Have you ever turned on a computer and seen the Windows logo? That’s all thanks to two amazing men—Bill Gates and Paul Allen. They are the founders of Microsoft, one of the world’s biggest tech companies. But how did it all start? Let’s dive into the fun and inspiring history of these two tech geniuses!
Childhood Friends with Big Dreams
Bill Gates and Paul Allen met in school. They were both super smart and loved computers. In fact, when other kids were playing sports, these two were writing computer code!
- Bill Gates was born in 1955 in Seattle, Washington. He loved reading and math.
- Paul Allen was born in 1953, also in Seattle. He was always curious about how things worked.
They met at a private school called Lakeside School. The school had a computer terminal, which was rare in the 60s. Bill and Paul spent hours every day learning how to program. They became best friends—and partners in tech.
The Idea of a Computer in Every Home
Back then, computers were huge and expensive. Only big companies or universities had them. But Paul Allen had a wild idea: What if everyone had a computer in their home?
One day in 1975, Paul saw a magazine cover that changed everything. The magazine was called Popular Electronics. On the cover was a little computer called the Altair 8800. Paul showed it to Bill and said, “This is it! This is our chance!”
Creating Microsoft
At just 19 years old, Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard. Paul Allen left his job. They moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the company that made the Altair was based.
There, they started a small software company. They named it “Micro-Soft.” It stood for microcomputer software.
- First product: A version of the BASIC programming language.
- Year founded: 1975.
- Co-founders: Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
Their program worked on the Altair, and the company that made the Altair loved it! Microsoft had its first success.
In 1979, the company moved to Seattle. That’s where things really took off.
The Birth of Windows
In the early 1980s, a company called IBM came knocking. They wanted Microsoft to create an operating system for their new personal computers. Bill and Paul said yes.
That’s how MS-DOS was born! It became super popular in the 1980s.
But they didn’t stop there. They wanted to make something even easier for people to use. That’s when they created Windows.
Windows came out in 1985. It had colorful icons, menus, and windows you could click. It was way easier than typing commands. People loved it!
Paul Allen Leaves Microsoft
In 1983, Paul Allen got sick. He had a serious illness called Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Because of this, he decided to step away from Microsoft.
Even though Paul left the company, he kept a large share of it. This made him a billionaire! He went on to do many cool things—like buying sports teams and funding science projects.
Bill Gates Becomes the World’s Richest Man
Bill Gates stayed with Microsoft and worked really hard. By the 1990s, almost every PC in the world was running Windows. Microsoft became a tech giant.
Because of this, Bill Gates became incredibly rich. For many years, he was the richest person in the world.
But Bill didn’t just care about money. In 2000, he and his wife started the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation helps fight disease and poverty around the world.
What Made Them So Special?
Bill Gates and Paul Allen were not just smart—they were dreamers. They believed in a future where everyone could use a computer. And they made it happen!
Here are a few reasons they succeeded:
- Timing: They started just as personal computers were becoming popular.
- Hard work: They worked long hours and didn’t give up.
- Smart deals: They made great business decisions, especially with IBM.
- Teamwork: They weren’t alone. They built a strong team around them.
Life After Microsoft
Bill Gates stepped down as Microsoft CEO in 2000. He focused more on charity work. He officially left Microsoft’s board in 2020.
Paul Allen passed away in 2018 at the age of 65. But he left behind a huge legacy in tech, science, and sports. He owned the Seattle Seahawks football team and the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team!
Why Microsoft Still Matters
Today, Microsoft is still a huge company. It makes all kinds of products:
- Windows OS – still used on millions of computers.
- Microsoft Office – Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are must-haves.
- Xbox – their gaming console is super popular!
- Cloud services – like Azure for businesses.
Millions of people use Microsoft’s software every day. And it’s all because two teen boys had a dream back in the 1970s.
Fun Facts
- Bill Gates wrote his first computer program when he was just 13 years old!
- Paul Allen named the company “Microsoft.”
- They ran the company from a small motel room in the early days.
- Bill Gates was arrested once—for driving without a license!
Final Thoughts
Bill Gates and Paul Allen changed the world. They made computers friendly, fun, and easy to use. They proved that with passion and hard work, anyone can change the future.
So next time you turn on your PC, remember the two young guys from Seattle who made it all possible. Thank you, Bill and Paul!