BILL GATES is one of the richest and most famous men in the world.
Here, we look at how he made his money, and his other interests.
Who is Bill Gates?
Bill Gates is the founder of Microsoft.
In 2000, he and his then-wife Melinda Gates worked together to form the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the largest charitable foundations in the world with an endowment of $50billion.
Bill stepped down from the board of Microsoft on March 13, 2020, nearly 45 years after he founded the company with Paul Allen, and 20 years after he stepped down as CEO in 2000.
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Gates grew up in Seattle, Washington, with his two sisters and parents.
He started Microsoft with Allen after dropping out of college.
Bill married Melinda on January 1, 1994, but they divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage.
The couple have three children.
Jennifer was born on April 26, 1996, Rory arrived on May 23, 1999, and youngest Phoebe was born on September 14, 2002.
What is Bill Gates' net worth?
As of February 2023, Gates' net worth is estimated at roughly more than $106.7billion (£88bn), according to Forbes.
This is down from 2021 figures of $130.5billion (approximately £107bn) after his divorce from Melinda.
He transferred at least $6billion (£5bn) worth of shares in public companies to his ex-wife as part of the divorce settlement.
Is Bill Gates the richest person in the world?
As of February 1, 2023, Forbes has Bill Gates as No6 in the list of richest people in the world.
He is lagging behind French fashion designer Bernard Arnault, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
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At No3 is former richest man Jeff Bezos, followed by Larry Ellison and Warren Buffett at 4 and 5 respectively.
Bill and his former wife, Melinda, began their foundation in 2000 and have forked out $45billion addressing major global issues, like gender equality and poverty.
What does the Gates Foundation do?
Bill has so often topped charts as the richest person in the world that it's strange to think he could be much, much richer.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (often shortened to simply Gates Foundation) was formed in 2000, with the aim of enhancing healthcare and reducing poverty across the globe.
Their website states: "Our investments accelerate growth and stimulate private sector innovation and investment, giving our partners additional tools to effect change and improve lives.
"We make investments that align with foundation issue areas from vaccine development to education in the United States."
Is Bill Gates planning on leaving any of his fortunes to his family?
Bill has been more forthright in the past about how he plans to leave his children slightly smaller pieces of his fortune, comparatively speaking at least.
When asked about rumours that he would only leave his three children - Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe - $10million each during a Reddit AMA session in 2013, Gates explained that it was for their benefit.
He said: "I definitely think leaving kids massive amounts of money is not a favor to them.
"Warren Buffett was part of an article in Fortune talking about this in 1986 before I met him and it made me think about it and decide he was right."
