home
fans
windows vista review
inside house


































































































Bill Gates Net Worth
Bill Gates Biography
Bill Gates Fan Club
Bill Gates History
Bill Gates Home
Bill Gates Car
Bill Gates News
Bill Gates Quotes
Bill Gates House

 

     "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

| Windows VistaBill Gates Home | Bill Gates Net Worth | Inside Bill Gates House | Bill Gates Quotes | Bill Gates Fan Club  | Bill Gates History | BiographyNews  |