Bill Gates

His dad was friends with Wilbert Saunders, (1908-2006,) who founded World Concern with Jim McCoy. At first, the company started as a small business called Medicinces for Missions, then was renamed World Concern in 1973. Gates attended Wilbert Saunders' funeral.

Dropped out of Harvard University in 1975 to devote himself full-time to Microsoft.

His company, Microsoft, went public on 28 October 1985, his 30th birthday.

Children: Jennifer Katharine (26 April 1996), son Rory John (23 May 1999), Phoebe Adele (14 September 2002)

Has been the richest man in the world consistently every year since 1998.

Derided by critics as "Chairman Bill" after Chinese Communist leader Zedong Mao, who was popularly known as "Chairman Mao." In a March 2002 poll of over 1,600 teenagers in Hong Kong and mainland China by researchers at the City University of Hong Kong, Gates outranked Mao as the person they idolized the most.

As of 2005, his personal fortune was in excess of $46 billion.

Made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II on March 2, 2005. Because he is not a British citizen, he may not use the title Sir, but is allowed to put KBE after his name.

As of March 2006, the 12th year in a row as #1 on Forbes' list of The World's Richest People, with a net worth exceeding $50 billion (US).

Forbes magazine estimated Microsoft chief's net worth at $53 billion, making him the world's richest American. Friend Warren Buffett came in second place with a net worth fortune estimated at $47 billion. [February 2010]

He and his wife, Melinda Gates, were both awarded the 2010 'J. William Fulbright' Prize for International Understanding.