The Gates Family is best known for its association with Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft. Bill Gates, along with his childhood friend Paul Allen, started the company in 1975, which became a leader in personal computing software. The Gates family has been influential in technology and philanthropy. In addition to Bill, the family includes his ex-wife Melinda French Gates, with whom he co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This organization focuses on global health, education, and poverty alleviation, aiming to improve lives around the world through various initiatives and funding.