Five decades. Half a century transforming ideas into tools, algorithms into ambitions, and windows into portals to the world. It all started with two boys (Bill and Paul), a borrowed teletype, sleepless nights, and the certainty that it was possible to rewrite the future with a few lines of code.
1975. Albuquerque. A dry heat and a computer that looked like a relic: the Altair 8800. It was here that the BASIC was born that would give rise to Micro-Soft — hyphenated, yes — a small, ambitious company with the name of a school laboratory and plans for global domination.
Microsoft grew through boldness and precision. It was born in a garage and ended up in practically every place where there is a screen. It was the company that helped put the computer at the center of modern life, pushed the world towards the internet, took the office to the cloud, and now, once again, points the way with artificial intelligence.
Five decades later, the company that shaped the present wants to redesign the future.
From a Garage to the Cloud: The Microsoft Story
In 1975, when Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Micro-Soft, the world of technology was still under construction. Computers filled entire rooms, executed commands written on monochromatic keys, and were far from being considered personal items. That’s how the two friends saw a gap. And where the rest of the world saw an engineering hobby, they saw a future.
Their first bet was a BASIC language interpreter for the Altair 8800, a computer as rudimentary as it was revolutionary. The success of the software opened the door to larger contracts — and then came the turning point: the agreement with IBM, in 1980, to supply the operating system for the first PCs. MS-DOS was born.
O From that moment on, Microsoft went from being a promising company to becoming a central cog in the new digital world. In 1985, MS-DOS received a graphical interface called Windows. Still basic, full of limitations, but with clear potential. What came next would put the company in virtually every home and office on the planet.
In the 1990s, Microsoft went far beyond the operating system. Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint — tools that today seem basic, but at the time reshaped the way the world worked.
In 1995, with the launch of Windows 95, the company sealed its position as a global technology reference. There were lines at stores, magazine covers, Jay Leno on stage, and the Rolling Stones soundtrack. Technology became pop culture.
But a giant doesn’t live on successes alone. The new millennium brought challenges: tough competition, antitrust lawsuits, and failed attempts in the world of smartphones. Still, Microsoft reinvented itself. The cloud arrived, with Azure. Games arrived, with Xbox. In-house tablets and laptops arrived, with the Surface line. And, more recently, the boldest turnaround since the beginning came: artificial intelligence at the center of everything. Today, at 50, Microsoft is a complete infrastructure. A platform. An ecosystem that integrates productivity, entertainment, cloud, and now, intelligence that learns from you.
The Young Billionaire Who Played Chess With Giants
Bill Gates never seemed concerned with being the most charismatic person in the room. He was the most attentive. The most calculating. The kind of person who read manuals for fun and slept with ideas open like browser tabs. At a very young age, he understood that the game was not just in the code, but in the contracts.
When IBM decided to enter the personal computer market, back in the early 1980s, it was looking for someone to supply the operating system for its new PC. The first option was Digital Research, but the negotiations stalled. That’s when Bill saw the gap.
Microsoft didn’t have a ready-made operating system. But Gates promised to deliver. And he did, buying a software called QDOS (Quick and Dirty Operating System) for a modest sum, adapting it and renaming it MS-DOS. Simple, direct, smart.
But the brilliant move was not just to buy cheap and resell. It was to maintain, in the contract with IBM, the rights to the operating system. While IBM distributed its PCs with MS-DOS embedded, Microsoft was free to license the same software to any other manufacturer. In other words: instead of betting everything on a single client, Gates planted the seed of an empire.
It was this move — elegant, surgical, almost invisible to outsiders — that put MS-DOS on practically all personal computers of that decade. And that made Microsoft an essential cog in the digital revolution.
And then Steve Jobs came along.
Apple already had the Macintosh with its revolutionary graphical interface. Jobs showed the system to Gates, thinking it was impressive. In fact, it was. Gates liked it so much that… well, he launched Windows.
