Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates talked about his childhood during an Ask Me Anything session on Instagram. While promoting his book, "Source Code," on social media, he invited people to ask questions about his memoir. When someone asked if he was a nerd in school, Mr. Gates revealed that he was actually more of a "class clown."
Sharing the question on his Instagram Stories, Bill Gates wrote, "I was actually the class clown for a long time. But there were two experiences that helped me realize I wanted to be more than that."
Discussing the moments that changed his perspective on life, Mr. Gates added, "First, I started getting paired up for class projects with other kids who got bad grades, and I thought, ‘Holy sh*t, they actually think I'm stupid.' Second, I became best friends with a guy named Kent Evans, who got great grades and dreamed big, which made me want to do the same."
When asked if he ever got in trouble with his parents for sneaking out at night, the 69-year-old said his parents probably knew but never objected as long as he kept his grades up and stayed out of trouble.
Bill Gates also shared a story about his late friend Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with him in 1975. He wrote, "Paul was a couple of years older than me, cooler than me, and one of the only kids in high school with a full beard.
"We met at the computer lab after our school got a teletype machine. I'm pretty sure ‘Bill, you think you're so smart, you figure this thing out,' was the first thing my future business partner ever said to me."
Paul Allen later became a philanthropist and sports team owner. He passed away in 2018.
Earlier this month, Mr. Gates talked about his relationship with Paula Hurd, calling her his "serious girlfriend."
"I'm lucky to have a serious girlfriend named Paula," Mr. Gates said. "We're having fun, going to the Olympics, and doing lots of great things."
The two have been seen together at various public events, including the 2024 Olympics.