'i Love Doing Product Reviews': Bill Gates Stepped Down From Microsoft In 2020, But Admits He Still Spends 15% Of His Time Working At The Company

When Bill Gates stepped down from Microsoft's committee successful 2020, it seemed to beryllium nan extremity of nan entrepreneur's almost 4 decades astatine nan tech elephantine he co-founded successful 1975. Though connected his Gates Notes blog, he states he is still a "technical advisor," it wasn't clear really overmuch clip he was really spending astatine nan company.

Gates spent 25 years arsenic CEO and transitioned into a part-time domiciled astatine Microsoft successful June 2008. And contempt officially stepping down successful 2020, it looks for illustration Gates ne'er really retired.

In a caller question and reply pinch nan Wall Street Journal, Gates said that he is still doing "product reviews" astatine Microsoft, and it takes up "maybe 15%" of nan 69-year-old's time.

Related: Melinda French Gates Announces Open Call for $250 Million Fund. Here's Who Can Apply.

Gates too said that he and existent Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella still personification a "very adjacent relationship."

"I emotion doing merchandise reviews, and he brings maine successful to do that," Gates said. "It's perchance 15% of my time. It helps maine enactment up-to-date."

Microsoft Co-founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen airs for a image successful 1984 successful Seattle, Washington. (Photo by © Doug Wilson/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

This is simply a departure from April 2024, erstwhile Business Insider reported that Bill Gates was moving down nan scenes astatine Microsoft, and a institution spokesperson told nan outlet, "Bill is not astatine Microsoft and not progressive here."

So, it doesn't look for illustration Gates will beryllium afloat retired anytime soon.

As his blog says: "I personification a beforehand spot position to each nan astonishing activity nan institution continues to do successful my existent domiciled arsenic a exertion advisor, and I can't clasp to spot what's next."

Related: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Says nan Company Needs a 'Culture Change' After Security Failures