Difference Between Bill Gates and Steve Jobs

May 2023 · 6 minute read

In the field of science and technology, two names are very big and common to every household, i.e. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. The two gentlemen have paved their way towards success with wonderful innovation and inventions. Because of these inventions, it has started the digital revolution in the world, and things have become much easier and luxurious if we compare them to the technologies they have laid forward.

Bill Gates vs Steve Jobs

The main difference between Bill Gates and Steve Jobs is in the variation of their iconic inventions. Bill Gates is the founder of Microsoft company which was software and the operating system only available at the time it was launched. Whereas Steve Jobs is the founder of Apple company and he launched a series of new technologies like the iPod, iPad etc. Bill Gates, besides being a business entrepreneur, is a philanthropist as well. While Steve Jobs was entrepreneur, chairman and chief executive of Apple Company.

Bill Gates is a co-founder of Microsoft Company. Besides being a businessman, he is also an author, software developer, investor and philanthropist. He was once one of the wealthiest people in the world. During his career, he held many positions like CEO, President, Chief Software Architect and Chairman of the company. He is the person who is considered to bring about a revolution in the microcomputer industry during the 1970s and 1980s.

Steve Jobs is the co-founder of Apple Inc, besides being that, he is also the founder of NeXT which was a software company in America. He also was on the board of directors of Walt Disney Studios and held a majority of shares of PIXAR, which was purchased later by Disney Studios. Jobs is considered as the pioneer in starting the revolution of personal computers. Some of the products which Apple Inc manufacture are Macintosh, iPhone, iPad, iPod etc. These technologies have taken over the world due to their uniqueness and modern evolution.

Comparison Table Between Bill Gates and Steve Jobs

Parameters of ComparisonBill GatesSteve Jobs
CompaniesBill Gates is the founder of Microsoft, Cascade Entertainment, Terra Power etc.Steve Jobs is the founder of Apple Inc, Pixar, NeXT etc.
Leadership QualityHe is a Democratic person.He is an autocratic person.
ApproachHe has a realistic approach to in investing technologies.He had a futuristic approach to inventing products.
Known forHe is known as the best entrepreneur of microcomputers.He is known as the forerunners of a personal computer.
Net WorthHe had a net worth of US$ 145.8 billion as of May 2021.He had a net worth of US$ 7 billion as of Sept 2011.

What is Bill Gates?

Bill Gates was born on October 28 in the year 1955, in Seattle, Washington DC, in a wealthy family. He was the brightest student in his class and also excelled in Science and Maths. His father, Bill Gates Sr. and mother Mary Maxwell wanted him to pursue law, and Gates also get himself enrolled in 1973 but dropped the plan to pursue a different career with his friend, Paul Allen.

With his friend Allen, Paul developed a BASIC interpreter and was successful in collaborating with MIT. Bill Gates first opened his office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and there Allen named the company Microsoft which was the amalgamation of microcomputer and software. When the company was opened in 1975, it was not doing well because a copy of codes was leaked and widely distributed. After the 1980s, with the collaboration of IBM, it became very successful, so much that it was grossing US$2.5 million. 

Bill Gates became the CEO of the company at the age of 23. Then it became one of the largest personal computer software company. Till the year 2014, Bill Gates was the chairman and CEO, and then he stepped down and began to devote his time to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which was a private charitable company established in the 2000s. 

From the year 1995 to the year 2017, excluding (2010 to 2013), he has been the world’s richest and wealthiest person. He has been the founders of several companies besides being of Microsoft, such as BEN, Cascade Investment, bgC3, and TerraPower.

What is Steve Jobs?

Steve Job was born on Feb 24, 1955, in San Francisco, California, to Arabian parents. But he was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs. His foster parents belonged to a middle-class family. He studied at Reed College and then dropped out in 1972. He went to India in 1974 for the search of enlightenment and studied Zen Buddhism. Then returned to the USA and co-founded the company Apple with Steve Wozniak.

Apple 1 was the first model launched by Jobs and Wozniak of the personal computer series. Then with the launching of Apple 2, the duo gained popularity and wealth. Apple 2 was one of the most successful microcomputers which had mass production. He also founded Macintosh in the year 1984, which was based on a Graphic User interface(GUI). Macintosh also gave him a breakthrough and a way to come back to the company after he was kicked out.

Macintosh created havoc in the publishing industry, and then Apple Laser Printers were also launched. While Jobs was away from Apple, he founded another company, NeXT, with other members. NeXT was a platform of the computer that was specialized in business markets ad higher education. He also developed the visual effects industry. He also co-founded the PIXAR company, which produced 3D animated cartoons/ films and became major animation studios.

Main Differences Between Bill Gates and Steve Jobs

  • Bill Gates is the founder of Microsoft, Cascade Entertainment, Terra Power etc. Besides being a business entrepreneur, he is also a software developer and philanthropist. Steve Jobs is the founder of Apple Inc, Pixar, NeXT etc. Besides being an entrepreneur, he was also a media proprietor and industrial designer.
  • Bill Gates is a Democratic person. Whereas Steve Jobs is an autocratic person.
  • Gates has a realistic approach to investing in technologies. Jobs had a futuristic approach to inventing products.
  • Gates is known as the best entrepreneur of microcomputers. Jobs is known as the forerunners of the personal computer.
  • Gates had a net worth of US$ 145.8 billion as of May 2021. He was for many years the wealthiest person on earth. Jobs had a net worth of US$ 7 billion as of Sept 2011.
  • Conclusion

    Both Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are the role models and icons of the technological world. Both are known for bringing about a revolution in science and technology. Because of their inventions, the life of individuals in the modern world has become so much easier. Both have different mindsets and styles, but they are a very hardworking and genius person.

    Apple is currently dominating the world of gadgets like Apple products, Macintosh, Laser Printers, visual effect, animation industry, and much more, whereas Microsoft is known for providing people with the operating systems, i.e. windows, the only OS available in the 1970s. It has also developed its Office Suite Software which is very helpful, like MS Excel, Word, Teams, Powerpoint, Azure, etc.

    References

  • https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0258042X13509736
  • http://dspace.vnbrims.org:13000/jspui/bitstream/123456789/4809/1/Strategy%20Rules%20Five%20Timeless%20Lessons%20from%20Bill%20Gates%2C%20Andy%20Grove%2C%20and%20Steve%20Jobs.pdf
  • ncG1vNJzZmiZo6Cur8XDop2fnaKau6SxjZympmeUnrOnsdGepZydXZeytcPEnqVmmpmhuW6zwK2crGWRo7Fuv9OerZ5lmqSvtHs%3D