| As the co-founder and chairman of the mammoth | | | | society. For instance, in a 2006 list compiled by |
| Microsoft Corporation, Bill Gates is the moving | | | | New Statesman magazine, Gates was voted |
| force behind a company that has been regarded | | | | eighth in the "Heroes of Our Time" category. |
| as "The Most Innovative Company Operating in | | | | In June 2006, Gates announced that he will be |
| the U.S." (1993, Forbes magazines). Microsoft | | | | handing the reins of Microsoft's day-to-day |
| introduced several revolutionary technological | | | | operations to someone else by July 2008 to |
| advancements in the computer industry that | | | | concentrate on the philanthropic work of the Bill |
| made the company the first truly dominant player | | | | and Melinda Gates Foundation, although he will |
| among home computer operating systems. | | | | continue to serve as the company's chairman and |
| Microsoft also created the most widely used | | | | as an advisor on special projects. Plans are |
| operating system in the world, Microsoft Windows. | | | | already afoot to transfer Gates' role as Chief |
| Gates is widely regarded as the brains behind the | | | | Software Architect of Microsoft to Ray Ozzie, |
| Microsoft Corporation, primarily responsible for | | | | the former head honcho of the Groove company |
| product strategy from the time the company | | | | which Microsoft purchased in 2005. |
| was founded in 1975 until 2006. Among his key | | | | Gates has donated several millions of dollars to |
| contributions are extensively broadening the | | | | various charitable groups and scientific research |
| company's product lines and vigorously defending | | | | studies. By some estimates, Gates has |
| Microsoft's dominant position in its key areas of | | | | contributed over half his fortune to charity. Even |
| operation. And while some of his decisions have | | | | if such were the case, he can easily afford it. |
| led to antitrust litigation over Microsoft's business | | | | Recently, the prestigious Forbes magazine named |
| practices, his reputation as one of the most | | | | Gates as the world's richest person for the 12th |
| popular and respected entrepreneurs of the | | | | straight year, with a 2006 net worth of $50 billion. |
| personal computer revolution remains intact. His | | | | Incidentally, he actually became the world's first |
| fame actually surpasses the realm of computers | | | | "centibillionaire" in 1999 when his net worth |
| and business and extends into mainstream | | | | surpassed the 100 billion mark briefly. |