Bill Gates is an American businessman, computer programmer, and philanthropist born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington. He co-founded Microsoft Corporation in 1975 with his childhood friend Paul Allen, playing a pioneering role in the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s. Gates served as CEO of Microsoft for 25 years before transitioning to other leadership roles within the company and stepping down from day-to-day operations in 2008. He became the youngest billionaire in 1987 and was ranked by Forbes as the world's wealthiest person for many years. Since 2008, he has focused on philanthropy through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he co-founded to address global health and development issues. He also engages in initiatives related to climate change and clean energy innovation. Gates has been a significant public figure in technology and philanthropy for decades and continues to influence both fields actively.
