|
 |
"Master of
Business"
|
Bill Gates Net Worth: 2008: $58 Billion
Harvard dropout and
Microsoft visionary no longer the world's richest man. Blame Yahoo:
Microsoft shares have fallen 15% since the company boldly attempted to
merge with the search engine giant to better fight Google for Internet
dominance. Gates is preparing to give up day-to-day involvement in the
company he cofounded 33 years ago to spend more time focused on his
philanthropic endeavors. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has
$38.7 billion in assets, donates to causes aimed at bringing financial
tools to the poor, speeding up the development of vaccines (for AIDS,
malaria, tuberculosis), bettering America's lagging high schools. Sells
20 million Microsoft shares every quarter, proceeds going to private
investment vehicle Cascade; more than half of net worth now outside of
Microsoft. Company spent $6 billion to land Web ad firm Aquantive last
May. Would-be rival to Apple's iPod, the Zune, not yet a hit. Believes
Microsoft's far-flung bets, including 10-year affair with
Internet-based television, may soon pay off; says next 10 years will be
the "most interesting" in software history.
William
Henry Bill Gates
2007 NW : 59 Billion Dollars
After numerous delays, Microsoft visionary
released latest operating system,
Vista, in January. Last June announced his retirement from company he
cofounded 31 years ago. The Harvard dropout who promised "a computer on
every desk and in every home" now focusing time and talents on tackling
diseases (hepatitis B, AIDS, malaria) in Africa, boosting America's
lackluster high school graduation rate and helping women abroad start
small businesses. This summer bridge buddy Warren Buffett pledged
majority of his Berkshire Hathaway stock to Bill & Melinda
Gates
Foundation over the next 20 years, potentially doubling foundation's
endowment. Looks like he is tired of being world's richest man again
& again.
2006 NW:
50 Billion Dollars
Microsoft's chief visionary moving further away from day-to-day
corporate work. For the first time did not offer a
strategy outlook at
last year's financial analyst meeting. Instead, prefers to dive into
innovative projects, foster collaboration among Microsoft's many
divisions. Microsoft aims to be omnipotent, selling software for PCs,
servers, cell phones, television set-top boxes, gaming consoles, the
Web. At the ripe (tech sector) age of 30, Microsoft
impressively
beats rivals in profit margins, market capitalization and R&D
budget, but its sales growth is slowing to a (recently) single-digit
percentage pace. Like elder statesman of computing, IBM, has been
investing heavily in its own stock. Diversifies methodically, selling
20 million shares every quarter, reinvesting through Cascade
Investment. Big stakes in Canadian National Railway, Republic Services,
Berkshire Hathaway. Philanthropy, via $29 billion Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation, aimed at fighting infectious disease
(hepatitis B, AIDS, malaria) and improving high schools.
2005 NW: 46 Billion
Dollars
Gates was given honorary knighthood in March, but don't
call him Sir
William: the title is only good for citizens of the Commonwealth. He is
staying plenty busy pressing Microsoft beyond PCs into television
set-top boxes, games, cell phones. "Software is where the action is,"
He proclaimed to company researchers last August. Competition from
rival open source operating system, Linux, is stalling Microsoft's
growth in the server market, but desktop dominance remains intact:
Windows installed in 94% of PCs being sold. Next version, Longhorn,
should be ready in 2006. Microsoft, meanwhile, is pursuing online
music, photos and search software.He is methodically
diversifying
his wealth: He sells 20 million shares each quarter, reinvests through
Cascade Investment in nontech companies, including big stakes in Cox
Communications, Canadian National Railway, Republic Services. World's
biggest philanthropist also devoting $27 billion to good deeds. Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation fights infectious diseases
(hepatitis B, AIDS), funds vaccine development, helps high schools.
2004 NW: 47 Billion
Dollars
Does the Comcast bid for Disney signal he entry
in big media?
That's what some are speculating, given Microsoft's 7% stake in the
cable giant. Any new media deal by Comcast would likely involve
Microsoft, if only to draw on the software maker's $50 billion in
capital. Lately, Microsoft acting more mature, paying out dividends and
nixing stock options, but no less formidable: "We're just at the
beginning of what we can do with software," proclaimed Gates at company
meeting last July. Microsoft's chief software architect pushing to move
company beyond PCs into TVs, cell phones, cars, even wristwatches.
Flagship Windows operating system runs 94% of the world's desktop
computers, but company facing heated pressure from Linux, whose
open-source system for servers is growing more quickly than
Microsoft's. Expectations high for Windows successor, dubbed Longhorn,
which might surface in 2005. Outside the office, world's biggest
philanthropist devoting billions to eradicating infectious diseases
(polio, AIDS) and developing vaccines through $24 billion Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation. Methodically diversifying: sells 20
million shares a quarter, reinvests via Cascade Investments with stakes
in Cox Communications, Canadian National Railway, Republic Services
2003 NW: 41 Billion Dollars
Microsoft founder no doubt sleeping easier after settling pesky federal
antitrust suit. This year the world's richest man will
even get a
little extra pocket change – about $100 million –
from company's first shareholder dividend. Microsoft no longer the
torrid growth machine it once was, but is weathering tech storm better
than most. Having kicked himself upstairs to more cerebral job of chief
software architect, He is busy working with developers to push
Microsoft beyond the desktop into devices like tablet PCs, cell phones,
TVs. Maintaining secrecy on next version of Windows (dubbed Longhorn,
set for release in 2005), claims it's not just an upgrade. Meanwhile
tackling global health and education with $24 billion Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation. Funds flowing to disease prevention (polio,
AIDS), vaccine development; lately buying drug stocks. Diversifies own
wealth via Cascade Investments: Corbis, stakes in Republic Services,
Canadian National Railway, Gabelli Asset Management.
2002 NW: 53 Billion
Dollars
The World's Richest Man's fortune may be $10 billion less
than it was
two years ago at the height of the bull market, but his wealth still
averages out to 62 cents of earnings for every second of Microsoft's
existence. Chairman and chief software architect continues to push
Microsoft ahead, past government inquiries and competitors. Still can't
quite shake monopolist charges: vanquished Netscape, now under AOL
umbrella, pursuing legal action, maintaining Microsoft fought unfairly
during web browser war. In spare time said to enjoy touring African
wilderness, but isn't taking very much time off: This past year led
Microsoft on a half-billion dollar introduction of Xbox in an attempt
to shoulder into videogame market; introduced updated operating system,
Windows XP.
2001 NW: 59 Billion
Dollars
Despite losing an historic antitrust ruling last year the
Microsoft
cofounder is still the wealthiest man in the world. The software
company is appealing the ruling, and he is moving on: He has
returned to the programming trenches as the company's chief software
architect.
2000 NW: 60 Billion Dollars
Even after a 45% slide in Microsoft stock, still the
world's wealthiest
man. In the midst of antitrust trials, the company's cofounder edged
away from the spotlight, handing over chief exec post to Steven
Ballmer, declaring himself chief software architect. Now facing the
prospect of having his company broken up, he's been pleading
Microsoft's case in the court of public opinion.
Also more public about
charitable donations, made through his $22 billion Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation.Source: Forbes
|