Inspired? Yes. Copied? Yes. Steve Jobs was furious. He said that MS had stolen the idea. Bill replied with surgical coldness: “Look, Steve… I think it’s like we both have a rich neighbor named Xerox. I broke into the house first to steal the TV and you got mad because I stole it before you did.”
Gates didn’t invent the personal computer. But he understood before anyone else how to master it without building a single machine. And that made all the difference.
From BASIC to Copilot: the major milestones of a relentless trajectory
1975 – Micro-Soft is born
Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded the company on April 4, 1975, in Albuquerque, to develop a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800. The beginning of everything. The name was still written with a hyphen.
1980 – The contract with IBM
IBM seeks an operating system for its new PC. Gates delivers MS-DOS (based on QDOS) and licenses the software instead of selling it—a move that defines the company’s future.
1985 – Windows Debut
On November 20th, Windows 1.0 was born. Still rudimentary, with windows that didn’t even overlap, but already pointing to the future of the graphical interface.
1986 – IPO
Microsoft goes public. Shares are selling for $21. If you had bought a single share and reinvested the dividends, you would have a small fortune today.
1988 – Microsoft Office
The package that would combine Word, Excel and PowerPoint was introduced. It would be officially launched in 1990 and would become the standard in the business world.
1990 – Windows 3.0
The version that made Windows popular once and for all. Improved interface, multitasking support, games like Solitaire and Minesweeper. The era of productivity (and procrastination) begins.
1995 – The Windows 95 phenomenon
Queues at stores, million-dollar marketing, the Rolling Stones on the soundtrack. The debut of the Start menu, Windows Explorer, the taskbar and internet integration. 40 million copies were sold in the first year.
1998 – Antitrust lawsuit
The US government accuses Microsoft of monopoly for integrating Internet Explorer into Windows. The company was nearly broken up, but was saved after appeals and settlements.
1999 e 2000 – Ballmer takes command
Steve Ballmer, a friend of Gates’ since their Harvard days, takes over as CEO. Gates remains chief software architect and chairman of the board.
2001 – Estreia do Windows XP e do Xbox
XP became one of the most beloved systems in history. In the same year, Xbox arrived, marking Microsoft’s entry into the gaming world — with Halo as its debut title.
2007 – Vista’s stumble
Windows Vista debuts with a revamped look, but suffers from slowness, compatibility issues and a barrage of criticism.
2009 – Bing Premiere
Launched on June 3, Bing was Microsoft’s most robust attempt to enter the search engine fray. While it never threatened Google’s dominance, Bing endured, evolved, and years later would become the basis for Copilot with the integration of generative AI.
2009 – The Windows 7 deal
Lightweight, reliable and intuitive. After Vista, Windows 7 was welcomed as a relief. It quickly became one of the most popular operating systems ever released.
2010 – The launch of Windows Phone
With an interface based on the famous “Live Tiles”, Windows Phone arrived as a bold and visually innovative proposal. Despite its charm and fluidity, it suffered from a lack of apps and lost steam over time. It was officially discontinued in 2017, but it is still remembered as one of the most elegant systems ever launched.
2010 – Azure gains strength
Microsoft’s cloud service is officially launched. Initially discreet, it eventually becomes one of the company’s pillars, supporting businesses and governments alike.
2011 – Skype Purchase
For $8.5 billion, Microsoft takes Skype and enters the VOIP market head-on. The bet seemed right, but the platform would lose ground to competitors years later.
2012 – Surface line debut
Microsoft presents its first hybrid tablet. A turning point: from software to hardware. Surface becomes a reference in design and performance.
2014 – Satya Nadella takes over
With a calmer and more innovation-oriented profile, Nadella begins a new era. He bets on cloud, multiplatform, artificial intelligence and regains the market’s trust.
2014 – Purchase of Mojang (Minecraft)
For $2.5 billion, it takes the creator of Minecraft — not just a game, but an educational, creative and cultural platform.
