1.
Correct Answer
C. Bill Gates
Explanation
Bill Gates is an American business magnate, software developer, and philanthropist. He co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with Paul Allen, revolutionizing personal computing with the development of the Windows operating system. Gates served as Microsoft's CEO until 2000 and remained active in the company until 2008. Beyond Microsoft, Gates is known for his extensive philanthropic efforts through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on global health, education, and poverty alleviation. His work has had a profound impact on technology and humanitarian efforts worldwide.
2.
Correct Answer
C. Jeff Bezos
Explanation
Jeff Bezos is an American entrepreneur and business magnate, best known as the founder of Amazon.com, Inc. Born in 1964, Bezos started Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore, which rapidly expanded into the world's largest e-commerce platform. Under his leadership, Amazon diversified into various sectors, including cloud computing, streaming services, and artificial intelligence. Bezos also founded Blue Origin, a space exploration company, in 2000, aiming to make space travel more affordable and accessible. As one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, Bezos has significantly influenced the retail and technology industries, shaping the future of online shopping and space exploration.
3.
Correct Answer
B. Jerry Yang
Explanation
Jerry Yang is a Taiwanese-American internet entrepreneur and co-founder of Yahoo! Inc. Born in 1968, Yang co-founded Yahoo! in 1994 with David Filo while they were graduate students at Stanford University. Yahoo! began as a web directory and search engine, quickly becoming one of the most popular internet services in the early days of the web. Yang served as CEO of Yahoo! from 2007 to 2009, during which time he oversaw the company's expansion and faced various challenges in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. Beyond his work with Yahoo!, Yang is known for his contributions to the tech industry and his philanthropic efforts, particularly in education and cultural preservation.
4.
Correct Answer
B. Steve Ballmer
Explanation
Steve Ballmer is an American business executive and former CEO of Microsoft. Born in 1956, Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 as the company's first business manager. He played a key role in the company's early growth and was appointed CEO in 2000, succeeding co-founder Bill Gates. During his tenure as CEO, which lasted until 2014, Ballmer oversaw significant product launches, including Windows XP, Windows 7, and the Xbox gaming console. He also led the company through various challenges and expansions into new markets. After retiring from Microsoft, Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team in 2014. His energetic and passionate leadership style has made him a well-known figure in the tech and sports industries.
5.
Correct Answer
A. Larry Page
Explanation
Larry Page is an American computer scientist and internet entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of Google. Born in 1973, Page co-founded Google in 1998 with Sergey Brin while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University. The search engine quickly became the most popular and widely used globally, revolutionizing how people access and interact with information online. Page served as Google's CEO from its founding until 2001, then again from 2011 to 2015. In 2015, he became the CEO of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, following a corporate restructuring. Under Page's leadership, Google expanded its services to include various products like Gmail, Google Maps, and Android. Page is known for his visionary approach to technology and innovation, significantly impacting the tech industry and the digital world.
6.
Correct Answer
C. Mark Zuckerberg
Explanation
Mark Zuckerberg is an American technology entrepreneur and philanthropist, best known as the co-founder and CEO of Facebook, Inc. Born in 1984, Zuckerberg launched Facebook in 2004 from his Harvard University dorm room, alongside co-founders Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes. Facebook quickly grew into the world's largest social networking platform, connecting billions of users worldwide and reshaping communication, media, and advertising. Under Zuckerberg's leadership, Facebook has expanded its portfolio by acquiring Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus VR, among others.
7.
Correct Answer
A. Marc Benioff
Explanation
Marc Benioff is an American internet entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the founder, chairman, and CEO of Salesforce, a leading cloud computing company. Born in 1964, Benioff started Salesforce in 1999 with the revolutionary idea of delivering enterprise software through the Internet. Under his leadership, Salesforce has grown into one of the largest and most influential technology companies globally, pioneering the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model. In addition to his work with Salesforce, Benioff has made significant contributions to healthcare and education through his philanthropic efforts, including substantial donations to the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and other institutions.
8.
Correct Answer
B. Steve Jobs
Explanation
Steve Jobs was an American entrepreneur, inventor, and co-founder of Apple Inc., one of the most influential technology companies in the world. Born in 1955, Jobs co-founded Apple in 1976 with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in his parents' garage. They revolutionized personal computing with the introduction of the Apple II and later the Macintosh. Jobs was known for his visionary approach to technology and design, emphasizing sleek, user-friendly products. After leaving Apple in 1985 following a power struggle, he founded NeXT, a computer platform development company, which was later acquired by Apple in 1996, leading to his return to the company.
9.
Correct Answer
C. Steve Wozniak
Explanation
Steve Wozniak, often affectionately called "Woz," is an American inventor, electronics engineer, and technology entrepreneur. Born on August 11, 1950, he co-founded Apple Inc. with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne in 1976. Wozniak is best known for designing and building the Apple I and Apple II computers. These early models played a crucial role in the personal computer revolution and helped establish Apple as a major player in the technology industry. Wozniak's work on the Apple II, in particular, was groundbreaking. It was one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputers and featured an integrated keyboard, a compact design, and the ability to display color graphics. This made personal computing accessible to a much wider audience and paved the way for the widespread use of computers in homes and schools.
10.
Correct Answer
B. Sergey Brin
Explanation
Sergey Brin is an American computer scientist and internet entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of Google. Born on August 21, 1973, in Moscow, Russia, Brin emigrated to the United States with his family at the age of six. He met Larry Page at Stanford University, where they were both pursuing Ph.D. degrees in computer science. In 1998, Brin and Page co-founded Google, which started as a research project and rapidly grew into the world's leading search engine. Their innovative PageRank algorithm revolutionized online search by ranking websites based on their relevance and importance.
11.
Correct Answer
B. Andy Bechtolsheim
Explanation
Andy Bechtolsheim is a German-American computer engineer and entrepreneur, best known as a co-founder of Sun Microsystems. Born on September 30, 1955, in Bavaria, Germany, Bechtolsheim was a pioneering figure in the development of high-performance workstations. He attended Stanford University, where he developed a powerful computer workstation that would become the basis for Sun Microsystems, founded in 1982 along with Vinod Khosla, Bill Joy, and Scott McNealy. Sun Microsystems played a crucial role in the development of network computing technologies and the Java programming language. Bechtolsheim is also notable for his role as an early investor in Google. In 1998, he wrote a $100,000 check to Larry Page and Sergey Brin before Google was even incorporated. This early investment was pivotal in helping Google become the tech giant it is today.