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1.
1950s
October 28, 1955
William Henry Gates III is born in Seattle. His grandmother Adelle nicknames him "Trey," the cardplayer's term for a three. He later becomes an avid poker player.
William H. Gates, III
Industry:
Technology
Biography:
William H. Gates III, 51, a co-founder of Microsoft, has served as Chairman since our incorporation in 1981. Mr. Gates served … View More
William Henry Gates III is born in Seattle. His grandmother Adelle nicknames him "Trey," the cardplayer's term for a three. He later becomes an avid poker player.
2.
1960s
1967
Gates, a difficult sixth grader, asks his mother, "Have you ever tried thinking?"
Fall 1967
Gates' parents enroll him in Lakeside School, an exclusive boys school in Seattle. He is the smallest kid in the class, yet has size 13 feet.
1968
Gates and Lakeside classmatePaul Allen learn Basic from a manual. Within a few weeks, the pair exhaust the school's $3,000 annual budget for time on a PDP-10 computer. The boys soon land a contract with the Computer Center Corporation to report PDP-10 software bugs in exchange for computer time.
Paul G. Allen
Industry:
Media and Publishing
Biography:
Paul G. Allen, 55, has been Chairman of Charter's board of directors since July 1999, and Chairman of the board of directors … View More
Gates, a difficult sixth grader, asks his mother, "Have you ever tried thinking?"
Fall 1967
Gates' parents enroll him in Lakeside School, an exclusive boys school in Seattle. He is the smallest kid in the class, yet has size 13 feet.
1968
Gates and Lakeside classmate
Paul Allen learn Basic from a manual. Within a few weeks, the pair exhaust the school's $3,000 annual budget for time on a PDP-10 computer. The boys soon land a contract with the Computer Center Corporation to report PDP-10 software bugs in exchange for computer time.
3.
1970-1975
1971
Gates writes programs for Lakeside, including one that creates class schedules; he manages to put himself in classes with the "right" girls.
September 1973
Gates enrolls at Harvard University. Academically, his record is spotty — having a near-photographic memory helps him cram, but he often misses class, neglecting showers and living on pizza and soda while programming and playing poker. He befriendsSteve Ballmer, who lives down the hall in the same dormitory.
January 1975
Paul Allen sees the cover of Popular Electronics — a picture of the Altair 8800 computer and the headline "World's First Minicomputer Kit to Rival Commercial Models". He buys the issue and rushes to Gates' room. A few days later, Gates calls MITS, maker of the Altair, and tells the company he and Allen could develop a version of Basic for the 8800.
February 1, 1975
Gates and Allen finish the code and sell it to MITS for $3,000 plus a percentage of royalties up to $180,000.
Steven A. Ballmer
Industry:
Technology
Biography:
Steven A. Ballmer, 52, has been a director since 2000. Mr. Ballmer has headed several Microsoft divisions during the past … View More
Gates writes programs for Lakeside, including one that creates class schedules; he manages to put himself in classes with the "right" girls.
September 1973
Gates enrolls at Harvard University. Academically, his record is spotty — having a near-photographic memory helps him cram, but he often misses class, neglecting showers and living on pizza and soda while programming and playing poker. He befriends
Steve Ballmer, who lives down the hall in the same dormitory. January 1975
Paul Allen sees the cover of Popular Electronics — a picture of the Altair 8800 computer and the headline "World's First Minicomputer Kit to Rival Commercial Models". He buys the issue and rushes to Gates' room. A few days later, Gates calls MITS, maker of the Altair, and tells the company he and Allen could develop a version of Basic for the 8800.
February 1, 1975
Gates and Allen finish the code and sell it to MITS for $3,000 plus a percentage of royalties up to $180,000.
4.
1976-1979
November 26, 1976
Gates and Allen register the trade nameMicrosoft. They had considered the name Allen & Gates Inc., then Micro-Soft, but decided to drop the hyphen. Allen is 23, Gates 21.
January 1977
Gates takes a leave of absence from Harvard and establishes Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where MITS is headquartered.
1977
On several occasions, Gates' secretary enters the Microsoft building to find him crumpled on the floor, asleep. He continues to live on pizza and is a demanding boss, often fighting with colleagues. Among his favorite responses: "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."
Late 1977
Gates is arrested several times for speeding in his Porsche 911 — once sans driver's license. Allen bails him out on at least one occasion.
December 1978
Microsoft's year-end sales exceed $1 million.
January 1, 1979
Microsoft moves its headquarters to Bellevue, Washington.
Last Trade:Change:
Summary:
The Company develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a range of software products for many different types of computing devices. View More
Gates and Allen register the trade name
Microsoft. They had considered the name Allen & Gates Inc., then Micro-Soft, but decided to drop the hyphen. Allen is 23, Gates 21. January 1977
Gates takes a leave of absence from Harvard and establishes Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where MITS is headquartered.
1977
On several occasions, Gates' secretary enters the Microsoft building to find him crumpled on the floor, asleep. He continues to live on pizza and is a demanding boss, often fighting with colleagues. Among his favorite responses: "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."
Late 1977 Gates is arrested several times for speeding in his Porsche 911 — once sans driver's license. Allen bails him out on at least one occasion.
December 1978
Microsoft's year-end sales exceed $1 million.
January 1, 1979
Microsoft moves its headquarters to Bellevue, Washington.
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