In 1975, at the age of 19, Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard University and joined his high school alumnus Paul Allen to sell BASIC (Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code). It is a programming language designed for beginners. When Gates was a student at Harvard University, they worked on the language for MITS' Altair. Later, Gates and Allen moved to Albuquerque and founded Microsoft Corporation from a local hotel room.

Microsoft is an American multinational technology company founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975. Its best-known and best-selling products are the Windows operating system and the Office family of software, making it the world's largest computer software provider and a pioneer in Personal Computer software development.

The following honors have been awarded to Microsoft. Microsoft is No. 15 on the list of the world's most profitable companies in 2017. No. 4 on the 2018 BrandZ Global 100 Most Valuable Brands. No. 4 on the 2018 World Brand 500. No. 2 on the 2019 Forbes Global Digital Economy 100 list. No. 4 on the Interbrand Global Brand 100. No. 3 on the 2020 Fortune Global Most Admired Companies list. No. 13 on the 2020 Forbes Global Enterprise 2000 list. No. 15 on Forbes 2021 Global Corporate 2000.