I just think the simplest explanation is the easiest: upper crust computer nerd kid is both in the right place at the right time in terms of skills and has a mom that happens to be a C-level that gets him in the door at IBM as a vendor. This is just crony capitalism, no one planned it beyond any level of "Bill Gates likely comes from a long line of pretty good decision makers".

Everyone has crazy ideas, I certainly have my share. But when you're a top 10 richest ducks in the world nigga for like 3 decades you can make your crazy ideas happen.