Microsoft's Origin Story: From Garage Startup to Global Tech Leader, Celebrating 50 Years

Microsoft, a multinational technology corporation, was founded on April 4, 1975, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Inspired by the January 1975 cover of *Popular Electronics* featuring the Altair 8800, they developed a BASIC interpreter for the device, which became their first product, Altair BASIC. Initially focused on microcomputer software, Microsoft gained prominence in 1980 by providing MS-DOS, the operating system for IBM's first personal computer. This deal propelled them to the forefront of the PC boom. In 1985, Microsoft launched Windows 1.0. Windows 3.0 in 1990 achieved global acceptance. Paul Allen left Microsoft in early 1983 after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma but remained on the board as vice-chairman. He later founded Vulcan Inc. Allen passed away on October 15, 2018, at the age of 65, from septic shock related to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Satya Nadella became CEO in 2014, shifting the company's focus towards cloud computing and AI. Microsoft has invested billions in OpenAI since 2019, integrating advanced AI models into its platforms. As of April 2024, Microsoft has a multiyear funding commitment of $13 billion to OpenAI. Today, Microsoft, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, celebrates its 50th anniversary (April 4, 2025), with its PC operating system still used by a large percentage of users worldwide.