8. Bill Gates William (Bill) H.

Gates (1955-) is chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft Corporation, the leading provider of software for the personal computer. Microsoft employs more than 32.000 people in 60 countries. Gates attended public elementary school and the private Lakeside School. There, he began his career in personal computer software at the age of 13. In 1973, Gates entered Harvard University as a freshman. While at Harvard, Gates developed the programming language BASIC for the first microcomputer. In this junior year, Gates left Harvard University to devote his energies to Microsoft, a company he had begun in 1975 with Paul Allen. Guided by a belief that the personal computer would be a valuable tool on every office desktop and in every home, they began developing software for personal computers. Gates foresight and vision regarding personal computing have been central to the success of Microsoft and the software industry. Gates is actively involved in key management and strategic decision at Microsoft, and plays an important role in the technical development of new products. A significant portion of his time is devoted to meeting which customers and staying in contact with Microsoft employees around the world through e-mail. Under Gates leadership, Microsofts mission has been to continually advance and improve software technology and make it easier, more cost-effective and more enjoyable for people to use computers. In 1999, Gates wrote Business@ the Speed of Thought, a book that show how digital processes can solve business problems in fundamentally new way. Gates published in 1995 his previous book The Road Ahead,. Gates has donated the proceeds of both books to non-profit organizations that support the use of technology in education and skills development. In addition to his passion for computers, Gates is interested in biotechnology. He also founded Corbis Corporation, which is developing one of the largest resources of visual information in the world a comprehensive digital archive of art and photography from public and private collections around the globe.

Bill and Melinda Gates have endowed a foundation with more that than $21 billion to support philanthropic initiatives in the areas of global health and learning. To date, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has omitted more than $4 billion to organizations working to improve peoples lives by sharing innovations in health, education, and access to technology with those most in need. Major grants include $750 million to the Global Fund for Childrens Vaccines. Gates is an avid reader and enjoys playing golf and bridge.