
Entrepreneur
Bill Gates
Bill Gates was born on October 28, 1955 in Seattle, Washington. He co-founded Microsoft at age 20 and launched Microsoft Office at 38.
Bill Gates was born in 1955 and is currently 71 years old. Anyone born before 1955 is older than Bill.
Born
October 28, 1955
Seattle, Washington
World pop: ~2.8B
Bill's age
71
Your age
20
Are you older than Bill Gates?
No — Bill Gates was born in 1955. You were born in 2006, making you 51 years younger.
At your age (20), Bill had already co-founded Microsoft (at age 20), but hadn't yet became the youngest billionaire (at age 31).
Bill's Life Timeline
Bill Gates was born on October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington. He showed an early interest in computers and programming, which led him to attend Harvard University. However, he dropped out in 1975 to pursue his passion for software development, co-founding Microsoft with Paul Allen. This decision would change the landscape of personal computing forever.
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Gates was 20 years old when Microsoft was founded in 1975. The company quickly grew, and by 1986, Gates became the youngest billionaire in history at the age of 31 when Microsoft went public. Over the years, he played a crucial role in the development of software products like Windows and Office, solidifying Microsoft's dominance in the tech industry. Gates stepped down as CEO in 2000 but continued to lead the company as chief software architect until 2006.
In his later life, Gates shifted his focus towards philanthropy, establishing the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000. The foundation has since become one of the largest private philanthropic organizations in the world, addressing global issues such as health, education, and poverty. Gates has received numerous accolades for his work, and he remains a prominent figure in both technology and philanthropy today.
Co-founded Microsoft
Bill Gates was 20 years old when he co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen. This venture marked the beginning of a new era in personal computing, leading to the development of software that would become ubiquitous in homes and businesses worldwide.
Bill Gates was 20 years old when he co-founded Microsoft in 1975. Are you older than Bill was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Became the youngest billionaire
Bill Gates was 31 years old when he became the youngest billionaire in history after Microsoft went public. This milestone highlighted the immense success of Microsoft and Gates's pivotal role in the tech industry.
Bill Gates was 31 years old when he became the youngest billionaire in 1986. Are you older than Bill was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Launched Microsoft Office
Bill Gates was 38 years old when Microsoft launched Microsoft Office, a suite of productivity applications that revolutionized the way people worked and communicated. This product became a standard in offices around the globe.
Bill Gates was 38 years old when he launched Microsoft Office in 1993. Are you older than Bill was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Bill Gates was 45 years old when he established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This organization has since become one of the largest philanthropic foundations, focusing on global health, education, and poverty alleviation.
Bill Gates was 45 years old when he established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000. Are you older than Bill was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Bill Gates was 52 years old when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his contributions to technology and philanthropy. This award is one of the highest civilian honors in the United States.
Bill Gates was 52 years old when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007. Are you older than Bill was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Joined the Giving Pledge
Bill Gates was 60 years old when he joined the Giving Pledge, committing to give away the majority of his wealth to charitable causes. This initiative encourages billionaires to contribute to society and address pressing global issues.
Bill Gates was 60 years old when he joined the Giving Pledge in 2015. Are you older than Bill was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Age by Year
| Year | Age | Notable Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 0 | |
| 1956 | 1 | |
| 1957 | 2 | |
| 1958 | 3 | |
| 1959 | 4 | |
| 1960 | 5 | |
| 1961 | 6 | |
| 1962 | 7 | |
| 1963 | 8 | |
| 1964 | 9 | |
| 1965 | 10 | |
| 1966 | 11 | |
| 1967 | 12 | |
| 1968 | 13 | |
| 1969 | 14 | |
| 1970 | 15 | |
| 1971 | 16 | |
| 1972 | 17 | |
| 1973 | 18 | |
| 1974 | 19 | |
| 1975 | 20 | co-founded Microsoft |
| 1976 | 21 | |
| 1977 | 22 | |
| 1978 | 23 | |
| 1979 | 24 | |
| 1980 | 25 | |
| 1981 | 26 | |
| 1982 | 27 | |
| 1983 | 28 | |
| 1984 | 29 | |
| 1985 | 30 | |
| 1986 | 31 | became the youngest billionaire |
| 1987 | 32 | |
| 1988 | 33 | |
| 1989 | 34 | |
| 1990 | 35 | |
| 1991 | 36 | |
| 1992 | 37 | |
| 1993 | 38 | launched Microsoft Office |
| 1994 | 39 | |
| 1995 | 40 | |
| 1996 | 41 | |
| 1997 | 42 | |
| 1998 | 43 | |
| 1999 | 44 | |
| 2000 | 45 | established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |
| 2001 | 46 | |
| 2002 | 47 | |
| 2003 | 48 | |
| 2004 | 49 | |
| 2005 | 50 | |
| 2006 | 51 | |
| 2007 | 52 | received the Presidential Medal of Freedom |
| 2008 | 53 | |
| 2009 | 54 | |
| 2010 | 55 | |
| 2011 | 56 | |
| 2012 | 57 | |
| 2013 | 58 | |
| 2014 | 59 | |
| 2015 | 60 | joined the Giving Pledge |
| 2016 | 61 | |
| 2017 | 62 | |
| 2018 | 63 | |
| 2019 | 64 | |
| 2020 | 65 | |
| 2021 | 66 | |
| 2022 | 67 | |
| 2023 | 68 | |
| 2024 | 69 | |
| 2025 | 70 | |
| 2026 | 71 |



