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Bill Gates shares he was the ‘class clown’ on being asked if he was ‘always a nerd’

In addition to revealing that he was a “class clown”, Bill Gates also talked about his first code and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen on Instagram.

Updated on: Feb 14, 2025, 11:56:36 IST
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Bill Gates has been promoting his book Source Code on various platforms, including a virtual question-and-answer session with Instagram users, where he invited people to ask questions about his memoir. He later shared his answers to some of the queries. While replying to one individual who asked if he was a nerd, the billionaire came up with an interesting answer. He revealed that at school, he was more of a “class clown.”

Billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates wrote his first memoir, Source Code. (AP)
Billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates wrote his first memoir, Source Code. (AP)

“Were you always a nerd?” a person asked Bill Gates. Sharing the question, the co-founder of Microsoft answered, “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.” He then went on to share the moments that changed his thinking and his outlook towards his life.

Also Read: Bill Gates reveals rival Steve Jobs' eccentric advice to improve Microsoft: ‘He wished I’d take drugs’

“First, I started getting paired up for class projects with the other kids in class 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 and made me want to do the same,” the tech mogul added.

Bill Gates' Instagram Story. (Instagram/@thisisbillgates)
Bill Gates' Instagram Story. (Instagram/@thisisbillgates)

What else did the fans ask?

An individual asked about Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Gates in 1975. He later became a philanthropist and sports team owner. The entrepreneur died in 2018 at the age of 65.

Also Read: Bill Gates reveals he worked 80-hour weeks coding software while fearing Microsoft’s downfall

Answering, Bill Gates 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.”

He also talked about the first code he learned as a kid and if he ever got in trouble with his parents for sneaking out at night to code.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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