Early Life
Charles Simonyi was born in Budapest, Hungary, on September 10, 1948. He developed an early interest in computers, working as a night watchman at a computer lab in his youth, which fueled his passion for programming.
Rise to Success
Simonyi moved to the United States at age 20 and pursued higher education at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a degree in engineering mathematics. He later received a Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford University. He joined Microsoft in 1981 as employee No. 40 and spearheaded the development of Microsoft's application software group, leading to the creation of Word and Excel.
Key Business Strategies
At Microsoft, Simonyi introduced the concept of Hungarian notation and object-oriented programming practices, contributing to the company's modern software development standards. In 2002, he left Microsoft to found Intentional Software, which was later acquired by Microsoft in 2017.
Philanthropy
Simonyi is a dedicated philanthropist, establishing professorships at Oxford, Stanford, and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. He also founded the Charles and Lisa Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, supporting various organizations in art, science, and education.