On This Day

Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates announce their divorce after 27 years

William Henry Gates III is an American businessman and philanthropist. A pioneer of the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, he co-founded the software company Microsoft in 1975 with his...

William Henry Gates III is an American businessman and philanthropist. A pioneer of the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, he co-founded the software company Microsoft in 1975 with his childhood friend Paul Allen. Gates became the world's then-youngest billionaire in 1987, at age 31. This followed Microsoft's initial public offering in the previous year and subsequent stock increase. Forbes magazine ranked him as the world's wealthiest person for 18 out of 24 years between 1995 and 2017, including 13 years consecutively from 1995 to 2007. Gates became the first centibillionaire in 1999, when his net worth briefly surpassed US$100 billion.

Historical Significance

William Henry Gates III is an American businessman and philanthropist.

Key People

Bill Gates

businessman and philanthropist

American businessman and philanthropist

– present

Melinda Gates

philanthropist

American philanthropist

– present

Events Before

  1. Pro-Iranian protesters end siege of US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq

    Pro-Iranian protesters end siege of US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq

  2. Scotland's Peter Wright beats Dutch defending champion Michael Van Gerwen 7-3 with a 102.79 average, 34 x 140s, 11 maxim

    Scotland's Peter Wright beats Dutch defending champion Michael Van Gerwen 7-3 with a 102.79 average, 34 x 140s, 11 maximums, and 53% on doubles to seal his first PDC World Darts Championship in London

  3. Australian actor Liam Hemsworth and American singer Miley Cyrus divorce after 1 year of marriage

    Miley Ray Cyrus ( MY-lee SY-rəs, born Destiny Hope Cyrus; November 23, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress.

  4. China locks down the city of Wuhan and its 9 million people in a belated but ultimately successful effort to control the

    China locks down the city of Wuhan and its 9 million people in a belated but ultimately successful effort to control the city's COVID-19 outbreak

  5. American actress and TV host Niecy Nash (50) divorces American electrical engineer Jay Tucker after over 8 years of marr

    American actress and TV host Niecy Nash (50) divorces American electrical engineer Jay Tucker after over 8 years of marriage

Events After

  1. Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan becomes the first player in NBA history to hit buzzer-beaters on consecutive days; h

    Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan becomes the first player in NBA history to hit buzzer-beaters on consecutive days; he hits 3-pointers to beat the Washington Wizards 120-119 and the previous night the Indiana Pacers 108-106

  2. Actors Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa divorce after four years of marriage

    Actors Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa divorce after four years of marriage

  3. Russia launches a full-scale pre-dawn and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by land, air, and sea, with bombings in several

    Russia launches a full-scale pre-dawn and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by land, air, and sea, with bombings in several cities. Moments later, Vladimir Putin announces the start of a three-day “special military operation” in Ukraine to "demilitarize" the country. [1]

  4. In a major victory for Ukraine, Russia announces it is withdrawing its badly mauled forces from around Ukraine's capital

    In a major victory for Ukraine, Russia announces it is withdrawing its badly mauled forces from around Ukraine's capital, Kyiv

  5. "Top Gun Maverick" the sequel starring Tom Cruise, Miles Teller and Jennifer Connelly is released 36 years after the ori

    "Top Gun Maverick" the sequel starring Tom Cruise, Miles Teller and Jennifer Connelly is released 36 years after the original film

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on May 3, 2021?
William Henry Gates III is an American businessman and philanthropist. A pioneer of the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, he co-founded the software company Microsoft in 1975 with his childhood friend Paul Allen. Gates became the world's then-youngest billionaire in 1987, at age 31.
Why is Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates announce their divorce after 27 years significant?
William Henry Gates III is an American businessman and philanthropist.
Who was involved in Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates announce their divorce after 27 years?
Key figures include Bill Gates (businessman and philanthropist), Melinda Gates (philanthropist).

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