Bill Gates: PC pioneer

Microsoft tried to capture a share of the video-game market, unveiling the Xbox in 2001. Gates brought along actor Dwayne Johnson to introduce the system.  (Laura Rauch / Associated Press)

Microsoft has often come under fire from regulators and the courts, who charged that that the company was a monopoly. In 2000, U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson ordered the company broken into two pieces. But before that happened, the Justice Department announced in early September 2001 that it would no longer seek a breakup of the company. Here, Gates and his wife Melinda arrive at federal court in Washington for an antitrust hearing.  (Kenneth Lambert / Associated Press)

Gates with sixth-graders at Shohei primary school in Tokyo.  (Koji Sasahara / Associated Press)

Gates began his friendship with Steve Ballmer in their freshman year at Harvard. Ballmer succeeded Gates as Microsoft CEO in 2000.  (Ted S. Warren / Associated Press)

Gates with his wife, Melinda, and his father, Bill Gates Sr., at Harvard University. Gates received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and delivered the keynote speech at Harvard’s 2007 commencement.  (Elise Amendola / Associated Press)

Even after stepping down as CEO, Gates continued as chairman of Microsoft -- and continued to wield worldwide influence. Earlier this year, Gates went to South Korea’s presidential mansion, where, among others, he met with Hyundai Motor chairman Chung Mong-Koo. Microsoft and Hyundai Motor have a joint deal to develop a new in-vehicle music and entertainment system.  (Jung Yeon-Je | AFP/Getty Images)

At the Government Leaders Forum Asia conference in Jakarta, Gates announced plans to donate $3 million dollars to Myanmar cyclone relief efforts. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has given more than $8 billion to global health causes.  (Jewel Samad | AFP/Getty Images)

Although Microsoft has grown to almost unimaginable heights, the past few years have presented new challenges; the company’s stock is down 22% this year, and it’s attempt to buy Yahoo Inc. failed.  (Paul Sakuma / Associated Press)