Gordon Moore

Left William Shockley with the 'traitorous eight' to form Fairchild Semiconductor

This defection from the Nobel Prize winner who recruited him launched the Silicon Valley startup culture and gave Moore his first taste of building semiconductor companies from scratch.

Published prediction that transistor density would double annually for the next decade

Moore's Law became the semiconductor industry's north star, driving decades of exponential progress and making possible everything from Apollo missions to personal computers.

Left Fairchild with Robert Noyce to found Intel Corporation

Created the world's largest semiconductor company, growing from $3,000 in first-year sales to $633 million by 1979. Intel's microprocessor invention under Moore's leadership sparked the personal computer revolution.

Implemented radical flat management structure and gave all employees stock options from Intel's founding

This egalitarian approach - working from a scratched desk while giving employees better furniture - became the Silicon Valley management template and created massive wealth for Intel's workforce.

Established the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation with a $5 billion gift

One of the largest philanthropic commitments in history, focusing on environmental conservation and scientific research. Total giving exceeded $7 billion, including the largest higher education gift ever at the time ($600M to Caltech).

Gordon Moore born January 3 in San Francisco as second son of sheriff Walter Moore and homemaker Florence Williamson.

Started school, with faculty noting his introverted personality.

Family moved to Redwood City when father accepted promotion to deputy sheriff.

Received chemistry set as Christmas gift, sparking lifelong interest in chemistry.

Studied at Sequoia High School, participating in athletic activities.

Attended San José State College studying chemistry.

Met future wife Betty Irene Whitaker during student government conference at Asilomar.

Transferred to University of California, Berkeley.

Graduated UC Berkeley with Bachelor of Science in chemistry and married Betty.

Studied at California Institute of Technology for PhD.

Conducted postdoctoral research at Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University.

Received PhD in chemistry from Caltech and son Kenneth born.

Joined William Shockley at Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory.

Left with the 'traitorous eight' when Sherman Fairchild backed them to create Fairchild Semiconductor.

Became director of research and development at Fairchild and son Steven born.

Published Moore's Law prediction in Electronics Magazine on April 19, forecasting doubling of components every year for next decade.

Co-founded Intel Corporation with Robert Noyce in July, initially called NM Electronics.

Intel reached $4.2 million in annual revenues.

Intel achieved $23 million in sales with 1,000 employees in fourth year.

Intel sales reached $66 million with 2,500 employees in fifth year.

Became Intel president and revised Moore's Law prediction to approximately every two years.

Elected member of National Academy of Engineering.

Became Intel chairman and CEO in April as company reached $633 million in revenues.

Intel annual sales reached $1 billion and Moore became member of Caltech board of trustees.

Stepped down as Intel CEO but remained chairman.

Received National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President George H.W. Bush.

Served as chairman of Caltech board of trustees.

Named Intel chairman emeritus.

Established Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation with $5 billion gift.

Donated $600 million to Caltech, largest gift to higher education at the time.

Received Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush.

Donated $200 million with wife for Thirty Meter Telescope construction.

Received IEEE Medal of Honor.

Inducted into National Inventors Hall of Fame and received Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.

First human genome sequenced on Ion Torrent's Personal Genome Machine platform.

Intel renamed Oregon campus 'Gordon Moore Park' and building 'Moore Center' in his honor.

Died March 24 at home in Waimea, Hawaii at age 94, with net worth reported as $7 billion.