Bill Gates dilairna nang Seattle, Washington jeneng bapake William Henry Gates, Sr., sawijine pengacara, daup karo Mary Maxwell, pegawai First Interstate Bank, Pacific Northwest Bell, lan anggota Tingkat Nasional United Way. Gates sinau nang Lakeside School, sekolah elit sing paling unggul nang Seattle, lan nerusna kuliah nang Universitas Harvard, tapi di-drop out.