How Did Microsoft Become So Successful? The Backstory: Bill Gates

Dukascopy TV (EN)

30 Jan 201904:31

Summary

TLDRBill Gates, born in 1955, transformed from a computer-obsessed teenager into a business magnate and philanthropist. His journey began at Lakeside School, where he developed a passion for computers. After dropping out of Harvard, he co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen. The company's success with MS-DOS and Windows made Gates the youngest billionaire at 31. Post-retirement, he focused on philanthropy, establishing the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and investing in sustainable technologies and global health initiatives.

Takeaways

👶 Bill Gates was born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, and came from a middle-class family.
🎓 At the age of 13, Gates was enrolled at the exclusive preparatory Lakeside School where his interest in computers began.
💻 He wrote a tic-tac-toe program in BASIC, showing early programming skills.
🏢 Gates dropped out of Harvard after two years to start Microsoft with his friend Paul Allen.
💼 Microsoft grew rapidly, with Gates as its head at the age of 23, and grossed approximately 2.5 million USD within four years.
📈 The development of MS-DOS for IBM led to significant growth, increasing Microsoft's revenue to 16 million USD.
🔝 At 31, Gates became the youngest billionaire ever when Microsoft went public.
💍 He met his future wife Melinda, and they married, influencing his later philanthropic endeavors.
🏆 Gates was named Forbes' richest man at 39 and held the title until 2009.
🌐 He launched Internet Explorer as part of Windows 95 and published his first book, 'The Road Ahead'.
📚 Gates stepped down as Microsoft's CEO in 2000, focusing on philanthropy and humanitarian work.
🤝 The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was formed in 2000, merging two previous foundations.
💰 Gates, along with other billionaires, pledged to donate at least half of their wealth to charity.
🌱 He is an active investor in renewables, alternative energy solutions, and sustainable development projects.
🚽 His latest endeavor includes reinventing the toilet to turn waste into clean water and energy.

Q & A

When and where was Bill Gates born?
-Bill Gates was born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington.
What was Bill Gates' family background?
-Bill Gates came from a middle-class family and was the second child between two sisters.
At what age did Bill Gates start showing an interest in computers?
-Bill Gates' fascination with computers began when he was around the age of 13.
Which school did Bill Gates attend that had a teletype terminal?
-Bill Gates attended the exclusive preparatory Lakeside School in Seattle, where he had access to a teletype terminal.
What program did Bill Gates write during his time at Lakeside School?
-At Lakeside School, Bill Gates wrote a tic-tac-toe program in BASIC computer language.
Why did Bill Gates drop out of Harvard University?
-Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard after two years to focus on his own business with his old school friend, Paul Allen.
What was the name of the company Bill Gates co-founded with Paul Allen?
-Bill Gates and Paul Allen co-founded the company Microsoft.
How much revenue was Microsoft generating after four years of its establishment?
-After four years, Microsoft was grossing approximately 2.5 million US dollars.
At what age did Bill Gates become the youngest billionaire ever?
-Bill Gates became the youngest billionaire ever at the age of 31 when Microsoft stocks reached $90.75 a share.
What was the name of the book Bill Gates published that became a number-one seller?
-Bill Gates published a book called 'The Road Ahead,' which became a number-one seller.
In what year did Bill Gates step down as Microsoft's CEO?
-Bill Gates stepped down as Microsoft's CEO in the year 2000.
What philanthropic organization did Bill and Melinda Gates establish?
-Bill and Melinda Gates established the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000.
What is one of Bill Gates' latest endeavors mentioned in the script?
-One of Bill Gates' latest endeavors is reinventing the toilet to turn waste into clean water and energy.

Outlines

00:00

💼 The Rise of Bill Gates: From Nerd to Business Magnate

Bill Gates, born in 1955 in Seattle, Washington, came from a middle-class family and showed early signs of eccentric reading habits. At the age of 13, he was enrolled in the exclusive Lakeside School, where his interest in computers blossomed. He wrote a tic-tac-toe program in BASIC and later enrolled at Harvard University, though he spent more time in computer labs than in law classes. After dropping out, Gates co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen, focusing on software solutions for the Altair 8800. Within four years, the company was grossing $2.5 million, and Gates became its head at the age of 23. Microsoft's development of MS-DOS for IBM and subsequent growth led to Gates becoming the youngest billionaire at 31. His personal life included meeting his future wife Melinda, and being named Forbes' richest man multiple times.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Business Magnate

A business magnate is a person who has achieved great success and wealth through their business ventures. In the context of the video, Bill Gates is referred to as a business magnate due to his founding and leading Microsoft to become one of the world's most valuable companies. His role in shaping the personal computing industry and amassing significant wealth through Microsoft's success exemplifies this term.

