Bill Gates Dropped Out of Harvard to Build Microsoft

In 1975, a 20-year-old Harvard student named Bill Gates made a decision that would change the world. He dropped out of one of the most prestigious universities on Earth to start a little software company called Microsoft. Today, that company is worth over $3 trillion.

Gates enrolled at Harvard in 1973 and dove into challenging coursework, including the notoriously difficult Math 55 and graduate-level computer science classes. He was having "a great time" at college and genuinely struggled with the idea of leaving. But everything changed when his childhood friend Paul Allen burst into his dorm room.

The Magazine That Changed Everything

Allen was holding a copy of Popular Electronics magazine featuring the Altair 8800—the world's first minicomputer kit that could rival commercial models. Both Gates and Allen immediately saw the potential. This wasn't just another tech gadget; it was the beginning of the personal computer revolution, and they wanted in on the ground floor.

Gates took a leave of absence from Harvard in November 1975 to work with Allen at MITS, the company that made the Altair. He never went back to finish his degree.

A Decision He Second-Guessed

The choice wasn't easy. Gates later admitted he spent Microsoft's first year trying to convince someone else to "take charge" so he could return to Harvard. He regretted leaving initially, torn between the traditional path and the entrepreneurial leap.

But the timing was perfect. Gates has said that Microsoft might not have taken off if he hadn't dropped out when he did. The personal computer industry was exploding, and being a few years late could have meant missing the opportunity entirely.

Not Exactly a Typical Dropout

It's worth noting that Gates wasn't struggling academically. He got into every Ivy League school he applied to and was thriving at Harvard. His decision to leave wasn't about failure—it was about opportunity cost. What's the point of finishing college if you're sitting on the idea for a $3 trillion company?

The irony? Gates received an honorary degree from Harvard in 2007, more than 30 years after he left. Even his Harvard professor said he "wasn't surprised" when Gates dropped out—the professor could see Gates was destined for something bigger.

Should You Drop Out Too?

Despite Microsoft's success, Gates himself wouldn't recommend skipping school. He's been clear that his situation was unique, and for most people, finishing college is the smarter path. But his story remains one of the most famous examples of when not following the conventional route paid off spectacularly.