At Harvard, Gates was the first microcomputer? MITS Altair developed a version of the BASIC programming language. In his junior year, Gates left Harvard and devoted all his energy to the Microsoft Company founded by him and his childhood friend paul allen in 1975.
Guided by the belief that computers will become the most important tool in every home and office, they began to develop software for personal computers. Gates' foresight and his foresight in personal computers have become the key to the success of Microsoft and the software industry.
Under the leadership of Gates, Microsoft constantly develops and improves software technology to make software easier to use, more economical and more interesting. The company is committed to long-term development, as can be seen from the current annual R&D expenditure of more than 5 billion US dollars.
In addition to his passion for computers and software, Gates is also interested in biotechnology. He is a member of the board of directors of ICOS, a company specializing in protein matrix and small molecule therapy. He is also an investor in many other biotechnology companies.
Gates also founded Corbis, which is developing one of the largest visual information resources in the world? Comprehensive digital archives of public and private collections of art and photography from all over the world.
In addition, Gates also invested in Teledesic with Craig McCaw, a pioneer in mobile phones. This is an ambitious plan, using hundreds of low-orbit satellites to provide two-way broadband telecommunications services covering the whole world. ?
For Gates, philanthropy is also very important. He and his wife Melinda have donated $3.46 billion to set up a fund to support charities in the fields of medical care, health and education around the world. It is hoped that as mankind enters the 2 1 century, the scientific and technological progress in these key fields will benefit all mankind. Up to today, the foundation established by Gates and his wife Melinda Gates has spent $65.438+73 billion on global health, and more than $900 million on improving people's learning conditions, including purchasing computer equipment for Gates Library and providing Internet training and Internet access services for public libraries in low-income communities in the United States and Canada. In addition, more than 260 million US dollars will be used for community projects in the Pacific Northwest, and more than 380 million US dollars will be used for some special projects and annual gift distribution activities.
Buffett: 1957, Buffett established a non-binding Buffett investment club with a capital of 300,000 US dollars, which rose to 500,000 US dollars at the end of the year.
From 65438 to 0962, the capital of Buffett's partner company reached 7.2 million US dollars, of which 1 10,000 belonged to Buffett himself. At that time, he merged several partnerships into one. Buffett partnership limited? . The minimum investment has been expanded to more than 654.38 million dollars. It's a bit like a private equity fund or a private investment company in China.
From 65438 to 0964, Buffett's personal wealth reached $4 million, while the funds he was in charge of had reached $22 million.
1967 10, Buffett's funds reached $65 million.
1968, Buffett's stock achieved the best result in history: it rose by 46%, while the Tao? The Jones index has only increased by 9%. Buffett's funds rose to $6.5438+0.04 million, of which $25 million belonged to Buffett.
1968 In May, when the stock market was soaring, Buffett informed his partners that he was retiring. Subsequently, he gradually liquidated almost all the shares of Buffett Partners.
In March 2000, Buffett became the honorary chairman of RCA Certified Analysts Association.
Since 2000, Buffett has raised funds for the Glide Foundation through online auction. The reserve price is $50,000, so as to get a chance to have dinner with Buffett.
In June 2006, Buffett announced the transfer of about10 million shares of Berkshire? Hathaway B shares donated to Bill and Melinda? The Gates Foundation's plan is the largest charitable donation in American history.
On the evening of March 1 2007, Warren? Warren. Buffett's investment flagship company Berkshire? Berkshire Hathaway announced its financial year 2006 results, data show that it benefited from the hurricane? Break an appointment? The company's main insurance business is profitable. In 2006, Berkshire's profit increased by 29.2%, reaching $65,438+$065,438+$200 million (up from $8.53 billion in the same period in 2005). Earnings per share were $765,438+044 ($5,338 in 2005).
During the 42 years from 1965 to 2006, the average annual growth rate of Berkshire's net assets reached 2 1.46%, with a cumulative increase of 361156%; In the same period, the average annual growth rate of S&P 500 companies was 65,438+00.4%, and the cumulative growth rate was 64.79%.