when did bill gates become a billionaire

Bill Gates became a billionaire in 1986. Britannica says he was a “paper billionaire” that year, while other sources note he was already among the youngest billionaires by 1987.

Quick context

He co-founded Microsoft in 1975, and his ownership stake in the company pushed his net worth past the billion-dollar mark in the mid-1980s.

Why dates differ a little

Some articles use 1986 for the first time his wealth crossed a billion on paper, while others mention 1987 when discussing his status as a billionaire and his age at the time.

Bottom line

The most accurate simple answer is: Bill Gates became a billionaire in 1986.