2015 – Windows 10 and Cortana
Windows 10 marks the return of the Start menu and the unification of the platform across devices. Cortana is launched as a digital assistant, but the relationship with the public never takes off.
2021 – Windows 11 Debut
New look, more focus on productivity and cloud integration. Cortana leaves the scene, and the system begins to make room for AI resources.
2023 – The beginning of the Copilot era
Microsoft puts AI at the center of its strategy. It launches Copilot, integrated with Bing, Office, Windows and other platforms. The partnership with OpenAI becomes a key player.
2024 – Copilot spreads across the ecosystem
From Paint to PowerPoint, generative AI is stepping in as a productivity, creativity and automation assistant. Microsoft is positioning itself as a protagonist in the new digital revolution.
2025 – Microsoft turns 50
Celebrating five decades of history, the company looks to the future with a total focus on artificial intelligence, cloud and digital personalization. Copilot gains platform status. The revolution continues.
The 10 most remarkable products in Microsoft’s history
10º place: Surface (line of devices)
Launched in 2012, the Surface line redefined what was expected of a notebook or tablet. Refined design, proprietary hardware, and seamless integration with Windows. Surface showed that Microsoft could also lead in hardware — with a premium, creative, and functional product.
9º place: Skype
Before Zoom, Teams, Meet… there was Skype. Skype put video calling on the map, connecting people around the world long before the pandemic. Microsoft bought the platform for $8.5 billion in 2011 — and even though it’s since lost relevance, its impact is undeniable.
8º location: Windows 10
After the Windows 8 stumble, Microsoft found its way back. Windows 10 brought back the Start menu, unified platforms, and ushered in a new era of continuous updates. It was the operating system that helped transition the company to the software-as-a-service model — and held the fort for nearly a decade.
7º place: Windows XP
Attractive visuals, stability and longevity. XP marked a generation — and remained a fixture on PCs around the world for much longer than expected. Its “Bliss” screen became a pop icon, and its performance helped cement Microsoft’s image as synonymous with reliability.
6º place: Azure
Microsoft’s cloud is the invisible engine behind thousands of businesses, governments, and digital services. Launched in the late 2000s, Azure took a while to take off — but once it did, it became a pillar of the company and the new digital era.
5º place: Copilot
The digital copilot that came with the promise of transforming the way we work. Integrated with Bing, Windows, Office and more, Copilot is not just an AI: it is Microsoft’s bet for the next 50 years. The beginning is still recent, but the impact is already structural.
4º place: Xbox (console line)
Since 2001, Xbox has been Microsoft’s symbol in entertainment. It created icons like Halo, reinvented multiplayer with Xbox Live and consolidated the idea of a gamer ecosystem. Today, Game Pass is a global reference. A bold bet that has become a legacy.
🥉 3º place: Microsoft Office
Word, Excel, PowerPoint. The holy trinity of digital productivity. It first appeared on the Mac in 1989, became standard on Windows, and took over the planet. If you’ve ever written, calculated, or presented anything in your life, you’ve probably used Office. More than just software: it’s a habit.
🥈 2º place: MS-DOS
Before Windows came commands. MS-DOS was the foundation. And more than a system, it was a masterstroke behind the scenes: Gates licensed, not sold, while retaining distribution rights. A simple move that made billions and solidified the foundation of the empire.
🥇 1º place: Windows 95
Microsoft’s heyday in the 1990s. Lines at stores, a $300 million campaign, the Start menu, Internet integration, and the consolidation of Windows as the dominant operating system. Windows 95 changed the way people use computers and defined what it means to use a computer to this day.
The weight of half a trillion lines of code
Today, Microsoft is one of the biggest economic forces on the planet. Its market value exceeds US$3.1 trillion, ranking it among the most valuable companies in the world. This means that, on its own, it is worth more than the entire GDP of countries like France, the United Kingdom or Brazil.
