Steve Jobs vs Bill Gates
Who? Pick one and see how the world splits.
- Steve Jobs United States · 1955–2011 52% · #19 in the world
- Bill Gates United States · 1955– 48% · #26 in the world
What the votes say
Too close to call: the world picks Steve Jobs over Bill Gates by just 52% to 48%. Steve Jobs is #19 of the 185 thinkers in the world ranking and Bill Gates #26; among the 31 from the United States, they are #2 and #3.
The case for each
Steve Jobs: Co-founded Apple in a garage in 1976, was pushed out, came back, and led the company through the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Also turned Pixar into the studio behind Toy Story.
Bill Gates: Co-founded Microsoft in 1975 and put Windows on most of the world's personal computers; for years the richest person alive. Then gave much of the fortune away through the Gates Foundation, fighting diseases like polio and malaria.
Side by side
| Steve Jobs | Bill Gates | |
|---|---|---|
| World rank | #19 | #26 |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Lived | 1955–2011 | 1955– |