Direct from the dpa news channel
Redmond (AP) – He is considered a man of quiet tones, the rather shy public appearances. Even today, Bill Gates likes to linger on in the background, it should again be with his wife Melinda in the spotlight.
The American magazine “Forbes” lists William “Bill” Henry Gates III. currently as the richest man in the world. Thanks to Gates made primarily to the success of Microsoft. On October 28, the software architect and philanthropist is 60 years old.
The company was founded Gates paved instrumental in the 70s way into the computer age. Together with his friend Paul Allen discovered Gates the potential of the software. Gates founded not only the rise of Microsoft, but ultimately invented the software industry.
Unlike the charismatic occurring Apple founder Steve Jobs Gates was always more than reticent computer nerd. But he has at least realized in developed countries his grand vision: A PC is now in almost every household – 40 years ago this vision was still a very ambitious goal. In the mobile revolution, however, Gates and his colleagues had the archrival Apple and the iPhone to run after, though Gates had mobile handheld computers and smartphones with Windows in the program even before Steve Jobs.
The life of Bill Gates turns now no longer primarily PCs, smartphones and software: For seven years he dedicated his work almost exclusively charitable purposes. Gates is one of the people with the greatest generosity of the world. $ 1.3 billion was Gates, according to “Forbes” together with his wife Melinda in 2014 for charitable purposes from and is thus listed on the second place. He is only surpassed by the large US investor Warren Buffett, who came on a willingness to donate in the amount of 2.8 billion dollars. Currently Gates’ fortune is estimated to 79.2 billion dollars.
Both Bill Gates and his wife Melinda French Gates were raised in families where the values of volunteerism and personal commitment have been taught, it says on the websites of the Foundation. “When life is good for one, you should use this gift as good and wise as you can,” it says.
The first foundation projects of the two belonged in the 90s equipping Public libraries in the United States with Internet access via the Gates Library Foundation. Gates learned about his company Microsoft, the importance of a PC access to education, they say. Soon after the engagement of the pair should extend to other areas of the world, about the fight against diseases such as malaria, AIDS and polio, as well as the fight against climate change.
Many diseases are considered nearly defeated in the developed industrial nations , In Africa, Asia and elsewhere the lives of many millions of children, however, is in danger, because often there is a lack of the simplest medical treatments to about vaccinations. To change that, Bill and Melinda wrote from then on the flags. In 2010 she set for the next decade $ 10 billion alone for the exploration and distribution of vaccines for the poorest countries is available.
But there are always criticizing the policies of the Foundation Foundation. So denounced recently in March of the “Guardian” that the commitment to combat climate change, the work of asset management precludes contrary. According to a data analysis in the tax year 2013 has shown that the Foundation has invested $ 1.4 billion in companies that promote oil, gas or coal, and were responsible for some major environmental disasters, such as the British BP or the US company Exxon. The Foundation should have assets of nearly 30 billion dollars.
Also, the Foundation is accused of close ties to seed company Monsanto. With appropriate investment, the Foundation promotes the Food Group, which stands in the review to consolidate African poverty and to maintain the state-owned agriculture around with patenting of plants in dependence.
Bill Gates was in 1955 in the near Seattle in Washington State was born. Even at school he met the older Paul Allen, co-founder of the later Microsoft, know and spent with him every spare minute with computers where you then still could rent computing power. 1975 Gates broke off his studies in order to devote more of his small company Micro-Soft and build the company. As a founding date is April 4, 1975.
His storybook career began gates with a large order from IBM. It should provide an operating system for the PC. Gates accepted the commission and bought for around $ 50 000. The rights to the system QDOS (Quick and Dirty OS), it developed further and named it in MS-DOS (Microsoft Disc Operating System) to. In order for the PC era began. For global corporation Microsoft then climbed on to the Windows operating system. As leader of the Microsoft troops in “browser war” against Netscape, Gates was also repeatedly criticized. Ultimately, however, he sat through.
At the height of his success, Gates came in early 2000 at the retreat. At first he gave the position as Chief Executive Officer to his longtime friend Steve Ballmer. Officially he left in September 2007, in June 2008, the then 53-year-old then moved almost entirely from the software group back. Since then, he takes only as chairman of the board influence.
The 60-year-old lives with his wife and three children in a high-tech property near Seattle. However, despite all the wealth, the children can not hope for a great legacy. The majority should benefit society, Melinda Gates said in an interview.
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