Bill Gates has publicly stated that he scored 1590 out of 1600 on the SAT. This near perfect score was achieved under the pre 2005 SAT format, which consisted of two sections—verbal and math—each scored up to 800 points.
Gates attended Lakeside School in Seattle, a private preparatory school, where he demonstrated exceptional aptitude in mathematics and science. His high SAT score contributed to his admission to Harvard University in 1973, where he enrolled but later left during his junior year to co found Microsoft with Paul Allen.
The 1590 score has been cited in multiple credible biographies and interviews, including in the book Gates: How Microsoft’s Mogul Reinvented an Industry—and Made Himself the Richest Man in America by Stephen Manes and Paul Andrews, as well as in media profiles by The New York Times and Forbes.
While standardized test scores are just one measure of academic ability, Gates’ performance reflected his strong analytical and problem solving skills, which became foundational to his success in technology and business.