Bill Gates , in an interview with CNBC, talked about his college days- He never thought he would become a billionaire when he dropped out of college
- Gates had a vision, and sheer love for software
In the tech world, some of the biggest success stories come from people who chose to walk away from college to pursue their passions.
Gates, who is one of the wealthiest people in the world today, never imagined he'd become a billionaire when he dropped out of Harvard. His focus was not on money or fame; it was on creating something revolutionary. At just 20 years old, Gates was consumed by the possibilities of software, willing to dedicate his entire life to it, without knowing how far that passion would take him. In a recent interview with CNBC, Gates shed light on his years fresh out of college.
Bill Gates and his definition of success
In the mid-1970s, Gates, along with his friend and co-founder Paul Allen, believed that the future of computing lay in making microcomputers accessible to the general public. At the time, their vision seemed far-fetched. Personal computers were not widely accepted, and people like Gates were often dismissed as hobbyists rather than serious entrepreneurs.
But that didn’t deter Gates. For him, success meant creating a product that would change the world. "Back then, it was just: Is my code really good? Does it work?" Gates told CNBC Make It. His goal was to build high-quality software that could make computers useful for everyday people.
Gates also said that during those early years, his definition of success was closely tied to Microsoft’s growth. Everything he did was centered on building the company. His focus was so intense that he admits there was little room for anything else. "In my 20s, I didn't believe in weekends and vacations," Gates has said, noting that he pushed himself—and his employees—relentlessly.
Over time, as Microsoft grew and Gates became one of the richest men in the world, his perspective on success started to change. He also said that he no longer measures success by how well Microsoft performs or how much money he makes. Instead, Gates now asks a different question: "Am I adding net value to the world?"
"The magic of software"
Gates, during the interview, also said that idea of having "a personal computer on every desk and in every home" was the driving force behind Microsoft. It might sound simple today, but back then, it was groundbreaking, Gates added.
The billionaire also said that he was willing to put everything on the line for this vision. In his early 20s, he lived and breathed Microsoft. "It was all Microsoft, all the time in my 20s," he said.
That intense focus helped Microsoft become a dominant player in the software industry. Today, the company is valued at over $3 trillion, and Gates himself is worth an estimated $128 billion. But when he first left college, Gates wasn’t dreaming of wealth. His singular mission was to make a lasting impact with software. He saw the potential of technology to change the world, and that vision drove him forward.
"It was the magic of software. And I was willing to focus my life, in my 20s, just on software, just on the one job," he told the publication.