Famous Lefthander Birthday, October 28

Computer Mogul & Business Magnate Bill Gates

William Henry “Bill” Gates III was born October 28, 1955, in Seattle, Washington. He is an American business magnate, co-founder of Microsoft Corporation, and philanthropist. He co-founded Microsoft, the software company, with Paul Allen. He is ranked consistently one of the world’s wealthiest, and the wealthiest as of 2009. Gates has also authored or co-authored several books.

Gates is one of the best-known entrepreneurs of the personal computer technology. Later in his career, Gates has pursued a number of philanthropic endeavours, donating large amounts of money to various charitable organizations and scientific research programs through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, established in 2000.  He stepped down as CEO of Microsoft in January, 2000. He remained as chairman and created the position of chief software architect. In June, 2006, he announced he would be transitioning from full-time work at Microsoft to part-time work, and full-time at the B & M Gates Foundation. Gates’ last full-time day at Microsoft was June 27, 2008. He remains as non-executive chairman of Microsoft.

In 1994, Bill Gates purchased fellow lefty Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester, the artist’s treasured collection of writings, for more than $30 million in an auction.

Image source:  Bill Gates World Economic Forum, 2007, Wikimedia Commons