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Bill Gates Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birthOctober 28, 1955

Age68 Years

BirthplaceSeattle, Washington, USA

ProfessionEntrepreneur, American Business Magnate, Investor, Author and Philanthropist

NationalityAmerican

Marital statusDivorced

SpouseMelinda Gates

FamilyChildren - Rory John Gates; Jennifer Katharine Gates; Phoebe Adele Gates

Net worth$127.5 billion (as of March 2024)

Bill Gates Biography

William H. Gates III is an American entrepreneur, investor, author and philanthropist best known as the co-founder of Microsoft. Born in Seattle in 1955,he

Early life and background

William Henry Gates III was born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington. Raised in a family that valued education and civic engagement, he attended Lakeside School, where an early fascination with computers and programming took hold. Gates performed exceptionally well academically and went on to enroll at Harvard College in 1973, a formative stop where he met future collaborators before leaving to pursue software development full time.

Career

In 1975 Gates left Harvard and, together with his childhood friend Paul Allen, founded a company initially called Micro-Soft. That venture evolved into Microsoft, the software company that would define much of Gates’s professional life and reshape the personal computing industry. Over the following decades he became known as a business magnate and investor, holding leadership roles at Microsoft until he transitioned to an advisory position in 2014 to support the company’s new CEO.

Gates’s public profile over the years has included periods as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals. He remained among the planet’s richest people through the late 1990s and into the 2000s, and for many years was widely recognized as the richest person on Earth. His household in the Seattle area, often described in media accounts, reflects both his interest in technology and his personal tastes.

Philanthropy and public life

Outside of Microsoft, Gates is well known for his philanthropic work. He and Melinda Gates built a major foundation aimed at addressing global health and development challenges. The foundation, and the couple’s charitable priorities, have attracted close public attention and occasional criticism regarding investment choices and strategy. In public communications and media appearances, Gates has also shared personal reflections on work, technology and career development, including a widely circulated early resume he posted to social media.

Public profile

Gates’s personal life has been a regular subject of media reporting. He married Melinda in 1994; the couple announced their decision to divorce in May 2021, with the divorce finalized later that year. The pair have three children: Jennifer Katharine Gates, Rory John Gates and Phoebe Adele Gates. Media coverage has also noted family milestones such as the arrival of a grandchild in 2023.

Latest updates

In 2014 Gates stepped down as chairman of Microsoft and took on a technology adviser role. In May 2024 Melinda Gates announced she would step down as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Public reporting in 2024 also lists an updated estimate of Gates’s net worth, and popular coverage continues to document his activities in philanthropy, public commentary and occasional personal recollections shared on social platforms.

Personal details and interests

Gates is identified with American nationality and was born and raised in Seattle. He is listed as attending Harvard University and having graduated from Lakeside School earlier in his education. Physical descriptions that appear in public profiles include a height of about 5 feet 10 inches and greyish-blue eye color. He has expressed interests in pursuits such as golf and tennis and has collected notable works and possessions over the years, including an important Leonardo da Vinci manuscript acquired at auction.

Controversies and public scrutiny

As a high-profile figure whose wealth and influence span business and philanthropy, Gates and his foundation have faced scrutiny and criticism from media and commentators at various times. Reporting has included debate about investment decisions and the social impact of companies associated with foundation assets. These discussions form part of the broader public conversation about the role of major philanthropic institutions.

Legacy

Gates’s impact on computing, technology entrepreneurship and global philanthropy is widely recognized. From early programming projects at school to co-founding one of the most influential software companies in history, and later directing enormous philanthropic efforts, his career spans innovations in technology and large-scale charitable initiatives. He and Melinda have indicated plans for how they intend to manage family inheritance in the context of broad philanthropic commitments.
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Recent Work

Stepped down as Microsoft chairman; became technology adviser

In February 2014 Gates left the chairmanship of Microsoft and took on a role as technology adviser to support the newly appointed CEO.

2014
Melinda Gates stepped down as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Melinda Gates announced her decision to step down as co-chair of the foundation in May 2024.

2024
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Career Highlights

  1. Co-founded Micro-Soft (later Microsoft) with Paul Allen in 1975
  2. Led Microsoft through its rise as a dominant software company
  3. Transitioned to technology adviser at Microsoft in 2014
  4. Co-founded and shaped the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
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Net Worth

$127.5 billion (as of March 2024)

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Bill Gates born?

October 28, 1955

What is Bill Gates known for?

Entrepreneur, American Business Magnate, Investor, Author and Philanthropist

What is Bill Gates’s marital status?

Divorced

Who is Bill Gates married to?

Melinda Gates

What is Bill Gates’s net worth?

$127.5 billion (as of March 2024)