He founded Corbis Corporation, which is developing a digital archive of art and photography from public and private collections around the globe. His books, The Road Ahead and Business @ the Speed of Thought have both hit the best seller lists. Gates married Melinda on New Year's Day 1994.Together they have three children - Jennifer Katharine, born in 1996, Rory John, born in 1999, and Phoebe Adele, born in 2002
He met his wife in 1987 at a Microsoft press event in Manhattan. She was working for the company and later became one of the executives in charge of interactive content. Other interests listed on his official website are reading and playing golf and bridge. Gates and Melinda have been giving increasing amounts of money to charity, with his father running a foundation. It has been endowed with billions to support initiatives in the areas of global health and education. It is the world's second richest philanthropic organisation, and within shouting distance of the world number one, The Welcome Trust in the UK.