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How Did Bill Gates Get So Rich?Sure, he grew up in a wealthy Seattle suburb and enjoyed a private education, but William Henry Gates III--Bill Gates--didn't take any free rides to the top. It's fair to say that he co-opted the work of other programmers to build Microsoft into the billion-dollar empire that it is today, but no one disputes his management of software development or shrewd business administration tactics. Perhaps his "aggressive" business management, more than anything else, is why he is now the wealthiest man in the world. Not bad for an upper middle class nerd. Boyhood of a Billionaire: Bill's Early YearsBill was fascinated by computers at an early age--how they worked, how he could manipulate programs, and most of all, how he could make them easier for others. At the age of 17, he designed and sold his first computer program, a time tabling system, for $4,200. After this first taste of the computer business, Bill was careful to blend his computer skills with smart money management from there on out.The Computer Contract Heard 'Round the World'Not one to quit while ahead, Gates and friend Paul Allen went on to co-write the first computer language program for a PC, establishing Microsoft Corporation in 1975. What came next was the result of intuition and acute business management ability.Understanding the need for affordable personal computers, Gates and Allan signed the historic contract that made Microsoft the primary operating system to all IBM compatible PCs. By 1985, Microsoft had $140 million in revenue. Where Is Bill Today?Bill is now the subject of bizarre fiscal calculations, such as his estimated earnings of $250 per second. His success is attributed to the fact that he capitalized and managed operating software and took risks that paid off all along the way.But Bill hasn't kept his fortune to himself. Along with being the world's wealthiest businessman, Gates is also considered one of the most generous, having given more to charity than anyone else in the United States. Whether it's one nerd's revenge or simple, cunning business administration, Bill Gates' legacy remains immeasurable. Fast Facts:Name: William Henry Gates IIIBorn: October 28th, 1955 Seattle, WA Currently Resides: Medina, WA Education: Harvard dropout First Dollar: Sold first computer program at age 17 for $4,200 First Job: Founder of Lakeside Programming Group 1968 Current Job: Founder and Chairman of Microsoft Corporation 1975- Net worth: Over $100 billion Sources: "Profile: Bill Gates" BBC News, January 26, 2004 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3428721.stm) "The New Bill Gates" By Robert X. Cringely, Nov. 23rd, 2000 (http://www.pbs.org/cingely/pulpit/pulpiit20001123.html) Bill Gates (http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/business/bill-gates/) Bill Gates: A Precocious Pioneer (http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/biography/F-2/Gates-Bill-1955.html) About the Author Marianne Salina has a B.A. in Literature and Creative Writing and enjoys researching and discussing the myriad of online degree options in her articles. By: Marianne Salina World Wide Learn Columnist |
