In 1980, IBM approached Microsoft to make the BASIC interpreter for its upcoming personal computer, IBM PC. Gates proposed using 86-DOS (QDOS), an operating system. After adapting the operating system for PC, Microsoft delivered it to IBM as PC-DOS. As several companies reverse-engineered the IBM architecture and developed clones, Microsoft was quick to license DOS to other manufacturers, calling it MS-DOS. Keeping pace with time, in the early 1980s, Microsoft released ‘Windows’ as an addition and alternative to their DOS command line, and to compete with other systems in the market. By the early 1 990s, Windows had pushed other DOS-based systems out of the market. The release of Windows 3.0 in 1990 was a tremendous success, selling around 10 million copies in the first two years and cementing Microsoft’s dominance in operating systems’ sales. It gradually became the largest software company in the world.

A portion of Gates popularity can be attributed to his wife Melinda. It is due to her philanthropic mindset, that Gates came out to participate in the ‘real’ world. It was their combined effort that made Warren Buffett channelise much of his fortune to their social welfare institute, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. At the time of its inception, Gates ‘gifted’ $106 million. It provides scholarships to needy, and efforts are directed for the control of AIDS, polio, diphtheria, measles and yellow fever. It gives away at least 5% of its assets each year, in order to continue as a charitable organisation.

Gates has been continuing to drive the world with his genius. ‘Forbes’ magazine’s list of the ‘The World’s Billionaires’ has ranked him as the richest person in the world l since 1 995, and recent estimates put his net worth near $ 56 billion. But the Gates Foundation and his social work will make us remember him for more than just his business empire. He will inspire us to steadily move towards our higher goals, for he rightly said :

“If you are born poor, it’s not your mistake. But if you die poor, it’s your mistake.”