Ill gates (eng. Bill Gates) is an American businessman and public figure, philanthropist, one of the founders (with Paul Allen) and former largest shareholder of Microsoft. Until June 2008 he was head of the company, after leaving office remained in the position of non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. Is co-Chairman of the charitable Foundation bill & Melinda gates Foundation, a member of the Board of Directors of Berkshire Hathaway, gene. Director Cascade investment.
In the period from 1996 to 2007, in 2009 and 2015 — the richest man on the planet by Forbes magazine. His condition in March 2015 according to Forbes magazine estimated 79.2 billion, an increase of 13.2 billion relative to September 2012. It 20 times in a row made him the richest man in the United States and 16 times the first one (the second was Carlos slim helú with his family, his fortune is estimated at 77.1 billion dollars).
Bill gates is one of the record for the amount of funds donated to charity: in the period from 1994 to 2010 he has invested in the Fund of bill and Melinda gates Foundation more than $28 billion[8]. In February 2010, gates made a proposal to all the billionaires on the transfer of half of their fortunes to charity.