Bill Gates

Announced the Breakthrough Energy Coalition at the 2015 Paris climate conference and launched Breakthrough Energy Ventures with other investors in 2016.^{Source [20]Source [12]}

• Announced a coalition of investors at the November 2015 Paris climate conference to back early stage clean energy research.^{Source [12]Source [20]}
• Launched Breakthrough Energy Ventures in December 2016, a 20-year, $1 billion fund backed by investors including Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson and Jack Ma.^{Source [20]}
• Backed the Catalyst project finance arm, launched in 2021 with about $1.5 billion, which stopped making new investments in February 2026.^{Source [21]}
• Breakthrough Energy named a sixth cohort of its Fellows program in September 2026.^{Source [19]}

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Formed bgC3 in 2008 as the vehicle for his work after Microsoft; it was renamed Gates Ventures in 2018.^{Source [22]Source [13]}

• Set up bgC3 in 2008 to coordinate his business, philanthropic and scientific work after Microsoft.^{Source [22]Source [13]}
• The office, renamed Gates Ventures in 2018, works on areas including climate, energy and Alzheimer's disease.^{Source [13]Source [14]}

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Founded TerraPower with a group of partners and has chaired its board since 2006.^{Source [2]}

• Founded TerraPower with Nathan Myhrvold and John Gilleland, and has served as chairman of the board since 2006.^{Source [2]}
• Co-led a 2022 equity raise with South Korea's SK that reached $830 million.^{Source [25]Source [26]}
• TerraPower began construction of its first Natrium plant, Kemmerer Unit 1 in Wyoming, on April 23, 2026.^{Source [23]}

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Co-founded the foundation with Melinda French Gates in 2000 and became sole chair in 2024. In May 2025 he said he would give virtually all his wealth through the foundation, which plans to close on December 31, 2045.^{Source [27]Source [8]Source [9]Source [10]}

• Co-founded the foundation with Melinda French Gates in 2000 and co-chaired it until 2024.^{Source [7]Source [27]Source [8]}
• Became sole chair in 2024 and, as chair, sets the organization's overall direction.^{Source [8]Source [27]}
• Announced in May 2025 that the foundation would spend more than $200 billion by 2045 and then close.^{Source [9]Source [10]}
• The foundation's endowment was $92 billion (unaudited) as of June 30, 2026.^{Source [28]}

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Co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975. He handed the CEO role to Steve Ballmer in January 2000, left day-to-day work on June 27, 2008, stepped down as chairman on February 4, 2014, and left the board on March 13, 2020.^{Source [29]Source [4]Source [5]}

• Co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen on April 4, 1975 in Albuquerque to make software for the Altair 8800.^{Source [3]Source [29]}
• Microsoft went public on March 13, 1986 at $21 per share.^{Source [31]}
• Handed the CEO role to Steve Ballmer on January 13, 2000 and became Chief Software Architect.^{Source [4]}
• Left day-to-day work on June 27, 2008, stepped down as chairman on February 4, 2014 and left the board on March 13, 2020.^{Source [5]Source [6]}

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A high school venture with Paul Allen and Paul Gilbert that processed traffic counter tapes. Gates said he funded the development of its 8008-based machine and wrote some of the software, and that it made a little money.^{Source [32]Source [33]}

• Built a traffic data business with Paul Allen and Paul Gilbert around an Intel 8008 based machine while still in high school.^{Source [32]Source [33]}
• Said he funded development of the machine and wrote some of its software.^{Source [32]}

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