBM contract$75K
Buys 86-DOS for ~$75K and licenses it to IBM while keeping the right to sell it to other manufacturers. His mother knew IBM's chairman through the United Way national board.
- 1986 · age 30IPO
Microsoft lists on the NASDAQ.
- 1987 · age 31Billionaire status$1.25B
Per Forbes, the youngest at the time.
- 1995 · age 39Ranked world's richest person
Holds the Forbes top spot for most of the following two decades.
- 2000 · age 44Gates Foundation
Steps back from Microsoft's day-to-day over the following years.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bill Gates from?
Bill Gates was born in 1955 in Seattle, Washington, US. Their background is described as White American; English, German, and Scots-Irish descent.
When was Bill Gates born?
Bill Gates was born in 1955, in Seattle, Washington, US.
What is Bill Gates's background or ethnicity?
Bill Gates's roots are described as White American; English, German, and Scots-Irish descent. These are broad categories drawn from public sources, not statements about how the person identifies.
Where did Bill Gates go to school?
Bill Gates's education: Lakeside School → Harvard (dropped out).
What was Bill Gates's family background growing up?
At birth the family was affluent. Prominent Seattle family — attorney father; mother served on corporate and national nonprofit boards.
How did Bill Gates get started?
Bill Gates started with terminal time. His school bought mainframe access when he was 13 — rare for the era; Microsoft itself was funded from early contract revenue.
Sources
Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.