Beefs.
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Steve Jobs shows off the iPhone 4 at the 2010 Worldwide Developers Conference.Senator Chris Coons meeting with Bill Gates at the Russell Senate Office Building on November 8, 2019.

Steve JobsBill Gates

Photo — Steve Jobs: Matthew Yohe (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Bill Gates: Meeting with Bill Gates - Nov. 8, 2019 (Public domain)

Business·Historical·Since 1979
Beef Score measures the intensity and public prominence of a dispute. It does not indicate who is right.Factors considered·Heat·Public attention·Escalation·LongevityCurrently assigned editorially, not computed.

The Short Version

Steve Jobs and Bill Gates engaged in a decades-long rivalry and partnership over personal computing design, software licensing, and market dominance. Beginning with collaboration on early Apple software, the relationship fractured when Microsoft released Windows in 1985, leading to accusations of intellectual property theft, public insults, and legal battles before concluding with a historic $150 million Microsoft investment in Apple in 1997 and eventual personal reconciliation.

Latest Development

Bill Gates Reflects on Relationship with Steve Jobs

In an interview with Axios regarding his memoir 'Source Code', Bill Gates discussed Jobs' charisma and leadership skills, while noting that Jobs was not a technical software engineer.

February 3, 2025 · Public statement

The Beef

Chronological, newest first. Every entry cites a source.

Beef timeline

  1. February 3, 2025

    Bill Gates Reflects on Relationship with Steve Jobs

    Public statement

    In an interview with Axios regarding his memoir 'Source Code', Bill Gates discussed Jobs' charisma and leadership skills, while noting that Jobs was not a technical software engineer.

    Source ↗

  2. October 30, 2011

    Gates Responds to Posthumous Biography Criticisms

    Public statement

    Following the release of Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates addressed criticism attributed to Jobs, expressing respect for Jobs' achievements and stating the comments did not bother him.

    Source ↗

  3. August 1997

    Microsoft Invests $150 Million in Apple

    Verified event

    Steve Jobs announced at Macworld that Microsoft had agreed to invest $150 million in non-voting Apple stock, helping stabilize the struggling company.

    Source ↗

  4. 1996

    Jobs Criticizes Microsoft Products in Documentary

    Public statement

    In the documentary 'Triumph of the Nerds', Steve Jobs stated that Microsoft made 'third-rate products' and alleged that the company had 'no taste'.

    Source ↗

  5. 1988

    Apple Sues Microsoft Over Graphical User Interface

    Legal filing

    Apple filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Microsoft alleging that Windows 2.0 copied the look and feel of the Macintosh interface.

    Source ↗

  6. 1985

    Jobs Accuses Gates of Copying the Macintosh

    Allegation

    Following Microsoft's announcement of Windows, Steve Jobs accused Bill Gates of copying Apple's graphical user interface. Gates rejected the accusation, arguing both companies drew inspiration from Xerox PARC.

    Source ↗

  7. December 1979

    Steve Jobs Attends Xerox PARC Demonstration

    Verified event

    Steve Jobs led an Apple delegation to Xerox PARC to view demonstrations of the Alto computer and its graphical user interface, which influenced Apple's development of the Lisa and Macintosh.

    Source ↗

Where It Stands

Historical. The feud is historically concluded. Following Steve Jobs' death in 2011, Bill Gates has routinely reflected on their complex relationship, characterizing Jobs as a visionary and 'major wizard' while acknowledging their intense competition during the early era of personal computing.

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Sources

  1. 1.SourceBill Gates Reflects on Relationship with Steve Jobs · Feb 3, 2025
  2. 2.SourceGates Responds to Posthumous Biography Criticisms · Oct 30, 2011
  3. 3.SourceMicrosoft Invests $150 Million in Apple ·
  4. 4.SourceJobs Criticizes Microsoft Products in Documentary ·
  5. 5.SourceApple Sues Microsoft Over Graphical User Interface ·
  6. 6.SourceJobs Accuses Gates of Copying the Macintosh ·
  7. 7.SourceSteve Jobs Attends Xerox PARC Demonstration ·

Allegations are attributed to the party that made them and are not statements of fact.