Additional Coverage:
- Bill Gates reveals he probably would be diagnosed on the autism spectrum if he were growing up today (newsbreak.com)
In his upcoming memoir, “Source Code: My Beginnings,” Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates reflects on his childhood and speculates he may be neurodivergent. He believes he likely would have received a diagnosis on the autism spectrum had he been a child today.
Gates describes his parents’ struggle to understand his intense focus on certain projects, his difficulty with social cues, and occasional inappropriate behavior. He credits them with providing a balance of support and encouragement, fostering his emotional growth while also pushing him to engage socially through activities like baseball and Cub Scouts.
He also acknowledges the role of luck in his success, particularly being born to his parents and coming of age during the computer revolution. Gates further recognizes the advantages he’s had as a white male born in the United States.
Gates’s parents exposed him to their adult friends and colleagues, which fueled his curiosity about the world. He admits his social skills developed slowly, improving with age, experience, and fatherhood.
While acknowledging his good fortune, Gates attributes much of his success to his supportive parents, fortunate timing, and what he calls “unearned privilege.” He echoes sentiments expressed by Warren Buffett, who recently acknowledged the advantages of being a white male born in America.
Other business leaders, such as Elon Musk and Richard Branson, have also linked their success to neurodivergence. Musk publicly shared his Asperger’s diagnosis while hosting Saturday Night Live.