💡Humanitarian

A humanitarian is someone who is concerned with promoting human welfare and seeks to alleviate human suffering. The video highlights Bill Gates' transition from a business leader to a humanitarian, focusing on his philanthropic efforts through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. His work in addressing global health, poverty, and education issues illustrates his commitment to humanitarian causes.

💡Philanthropist

A philanthropist is an individual who donates large sums of money to support good causes. In the video, Gates is described as a philanthropist due to his and his wife Melinda's establishment of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has donated billions to various charitable causes, including global health and education initiatives.

💡Microsoft

Microsoft is a multinational technology company that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of software products and services. The video script details the founding of Microsoft by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, and its growth into a major player in the technology industry, which is central to Gates' story as a business magnate and his later philanthropic activities.

💡Altair 8800

The Altair 8800 is one of the first successful microcomputers and a significant milestone in the development of personal computing. In the video, it is mentioned as the mini computer kit for which Gates and Allen developed software, marking one of Microsoft's early successes and contributing to the company's growth.

💡MS-DOS

MS-DOS, or Microsoft Disk Operating System, was an operating system for x86-based personal computers. The video discusses the development of MS-DOS as a pivotal moment in Microsoft's history, leading to a significant contract with IBM and propelling Gates to new heights of business success.

💡Harvard University

Harvard University is a prestigious Ivy League institution known for its rigorous academic programs. The video mentions Gates' enrollment at Harvard, where he initially studied law before shifting his focus to computers. His time at Harvard is a formative part of his journey, as it led to his decision to drop out and co-found Microsoft.

💡Billionaire

A billionaire is an individual with a net worth of at least one billion dollars. The video notes that at the age of 31, Gates became the world's youngest self-made billionaire due to the success of Microsoft. This status is a testament to his business acumen and the financial success of his company.

💡Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and was once the most widely used browser globally. The video script mentions the launch of Internet Explorer as part of Windows 95, which was a significant moment in the company's history and Gates' business strategy, aiming to integrate web browsing into the operating system.

💡Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is a private foundation founded by Bill and Melinda Gates, aimed at enhancing healthcare, reducing extreme poverty, and expanding educational opportunities. The video describes the establishment of this foundation as a key aspect of Gates' philanthropic work, reflecting his commitment to using his wealth to improve global conditions.

💡Renewable Energy

Renewable energy refers to energy that is collected from renewable resources, like sunlight, wind, and rain, which are naturally replenished. The video mentions Gates' investment in renewable and alternative energy solutions, indicating his interest in sustainable technologies and their role in addressing environmental challenges.

Highlights

Bill Gates was born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington, and came from a middle-class family.

At the age of 13, Gates was enrolled at the exclusive preparatory Lakeside School, where his interest in computers began.

Gates wrote a tic-tac-toe program in BASIC, allowing users to play against the computer.

He enrolled at Harvard University but spent most of his time in computer labs.

Gates dropped out of Harvard to start his own business with Paul Allen, forming Microsoft.

Microsoft offered software solutions for the Altair 8800 mini computer kit, leading to significant early success.

At 23, Gates became the head of Microsoft, which was grossing approximately 2.5 million US dollars.

During the development of MS-DOS software, Microsoft's revenue jumped to 16 million US dollars.

At 31, Gates became the youngest billionaire ever when Microsoft stocks reached $90.75 a share.

Gates met his future wife Melinda and took time to travel, gaining a new perspective on life.

Gates was named Forbes richest man at the age of 39, a title he held until 2009.

In 1995, Gates launched Internet Explorer as part of Windows 95 and published his first book, 'The Road Ahead'.

Gates stepped down as Microsoft's CEO in 2000 to become the chief Software Architect.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was formed in 2000, merging two previous foundations.

Gates announced his plans to retire in 2008 and received an honorary degree from Harvard University.

Post-retirement, Gates focused on humanitarian problems and philanthropy.

Gates, along with Warren Buffett and Mark Zuckerberg, pledged to donate at least half of their wealth to charity.

Gates remains an active investor, putting money into renewables, alternative energy solutions, and other innovative projects.

His latest endeavor involves reinventing the toilet to turn waste into clean water and energy.