2. OUR FRIEND ‘BILL’

3. This 1978 photo shows the 11 people who started Microsoft. The photo was taken in Albuquerque, N.M., just prior to the company's move to the Seattle area. Top row, from left: Steve Wood, Bob Wallace and Jim Lane; second row: Bob O'Rear, Bob Greenberg, March McDonald and Gordon Letwin; front row: Bill Gates, Andrea Lewis, Marla Wood and Paul Allen.

4. Bill Gates sits on stage during the Windows 95 launch event in August 1995 on the company's campus in Redmond, Wash.

5. Bill Gates was photographed by the Albuquerque police in 1977 after a traffic violation, the details of which have been lost over time.

6. Bill Gates addresses the Macworld Expo in Boston via phone link in 1997 after Steve Jobs (small on stage) announced that Microsoft would invest $150 million in Apple, forging a new alliance between the two rival companies.

7. Bill Gates and Dwayne The Rock Johnson talk about Xbox, which Gates unveiled during hiskeynote speech, at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2001.

8. TIME Magazine chose Bill Gates, U2 rocker Bono, and Melinda Gates as the Persons of the Year for 2005. The magazine cited the trio's charitable work.

9. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II presents Bill Gates with his honorary knighthood at Buckingham Palace in London in 2005. Gates can't use the title Sir; as he is not a British citizen, but was recognized for his charitable donations in Commonwealth countries.

10. Bill Gates listens to Steve Ballmer (not shown) talk to reporters on June 15, 2006, the day Gates announced his plans to step down.

11. Bill Gates speaks passionately during the press conference at the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system launch event in 2007.

12. Guitarist Slash joins Bill Gates during Gates‘ keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show in January of this year. Guitarist Slash joins Bill Gates during Gates' keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show in January of this year.