Four Microsoft employees have accused founder Bill Gates of being an office ‘bully’ whose catchphrase was ‘that’s the stupidest f*****g idea I’ve ever heard’ and claimed he pursued sexual affairs with employees and journalists.
Gates’ reputation as a hot-tempered boss began not long after he launched tech giant Microsoft with childhood friend Paul Allen in 1975, Insider reported Tuesday. A spokesperson for the billionaire has denied he mistreated employees.
Gates, 65, came under scrutiny after he and Melinda Gates announced their divorce in May and reports emerged of his alleged extramarital affairs and concerns over the nature of his relationship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
A former Microsoft executive who spoke on condition of anonymity told Insider that ‘having a meeting with Bill was just an opportunity to get yelled at, so I tried to avoid that.’ Other sources who spoke to Insider described his catchphrase as ‘That’s the stupidest f**king idea I’ve ever heard’ and said he was known for swearing at his employees.
Gates would allegedly track his employees by memorizing their license plates, according to the outlet.
Some Microsoft workers who spoke to the outlet, however, defended Gates with one saying he ‘yelled at everyone the same’ and that she appreciates his candor but conceded that his management style could intimidate some employees. ‘He doesn’t know how to joke really or how to connect with people,’ said another former executive, who described solo meetings with Gates as awkward.
