Bill Gates retires

[Darkness]

The founder and head of Microsoft, the world's largest software company Bill Gates steps down on Friday. One of the richest men in the world, Gates will now work full time for his charitable organization The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The 52-year-old will continue to be chairman though, but will only retain a nominal role in the software empire. He is still is the biggest shareholder of the company and his 8.7 per cent stake in Microsoft is worth about 23 billion dollars.

Gates authored the personal computer revolution three decades ago when he founded Microsoft along with his friend Paul Allen.

Microsoft released a commemorative video paying tribute to Bill's service to the company, titled "Bill Gates: Looking back, Moving Ahead". It can be watched on the company's website here (http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/billg/videos/).
Bye Bye Bill =(

[Hotrod]

Woah, I never expected this to happen so soon... Who's the owner of Microsoft now?

[jcap]

The way large corporations work really gives no one "ownership" of a company. To keep this as simple as possible, Microsoft is divided into shares, and those shares are distributed to shareholders. Typically, 10% of the shares are reserved and distributed to the top-level executives of the company (Paul Allen, Steve Ballmer, and most notably, Bill Gates, etc.) The remainder of the shares are then distributed to the public after filing for their IPO. Though the executives get only 10% of the shares, that is more than enough to sway the company in either direction if a big decision surfaces. Even though Bill Gates is leaving Microsoft, I don't believe he is selling off all his shares immediately. Only if the company was being bought out would he most likely be required to relinquish his shares in return for profit, giving the new owners control. Even though Gates is leaving now, he really hasn't been doing much over the past few years. Ballmer has been running the show and has been driving many insane.

[dg]

I am extremely happy to see he will focus on the charity now. The end of an era...

[itszutak]

I'm getting strong senses of deja vu. Didn't this happen around a year ago? <_>

[klange]

I'm getting strong senses of deja vu. Didn't this happen around a year ago? <_>
He's really retired now. Bill wasn't a bad guy. I have a portrait of him in my room, in plain site.

[alby]

The end of an era...:(. Him and Ballmer were getting emotional at the meeting earlier today.

I wonder how much this (http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/8976/img0545smallkg7.jpg) stuff is worth now.

[Snowy]

The company just won't be the same without him...

[JDMFSeanP]

:(. Him and Ballmer were getting emotional at the meeting earlier today.

I wonder how much this (http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/8976/img0545smallkg7.jpg) stuff is worth now.

Nothing because my friend got his signed before you did har har ha

I hope Bill finally buys something better than a focus

[alby]

Nothing because my friend got his signed before you did har har ha

I hope Bill finally buys something better than a focus
no. I was first in line...

[Kornman00]

I wonder how much this (http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/8976/img0545smallkg7.jpg) stuff is worth now.
Will be worth moar when he croaks. Don't see how it can be worth anymore than before his retirement :3