L PROFILE

Bill Gates

Chairman, The Gates Foundation

$107.6B

Real Time Net Worth
as of 04/16/25

#13 in the world today

From the Editor

Bill Gates diversified his fortune from software firm Microsoft into dozens of holdings, including waste disposal firm Republic Services and tractor maker Deere & Co.
Gates, a computer enthusiast from a young age, dropped out of Harvard to cofound Microsoft with Paul Allen (d. 2018) in 1975, hoping to capitalize on the spread of personal computers.
As of March 2020, when Gates stepped down from the Microsoft board, he owned about 1.3% of the software and computing company's shares.
After Bill donated Microsoft shares worth billions to the trust that funds the Gates Foundation in 2022, his Microsoft stake is now less than 1%, Forbes estimates.
In 2021, Bill and Melinda Gates each announced on Twitter they were ending their marriage after 27 years. He is now the sole chairman of the charitable Gates Foundation.
To date, Gates has donated more than $59 billion to the Gates Foundation, including a $20 billion gift announced in 2022. Most of his early donations were gifts of Microsoft stock.

Personal Stats

Age 69

Source of Wealth Microsoft, Self Made

Self-Made Score 8

Philanthropy Score 5

Residence Medina, Washington

Citizenship United States

Marital Status Divorced

Education Drop Out, Harvard University

Children 3

Milestones

1955 Bill Gates is born in Seattle, Washington on October 28.

1975 Co-founds Microsoft with Paul Allen, setting the stage for the personal computing revolution.

1986 Microsoft goes public, rapidly increasing Gates’ wealth and influence in the tech world.

1995 Launch of Windows 95 revolutionizes personal computing, establishing Microsoft as a household name.

2000 Founds the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world’s largest private charitable organizations.

2000 Steps down as Microsoft’s CEO to focus on expanding the foundation’s philanthropic efforts.

2008 Transitions from day-to-day operations at Microsoft, dedicating more time to global health and education initiatives.

2020 Steps down from Microsoft’s board to further concentrate on philanthropy, especially in global health and climate change.

Wealth History.

Tap to Reveal Net Worth and by Year.

Motivational Quote

“It's fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.” - Bill Gates

Fun Fact

Did you know? Bill Gates is not only a tech pioneer and philanthropist—he’s also an avid reader, averaging over 50 books a year to fuel his drive for innovation and lifelong learning.