William H. (Bill) Gates - Founding A New Company, Steering Microsoft's Growth As A Software Manufacturer, Refocusing Microsoft On Internet Technology

William H. (Bill) Gates is the founder, chief software architect, and chairman of Microsoft Corp., the world's leading software company. In 2000, revenues at Microsoft reached roughly $23 billion, and employees totaled more than 39,000. Gates's firm is best known for its two landmark products: the Windows operating system, which holds a 92-percent share of the global personal computer (PC) market, and the Microsoft Office suite, which secures $9 billion in sales each year, making it the firm's best-selling product. In 2000, Gates handed managerial control of the firm over to president Steve Ballmer, opting instead to focus on technology development, which is centered around the firm's new.Net strategy. Due in large part to his 14-percent share of Microsoft, Gates is one of the wealthiest men on the planet.