Microsoft’s co-founder, Bill Gates, once admitted that he struggled to truly enjoy the success of the tech behemoth, even after achieving billionaire status. Gates recounted that it wasn’t until the late 1990s that he finally felt confident about their achievements. “Honestly, I didn’t feel at ease about our success until around 1998,” he reflected. “Before that, it seemed like I was always just one misstep away from disaster.”
The relationship between Gates and the late Steve Jobs, Apple’s co-founder, was intriguing, often marked by friendly rivalry. Jobs had some sharp observations about Gates’ approach to leadership and product development at Microsoft, as revealed in a conversation via Fortune. In an interview with The Independent, Gates shared, “Steve once joked that maybe if I’d taken acid, I might have developed better taste in designing our products.”
Gates chuckled at this remark, playfully responding, “Well, I guess I must have gotten a bad batch.”
Looking back, it’s clear that Gates and Jobs shared a nuanced friendship. Despite their competitive spirit, Gates was instrumental in developing software for Apple’s early devices and even played a part in rescuing Apple from financial demise in 1997 with a significant investment of up to $150 billion.
Steve Jobs was celebrated for his extraordinary ability to design and market innovative products, leading the creation of iconic devices like the iPhone and iMac. Although he believed Gates had room for improvement in these areas, Gates made a significant impact with his technical skills and strategic thinking.
Reflecting on their differences, Gates remarked, “We each had our strengths. I was more into coding, while Steve excelled in marketing and design. Our talents didn’t overlap much, beyond being driven leaders always pushing our limits.”
Meanwhile, Microsoft was deeply engrossed in developing its cloud computing services, a key contributor to its impressive $3 trillion market valuation. The company was also busy distributing the Microsoft Office suite, featuring popular programs like Word and Excel, which have collectively amassed billions of users worldwide. Despite their widespread success, these launches seemed to fall short of impressing Jobs.
In a candid admission to The Independent, Gates also touched on his past experiences with drug use before co-founding Microsoft. “I thought maybe it would make me look cool, and I’d catch someone’s eye,” he recalled. “When it didn’t, I dropped the idea.”
