Bill Gates became the world’s youngest self-made billionaire in 1987, when he was 31 years old.
Forbes first placed Gates on its annual billionaires list in 1987, after Microsoft’s public offering and continuing growth made his stake in the company extremely valuable. At the time, he was reported as the youngest self-made billionaire in the world.
Microsoft had gone public in 1986, but Gates did not immediately become a billionaire by the usual measure of estimated net worth. The rapid rise in Microsoft’s share price during the following year pushed his holdings above the billion-dollar threshold.
The phrase “self-made” distinguishes Gates from people who inherited major fortunes. His wealth came primarily from his ownership in Microsoft, the software company he had co-founded with Paul Allen. The title of youngest billionaire has since passed to several younger entrepreneurs.