Bill Gates’ Biography, Essay Example

In the information technology industry, Bill Gates, whose full name is Henry Gates III, has many achievements. He is an entrepreneur and American computer programmer who co-founded the largest personal-computer software company globally known as Microsoft Corporation. An understanding of Bill’s professional progress is a positive indicator of information technology industry stakeholders like learners. One major tool to fully understand the advances made by Bill is his biography. One can closely follow his entry into the information technology industry, goals and objectives met, and plan in his businesses.

In October 1955, William Henry Gates III’s (Bill) birth took place in Seattle, Washington (Bill). His family was upper-middle-class, and he was the second of three children. Bill loved to read, playing games, and was competitive. Initially, he schooled in a public school but later was sent to Lakeside School, which is of private status. He excelled in English, drama, science, and math. At the age of 13, Bill displayed his interest in programming using computers at the Lakeside School (Bill). Later, he pursued this passion through college. Coming up with some ideas together with those of his business partner and friend Paul Allen, Bill came up with Microsoft. Through aggressive business tactics and technological innovation, they built the largest software company in the globe.

What made Bill famous was his founding of Microsoft. Initially, aged 15 years in 1970, Paul and Bill went into business (Bill). They developed a computer program that was monitoring traffic patterns within Seattle, Washington. Out of this deal, they netted $20,000. Afterwards, they wanted to start a company, but Bill’s parents wanted him to complete school first since they hoped he would become a lawyer (Bill). However, Bill remained in contact with his friend and business partner, Paul. In 1974, Bill joined Paul Allen in Boston, Massachusetts (Bill). Paul had dropped out of Washington State University, where he had only studied for two years. Both friends started working at a company known as Honeywell. Allen was able to show Bill an edition entailing a popular electronics magazine about an article featuring Altair 8800 mini-computer kit.

The Altair was a product of a small New Mexico company known as Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS). Paul and Bill contacted this company claiming to provide software that could run the Altair computer. They were asked for a demonstration by the company president; however, they never had an Altair to work with and any coding skills. Instead, they took two months into writing the required software at the Harvard computer lab. Paul tested the software, and it worked. He was later hired by MITS. Bill left Harvard and joined Paul to work on their new software program. Later, in 1975, Bill and Paul came into a business partnership and named it Micro-Soft.

Three years later, MITS was sold to another company. Paul and Bill had to claim their software production rights. Microsoft was able to write different format software for other computer companies. In the same year, 1978, Microsoft operations were moved by Bill to east Seattle, Bellevue Washington. His number of employees was 25 and placed himself on the Microsoft head (O’Regan 218). At the age of only 23 years in 1978, Bill earned $2.5 million (219). In November 1980, IBM signed a contract with Microsoft about software supply in operating their personal computers. Between the years, 1978 and 1981, an increase in staff numbers and general growth was recorded in the Microsoft Company. The new staff members’ number was 128 from the previous 25 (220). An increase in revenue was found to be $16 million from $4 million. In the middle of 1981, Microsoft was incorporated. Bill got appointed the chairman of the board and president. His business partner was appointed the executive company’s vice-president.

Microsoft was able to go global in the year 1983, expanded its offices internationally in Japan and Britain. Averagely, 30% of the global computers were being operated using its software. In 1985, the stiff competition was within the information technology industry. Two years early, the Macintosh system (Apple Computer Corporation) had introduced a visual windows system. For Microsoft to remain relevant, Bill was able to launch Microsoft Windows in November 1985 (Adam 48). It was similar to the product of its competitor launched two years earlier. Upon increased business growth, in the year 1986, Microsoft was taken public having an initial public offering of $21 in each share (Adam 50). Bill, at this time, had held 45% of the Microsoft shares. He became an instant millionaire while aged 31 years old, having a net worth of $234 million (Adam 51). Generally, Microsoft was valued at $520 million shares.

One year later, in 1987, the company had a stock increase in value, enabling Bill to become an instant billionaire. Microsoft shares were selling at $90.75 a share. In the year 1999, the Microsoft stock prices recorded the highest value, enabling Bill to have his wealth valued at $101 billion (Bill). Since then, Bill has been one of the top information technology industry moguls and entrepreneurs. Currently, he remains as the Microsoft technical adviser who helps the company CEO, Satya Nadella, and other senior leaders on software issues (Bill). Other advisory areas include artificial intelligence and health-care technology. Bill has dedicated much of his time to charity work among other activities in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Works Cited

Adam, Muhammad. “What’s in a Bill Gates.” Prologue 4.1 (2018): 46-78.

Bill, Gates. “Bill Gates Biography.” (2019).

O’Regan, Gerard. “Personal and Home Computers.” The Innovation in Computing Companion. Springer, Cham, 2018. 217-220.