Microsoft couple are awarded honorary degrees

Published on Friday 12 June 2009 22:16

AMERICAN billionaire Bill Gates was awarded an honorary degree at Cambridge University yesterday in recognition of his work as a philanthropist and businessman.

The Microsoft chairman – believed to be the world's richest man with an estimated fortune topping 20 billion – was made a doctor of law. Gates's wife, Melinda, received the same honorary degree.

The degrees were presented to the couple by Prince Phillip, the university's chancellor.

In 2008, Gates stepped back from the day-to-day running of Microsoft to concentrate on global health and education projects with his wife.

Nine years ago the couple, who run the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, set up a scholarship programme.

They gave the university more than 100 million to enable outstanding foreign graduates to study at Cambridge. The university said more than 280 Gates scholars were studying there.

Representatives for Cambridge University said Mrs Gates was an "shining example" of the maxim that "behind every great man there is a great woman".

She was being awarded her degree for her philanthropic work with the foundation.

Mr Gates broke with tradition to wear an open-necked shirt to yesterday's ceremony.

A number of other well-known figures from the worlds of academia, politics and music also received honorary degrees from the university yesterday.