**FILE** Robert Wright, president and chief executive officer of NBC, speaks in New York with Microsoft chairman Bill Gates (seen on screen) in Hong Kong during a Dec. 14, 1995, news conference announcing that NBC and Microsoft would form a joint venture to start a cable news channel and related online service called MSNBC. (Associated Press)
Microsoft founder Bill Gates arrives at the federal courthouse Monday in Salt Lake City, where he testified in a $1 billion antitrust lawsuit brought by Novell. Mr. Gates said Novell just couldn't deliver a Windows 95-compatible WordPerfect program in time for its rollout. (Associated Press)
Bill Gates, left, and Warren Buffett, center, talk with some of China's richest people to promote philanthropy during a dinner and reception Wednesday Sept. 29, 2010 in Beijing. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Pang Xingdong)
BIG BUCKS: Microsoft mogul Bill Gates (left) and investor Warren Buffett have encouraged fellow billionaires to pledge 50 percent of their fortunes to charity. (Associated Press)