30 years after dropping out of Harvard, Bill Gates to receive honorary degree

24 March 2007

Cambridge US: After 32 years of dropping out of the university, Bill Gates is finally getting his Harvard degree. The billionaire co-founder of Microsoft Corp, will receive the honorary degree in June when he delivers the university''s 356th commencement address.

Though he left his course mid way, Gates is considered a member of Harvard''s class of 1977. He first came to the university in 1973, but left in 1975 to devote his time to developing Microsoft, which he founded that year with childhood friend Paul Allen.

Paul Finnegan, president, Harvard Alumni Association, said in a statement, "I am very pleased that the Harvard community will have the opportunity to hear from Bill Gates on June 7. His contributions to the world of business and technology, and the great example he has set through his far-reaching philanthropy, will rightfully put him on centre stage in Harvard yard."

Gates and his wife, Melinda, created the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation in 2000, which is now the world''s largest philanthropic foundation with an endowment of about $33 billion.

The Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft is the world''s largest software maker with annual revenues over $44 billion in 2006 fiscal year. Gates stepped down as Microsoft CEO in 2000 though he remains its chairman.