William Henry "Bill" Gates III （born October 28, 1955） is an American business magnate, investor, programmer, inventor, and philanthropist. He is the founder, former chairman, and chief executive officer of Microsoft Corporation. Gates is widely recognized as one of the most successful entrepreneurs of the modern era, and his contributions to the technology industry have been instrumental in shaping the personal computer revolution.
Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, and together they developed the Microsoft Windows operating system, which has become the most widely used desktop operating system in the world. Under Gates' leadership, Microsoft grew into a global technology giant, offering a wide range of software products and services.
In addition to his business achievements, Gates is also known for his philanthropic work. He and his wife Melinda Gates founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world's largest private charitable foundations, which focuses on global health, education, and减贫 efforts.
Gates is a graduate of Harvard University, although he did not complete his degree. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to technology and philanthropy, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Turing Award.
As of 2024, Gates is ranked 7th on the Forbes Global亿万富豪榜.