Since the beginning of the 2020s, driven by the growth of Azure, Office 365 and, more recently, by its successful bets on artificial intelligence with Copilot, the company has established itself as a leader in the global tech market, competing on equal terms with giants like Apple and NVIDIA.
Where Microsoft stands today
| ranking global | empresa | valor de mercado (abril de 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1º | Microsoft | US$ 3,1 trilhões |
| 2º | Apple | US$ 2,9 trilhões |
| 3º | NVIDIA | US$ 2,2 trilhões |
| 4º | Saudi Aramco | US$ 2,0 trilhões |
| 5º | Alphabet (Google) | US$ 1,9 trilhões |
Fonte: Bloomberg, abril de 2025. Valores aproximados.
What holds this throne? A consolidated ecosystem, robust contracts with governments and corporations, constant innovation and an aggressive vision in AI. And of course, a history of strategic decisions that have changed the game.
And the men behind the empire?
It’s impossible to talk about Microsoft without mentioning the billionaires who made it a reality — names that shaped Silicon Valley and who, to this day, are among the richest on the planet.
- Bill Gates:co-founder, former CEO and chief architect for decades. Even though he has stepped away from direct operations, he still has shares and historical influence. As of April 2025, his personal wealth is around US$ 125 billion, which places him among the 5 richest people in the world, even after decades of billion-dollar donations to philanthropy.
- Steve Ballmer:Former CEO and responsible for leading Microsoft in the era of Windows XP, Xbox and its first major acquisitions. His net worth exceeds US$120 billion, driven by the appreciation of shares he maintained after his departure. He is Microsoft’s largest individual shareholder today.
- Satya Nadella:current CEO, the man who repositioned the company in the cloud and artificial intelligence. Despite having a more discreet profile, he has already accumulated a net worth estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars — and a huge symbolic capital in the market, due to the transformation he has led since 2014.
These three names (Gates, Ballmer and Nadella) form the triad that, each in their own way, shaped 50 years of Microsoft. From a cramped room in Albuquerque to the top of the planet.
50 years of history, an event looking ahead to the next 50
On April 4, 2025, Microsoft not only celebrated half a century of existence, it celebrated the beginning of a new era. Directly from its headquarters in Redmond, an internal event marked the company’s 50th anniversary and also served as a stage for a repositioning: the era of personalized, integrated and real-time artificial intelligence.
With Satya Nadella at the helm and figures such as Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of the AI division, at the center of the announcements, the company revealed new features of Copilot, in addition to giving clues about the next strategic leaps. The great expectation revolves around Microsoft’s own artificial intelligence models, the so-called MAI (Microsoft AI) — an internal project that may, in the future, replace OpenAI’s models at the heart of Copilot.
The event was symbolic. A cycle is coming to an end: Microsoft, which has consolidated itself with operating systems and office suites. And a new cycle is beginning: more fluid, more invisible, more assistive. Where Copilot is now a constant layer of the digital experience.
The speech on stage was clear: Microsoft wants to lead the construction of personalized intelligent agents that understand context, language, routine and preferences — and that can become real digital assistants, ready to act, suggest and even create for you.
But it was not an event without tension… An employee in the AI area interrupted the celebration with a public protest against military contracts and the use of artificial intelligence in war contexts. A reminder that, even at the top, Microsoft continues to be at the center of profound ethical debates. Technology, after all, is never neutral.
Amidst the applause, launches and noise, one thing became clear: the Microsoft of the next 50 years will still be shaped by human decisions — strategic, political and ethical.
Finally, it would be reckless to pretend that it is possible to summarize everything that Microsoft represents in just one text. It has been shaping the digital world for fifty years, influencing the way we live, work, communicate and create.
But here, we try to capture the essentials: the bold decisions, the products that changed everything and the people behind this revolution. At 50 years old, Microsoft continues to have the energy of a young company, with an appetite for innovation and a vision for the future. If the last decades were about digitizing the world, the next ones promise to be about making it smarter.
( fontes: Adrenaline )
