Steve Jobs & Bill Gates interview 2007: A Historic Tech Moment

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 20:11:35 +1300

In 2007, at the D5 Conference hosted by The Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital, two of the greatest figures in tech history — Steve Jobs (Apple) and Bill Gates (Microsoft) — shared the stage for a rare, candid joint interview. It was the first time in over a decade the two sat side by side to discuss their journeys, philosophies, and the industry they helped shape.

🎙️ What Made This Interview So Iconic?
This wasn't a debate. It was a reflection. And what emerged was a nuanced, emotional, and surprisingly warm conversation between two tech titans who built the modern digital world — sometimes together, often apart.

🔑 Key Moments & Quotes
🧠 On Their Rivalry:
Steve Jobs:
"Bill built the first software company in the world... nobody in our industry has ever done that. And the business model he chose was brilliant."

Bill Gates:
"Steve is the most inspiring person I’ve ever met. The way he sees things and how he drives people is phenomenal."

🤝 On Their Collaboration:
They discussed their early work together — including Microsoft creating software for the first Macintosh — and acknowledged how intertwined their paths truly were.

Jobs: "We’ve kept our marriage secret for over a decade." (jokingly, to audience laughter)

😢 Emotional Closing:
When asked what they admired about each other, both got personal.

Gates:
"What Steve’s done at Apple is phenomenal. It’s not just the innovation — it’s the taste, the design... the whole thing is just amazing."

Jobs:
"When Bill and I started, we were the youngest guys in the room. Now we’re the oldest... and that’s kind of cool."

The audience gave a standing ovation.

💡 Why It Still Resonates
It captured the human side of tech history

It showed how competition doesn’t exclude mutual respect

It foreshadowed Apple’s second golden age, just as the iPhone was launching

It reminded us that legacy is about more than products — it’s about impact

📺 Where to Watch It
The full video and clips are available on YouTube and tech archive sites — just search:
“Steve Jobs Bill Gates D5 Interview 2007”

💬 Final Thought:
This wasn’t just an interview. It was a moment in time.
Two visionaries. One stage. And a conversation that defined an era.

Want a breakdown of their best quotes or how their philosophies still shape modern tech? Let me know — I’ve got it all dialed in. 👨‍💻🍎🪟