Gates Wrote Jobs a Letter the Late CEO Kept Bedside

[Phillip Swanson]

Sometimes the line between competitive rivalry and genuine disdain blurs. It’s difficult to juggle mutual respect, admiration, jealousy, and public perception all at once. But, according to a report by The Telegraph and an interview with ABC Steve Jobs and Bill gates did the dance better than most.

Gates told The Telegraph he and Jobs relationship changed drastically after he left Microsoft in 2007 to set up his foundation and after the two made a rare joint appearance at the D Conference in 2007. Gate’s even visited Jobs in October just before the late CEO’s death.

"We spent literally hours reminiscing and talking about the future,” Gates told The Telegraph.

“He and I always enjoyed talking. He would throw some things out, you know, some stimulating things. We'd talk about the other companies that have come along. We talked about our families and how lucky we'd both been in terms of the women we married. It was great relaxed conversation." — ABC News Interview.

Gates also wrote jobs a letter to tell him “how he should feel great about what he had done and the company he had built. I wrote about his kids, whom I had got to know." After Jobs death Gates received a call from Jobs’s wife Laurene. She told gates Jobs appreciated the letter and kept it by his bed.

"She said; 'Look, this biography really doesn't paint a picture of the mutual respect you had," — Gates, The Telegraph.

That respect blossomed into a friendship of sorts, how could it not? Two titans of tech who no longer directly competed, and shared a long, storied history would hopefully be drawn together by their similarities not driven apart by petty differences. The best of frenemies.

Well, and Gates bailed Apple out in 1997 with a $150 million investment. And again in 2001 by developing Microsoft office for OS X.

Source: The Telegraph and ABC News [via CNET]

[Eonhpi]

Without gates there would be no apple without jobs there would be no Microsoft.

[romeoz]

Without gates there would be no apple without jobs there would be no Microsoft.

very true, however, without Denis Ritchie there would be no C...without C, there is nothing....he died when Jobs did.

[fleurya]

Without gates there would be no apple without jobs there would be no Microsoft.

There would probably be a Microsoft, but it make crappier products.

[mmaboi21]

Nice to see respect from two former rivalries. Honestly they've both done a great job building their businesses.

[R.Mortera]

There would probably be a Microsoft, but it make crappier products.

+1

[kddo14]

very true, however, without Denis Ritchie there would be no C...without C, there is nothing....he died when Jobs did.

not to mention ritche's development of unix, without which Mac OS X and iOS wouldn't exist... or at least would likely exist in a different form...

[Eonhpi]

There would probably be a Microsoft, but it make crappier products.

+1

[Jay Barrow]

These two remind me of David Dunn and Mr. Glass. Almost.

[hitman10]

As smart as Jobs was he clearly wasn't smart enough to save his own life.. such a shame.

[c0dy]

As smart as Jobs was he clearly wasn't smart enough to save his own life.. such a shame.

Oh yea, cause Einstein is still alive. And Hawking is healthy as a horse.

[boostin4hp]

Oh yea, cause einstein is still alive. And hawking is healthy as a horse.

lol

[Mrteacup]

Nice to see respect from two former rivalries. Honestly they've both done a great job building their businesses.

Ik I love to see people have respect after a rivalry thank god they ended on good terms haha

I respect CEOs that are innovative but CEOs that can be actual non corrupt people that show respect for others earn my respect on a much higher level

[mortopher]

As smart as Jobs was he clearly wasn't smart enough to save his own life.. such a shame.

Just a heads up: you'll die too.

[sziklassy]

Oh yea, cause Einstein is still alive. And Hawking is healthy as a horse.

You missed the point. Steve opted out on surgery early on that likely would have saved his life. Instead, he took the holistic approach. That approach has him pushing up daisies today.

Just a heads up: you'll die too.

Certainly. But if he is diagnosed with treatable cancer, maybe he will opt for more than sipping cranberry juice and doing yoga.

[Feanor64]

You missed the point. Steve opted out on surgery early on that likely would have saved his life. Instead, he took the holistic approach. That approach has him pushing up daisies today.



Certainly. But if he is diagnosed with treatable cancer, maybe he will opt for more than sipping cranberry juice and doing yoga.

+1000

[Jahooba]

I got a mental vision of Jobs doing donuts on the lawn of Gate's estate. In a Honda.

[hitman10]

You missed the point. Steve opted out on surgery early on that likely would have saved his life. Instead, he took the holistic approach. That approach has him pushing up daisies today.



Certainly. But if he is diagnosed with treatable cancer, maybe he will opt for more than sipping cranberry juice and doing yoga.

Thank you for understand that very simple statement.

[chad daddy]

Without gates there would be no apple without jobs there would be no Microsoft.

there would definitely be a Microsoft. Steve did not save the company.

[chicolonga]

Without gates there would be no apple without jobs there would be no Microsoft.

agree