Chair of the Gates Foundation. Founder of Breakthrough Energy. Co-founder of Microsoft. Voracious reader. Avid traveler. Active blogger. Positions: Co-chair at Gates Foundation (2000 - Present), Founder at Breakthrough Energy (2015 - Present), Co-founder at Microsoft (1975 - Present) Skills: No skills available Recent Posts: Just a few decades ago, polio paralyzed 350,000 children each year. Today, that number has dropped by over 99%—a testament to the strength of the global fight for a polio-free future. Our work isn’t finished, but with critical support from partners like Rotary International, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and many other committed nations and organizations, the world can eradicate this preventable disease once and for all. This is me, Paul, and Paul’s beard in 1978. Just a couple of computer nerds with a dream, killer glasses, even better hair—and no idea where any of it would take us. What led to the Microsoft 8080 Basic Interpreter code? A miserable hike. Inspired by the space race, I wrote my own version of Lunar Lander—one of the pioneering text-based computer games. Making my first video game taught me just how unforgiving programming can be: one wrong comma and everything crashes. Think you can land the spacecraft better than I did? Play it yourself and let me know. Microsoft’s quantum researchers have created something remarkable: the world’s first quantum processor powered by topological qubits. This breakthrough paves the way for million-qubit quantum computers that can help solve the world’s most urgent problems, from developing climate-resilient crops to discovering new medical treatments. Congratulations to everyone who helped reach this incredible milestone. When this magazine came out in 1975, Paul ran all the way from a newsstand in Harvard Square to show it to me. The headline promised something we considered the holy grail: a small, powerful computer that cost just as much as a color TV. But what it didn’t have, yet, was software. That’s where we would come in. I was always curious about the world; I wasn’t always the best student. But I was lucky to have brilliant teachers who saw my potential, even when I didn’t see it myself, and pushed me to reach it. From the first time I typed on the Teletype Model 33 terminal, I was hooked. I loved how the computer forced me to think—and left no room for mental sloppiness or laziness. I had to get everything exactly right to make a program work. Look who I found in Dallas—thanks for joining me on my book tour, Mark! Tanzania has seen something remarkable happen within the last decade—child deaths have fallen by a third, and maternal mortality has dropped by 80%. In 2015, the country’s government pledged to improve health outcomes for all its citizens. And since taking office in 2021, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has deepened this commitment. Now, more women are surviving childbirth, more children are thriving into adulthood, and more young people have real hope for their futures. Under President Hassan’s leadership, Tanzania has built new health facilities, expanded essential health and nutrition services, scaled the m-Mama emergency transportation program, and leveraged maternal health data to deliver solutions to those who need them most. Her work demonstrates the impact governments can have when they prioritize the health and well-being of their people—and commit to upholding continual progress. It’s an honor to recognize President Hassan’s leadership with the Global Goalkeepers Award. Her work is more than just impactful—it’s an inspiring reminder of how pairing big ideas with decisive action can create lasting change. And now, Tanzania is poised to enter a new chapter of progress for women and children. As our Goalkeepers report highlights, we can make a difference by implementing solutions like providing complete prenatal vitamins (also known as multiple micronutrient supplements, or MMS) to pregnant women and fortifying staple foods like wheat, oil, and salt. These tools can reduce malnutrition and prevent health issues linked to vitamin deficiencies, like anemia. Gates Foundation remains committed to working with the government of Tanzania to advance even more progress on maternal and child health – and creating the more equitable world that comes with it. My dad played a key role in getting the foundation off the ground, leading with compassion and decency. Writing Source Code gave me the chance to reflect even more on everything he instilled in me. I'm proud to have shared part of his story—and my own—with the people who continue to build on and support what we started together. While writing Source Code, I spent a lot of time reflecting on the early days of building Microsoft—and everything that led up to it. I still remember the day in 1975 when Paul Allen burst into my dorm room, holding a copy of Popular Electronics with the MITS Altair 8800 on the cover. That moment, we realized we could either join the computer revolution or get left behind. It was a turning point—but we could never have imagined what came next. It was incredible to return to Microsoft’s campus today and share that story. 30 years later, I think I still got it. My memoir, Source Code, is officially out today. Looking back through decades of memories to write it was surprisingly eye-opening, meaningful, and also a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy reading it: https://lnkd.in/ghbpvVS8 My new memoir Source Code is the story of my life before Microsoft. Of my earliest successes and failures. And of not fitting in, playing cards, sneaking out, hiking mountains, and forming friendships that changed my life. I hope you enjoy it: https://lnkd.in/gndKsYiB Source Code is the story of my early years—from my childhood best friends, patient parents, and supportive teachers to the first time I ever used a computer. Writing this book helped me better understand and appreciate the people who shaped me and the experiences that laid the foundation for everything to come. I was going for cool and educational; what my classmates felt was closer to awe and disgust: https://lnkd.in/geEG-uEK If you're curious about how AI can drive positive change in business and society, I highly recommend giving this book a read. A lot has changed since the ‘60s. I didn’t become an astronaut. And the world’s idea of what girls can be when they grow up has, thankfully, evolved: https://lnkd.in/gyY9jq-7 My mom was a force—and one of the most generous people I’ve ever known. She dedicated her life to philanthropy and became the first female president of United Way of King County, later serving as board chair of United Way International. I’m proud to donate all the author's proceeds from Source Code to United Way Worldwide in her memory. Nobody knew what to do with the ASR-33 teletype when it first showed up at Lakeside School. But it introduced me to programming and brought me and Paul Allen together. I wouldn’t be where I am today without it: https://lnkd.in/g9Kumv9w I’ll never forget typing this letter to my senior tutor at Harvard. I didn’t plan to drop out permanently—but once I left, I never quite found the time to return: https://lnkd.in/gX9NAuCk Since 2019, the Gates Foundation has been supporting BioNTech SE's work in two critical areas: tuberculosis—the world's leading cause of death from infectious disease—and HIV prevention and treatment. It was inspiring to learn more about their groundbreaking work and its life-saving impact. Thank you for the tour, Dr. Ugur Sahin and Dr. Özlem Türeci. Imagine a world where every child has access to the vaccines and healthcare they need to survive. I go to work each day thinking about how the Gates Foundation can make that vision a reality. During times of crisis—like the devastating wildfires in LA right now—children face unimaginable disruption. But even when their schools close, they deserve to keep learning and maintain some sense of normalcy. I'm inspired by what Khan Academy is doing to make that happen. Effective public health is about more than just the ‘what’—it’s about the ‘how.’ Research by Nadia Akseer and her Exemplars in Global Health colleagues shows that a shared, data-backed approach can lead to lasting health improvements. Mike Maples was an extraordinary human, business leader, and friend. I’m lucky to have known him, and I’m thinking of his family during this difficult time. I thought I knew pretty much everything about Roger Federer’s tennis career, but I learned a ton—especially about his early years—from this retrospective. Filled with never-before-published photographs and personal insights from Roger himself, this book is a great gift for the tennis fan in your life: https://lnkd.in/gNc5sWYH The Carters were among my first and most inspiring role models in global health. Bono’s relentless pursuit of a healthier, more equitable world has transformed lives and communities. Congratulations, my friend. Malnutrition is the greatest health inequity in the world. Nearly two in every three children aren’t getting the nutrients to grow and thrive. But we have the innovations—and even more ideas in the pipeline—needed to make more progress and improve the lives of millions. It’s National Science Fiction Day—as good an excuse as any to recommend great books. Some of my favorite reads of the genre include Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein, and The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson. From harrowing climate disasters to science teachers on spaceships, these books are sure to transport you to another world. As 2024 comes to a close, I’m inspired by the progress the world has made, even on problems that once seemed unsolvable. And I’m grateful for a year of learning from brilliant people, experiencing small joys that keep me curious—like a good book or a great conversation—and, most of all, spending time with my family, including my newest granddaughter.   The challenges ahead are tough, but I’m optimistic that innovation and collaboration will lead to new breakthroughs—and make life better for more people—in 2025 and beyond. The world has lost a great champion in the fight against poverty and disease. President Carter never stopped working for a world where all children can grow up healthy and make the most of their dreams. He was an inspiration to me. I will miss him dearly: https://lnkd.in/gfqwdDHx Knowing where the planet’s carbon emissions come from is the first step toward eliminating them and eventually reaching net zero.​ Recent advances in HIV prevention, especially the breakthroughs in long-acting PrEP, offer powerful new ways to protect people. The next step is to make sure everyone has access to these life-saving interventions. ​ Child mortality rates are still far too high, but the world is moving in the right direction. By better understanding root causes and staying committed to prevention and evidence-based interventions, we can speed up progress and save even more lives. The European Platform for Neurodegenerative Diseases (EPND) has just launched their data hub—a game-changing resource that will accelerate research through collaboration and innovation in the field. Here’s the kind of book I love—one that sparks curiosity and helps you see the world differently. Grady Hillhouse, P.E.’s Engineering in Plain Sight reveals the mysteries of modern-day infrastructure in a fascinating and approachable way: https://lnkd.in/gTTQq84S I’ve said it before: Texas is at the forefront of the clean energy transition. Not only are these groundbreaking companies driving innovation—they’re bringing good jobs to their communities and boosting the American economy: https://lnkd.in/gJKtzg7V The future of fusion is brighter than ever. By harnessing the same process seen inside a star, Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ power plants could one day produce extraordinary amounts of clean energy to meet the world’s growing demand. The 2024 #WorldMalariaReport shows that the fight against malaria is getting harder as climate change raises temperatures and expands mosquito habitats. By 2050, over 1.3 billion people in Africa—around 75% of the population—will live in areas where malaria will be more difficult to eradicate than it is today. The good news is that, with transformative tools and increased commitment, we can fight back against malaria and the challenges it brings. Reading Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation made me reconsider the “Think Weeks” I did starting in the ‘90s. If I had grown up with today’s tech and all the distractions that come with it, would I have been able to get as much done? What I like about Haidt’s new book is that it brings up some difficult questions about young people living life online—but it also provides a roadmap for how we can help them change course: https://lnkd.in/gf_-7HRx The holiday season is a great time to dive into a great book, and I always like to share some of my favorites: https://lnkd.in/g5mndHWV This graph tells a story that’s worth sharing: The world has made incredible progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS. From a devastating peak to life-saving valleys, this is proof of what global collaboration and access to life-saving tools can achieve: https://b-gat.es/3ZLseDE Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a policymaker, or someone simply trying to understand where the world is heading—you should read The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman. It’s one of the most important books on AI ever written: https://lnkd.in/gwqrhAXp If you are looking for reasons for optimism this winter, “Chasing Hope” by Nick Kristof is a great place to start. One of the highlights of my year was getting to break ground on America’s first next-gen nuclear plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The TerraPower Natrium plant is already helping the local economy grow, and its construction is expected to create 1,600 jobs in the years ahead. A thrilling sign of what’s to come with future projects: https://lnkd.in/giMnKy7N When it comes to clean energy, ambitious goals alone aren’t enough. That’s why the Breakthrough Energy Cleantech Reality Check dives into Europe’s progress in key technologies like renewable hydrogen, shipping, and aviation. By focusing on real outcomes—not just targets—we can see what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change. Doris Kearns Goodwin’s An Unfinished Love Story is part personal memoir, part political history—and masterful storytelling all around: https://lnkd.in/gZnSeTnq