BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Bill Gates steps down from the daily duties at Microsoft, the famous company he founded 33 years ago, according to media reports Friday.
He planned to spend more time guiding the world's richest philanthropy, the 38 billion dollarBill and Melinda Gates Foundation, established a decade ago.
"He's clear that he loves the idea that he doesn't have to be the operating leadership," said Patty Stonesifer, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
From 1975 when Microsoft was started, Gateswas the company's genius programmer, and for 13 years he was the richest man in the world, losing the title only this year after he started to hand money over to his foundation and watched the markets take down the value of his remaining Microsoft stake.
When he was a child, Gates spent all his spare time fiddling with computers. By the time he was 17, Gates had created a school timetable program that amazed teachers and pupils, which laid the foundation for his future career.
Though retired from his day-to-day role, the 52-year-old billionaire is still chairman of the Microsoft board of directors and the company's largest shareholder.
(Agencies)
