Moore, Gordon E.

(1929-)
Intel Corporation

Overview

Gordon E. Moore helped to spawn the personal computer revolution and the ensuing rise of Silicon Valley, arguably the global center of high technology, by contributing to the invention of the silicon chip, which runs personal computers (PCs). Moore also co–founded the world's leading chipmaker, Intel Corporation, a multi–billion dollar giant that employed more than 85,000 people and controlled over 80 percent of the PC microprocessor market. His namesake in technological circles is "Moore's Law," which states that the number of transistors fitting on a silicon chip would double every year while becoming cheaper to manufacture, and which became a guiding principle for the industry. Dubbed the "reluctant entrepreneur," Moore, the nation's fifth–wealthiest man, always maintained that his intention was not to build a manufacturing empire, but that "events simply propelled him in that direction."

Personal Life

Gordon Moore lives in Woodside, California, with his wife Betty, whom he married on September 9, 1950. The couple has two sons, Kenneth and Steven. Moore is an avid fisherman, conservationist, and golfer.

Moore serves as director of Varian Associates, Gilead Sciences Inc., and Transamerica Corp. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a trustee of the California Institute of Technology, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. In 1990 he received the National Medal of Technology from President Bush for the development of "Moore's Law." He also received the Founders Medal from the IEEE in 1997, the Founders Award from the National Academy of Engineering, the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Commonwealth Club, and numerous other awards. He is an active conservationist and is involved in Conservation International. Along with his wife, Moore contributed half of his stake in Intel Corp., valued at the time at approximately $5 billion, to create the Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation in 2000. This foundation benefits the environment, scientific research, higher education, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Gordon Moore was born on January 3, 1929, in San Francisco. He was raised in the nearby town of Pescadero, which he described in an interview with Stanford University as a "little farm town kind of community." He moved to Redwood City at the age of 10 when his father, a deputy sheriff, was promoted. During junior high, Moore decided that he wanted to become a chemist. He attended Sequoia High School and spent his first two years of college at San Jose State where he met his wife. Moore then transferred to the University of California at Berkeley, where he received his bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1950. Four years later he received a Ph.D. in chemistry and physics from the California Institute of Technology.

Moore left his native California for a job in Baltimore, Maryland, doing basic research in the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University. He was unhappy there, however, longing instead to do research that had a practical application. As he stated in an interview conducted in association with the Tech Museum of Innovation, "I guess, by inclination, I was more of an engineer than a scientist in that having some practical outcome from what I did was important. With my chemistry set, I had to get a good explosion at the end or I wasn't happy." He soon headed back to California, and in 1956 took a position as a research chemist with Shockley Semiconductor, whose founder, William Shockley, co–invented the transistor. Moore soon left the company due to differences with Shockley, but it was there that he met Robert Noyce and eight other engineers who would team up to form Fairchild Semiconductor.

Career Details

In 1957 Fairchild Semiconductor was born just south of San Francisco in the up–and–coming area later known as Silicon Valley. The enterprising Robert Noyce took the helm as president while the quiet chemist–turned–engineer Gordon Moore became head of research and development. Fairchild began manufacturing semiconductors just as computer technology was taking off around the world. A market for U.S.–made computer components grew when Russia launched the first space satellite, Sputnik I.

Fairchild's first big break was an order of 100 silicon transistors from the computer leader International Business Machines (IBM). The manufacturer's next boost came when Noyce invented the integrated circuit in 1959 just as one was also developed at Texas Instruments. The invention was revolutionary, making it possible for a single silicon chip to hold several electronic components, thereby reducing the number of chips needed and facilitating the design of smaller computers. Six years later Moore developed and published in Electronics "Moore's Law," which stated that silicon chips would double in power and complexity every year while decreasing in cost for the next 10 years. At the time the law was simply a rule of thumb, but its truth was proven throughout the industry in the years that followed. Fairchild Semiconductor grew quickly, eventually reaching $150 million in revenues, but as sales tapered off in the mid–1950s, Noyce and Moore found themselves at odds with the rest of the company.

Interference from their financial backer, Fairchild Camera & Instrument, prompted Moore, Noyce, and another employee, Andrew Grove, to leave Fairchild in 1968 when they founded Intel Corporation. The new company was initially a shoestring operation with a one–page business plan and a small warehouse as its headquarters. Noyce again took the leadership reins as Intel's CEO and Moore served as executive vice president. The contrasting personalities of the two entrepreneurs worked to Intel's advantage. Grove recalled of their differing styles in Computer Reseller News, "Bob [Noyce] spewed off ideas that Gordon [Moore] outlawed. Bob was more of a risk taker, and Gordon was more conservative."

Intel unveiled its first product, a bipolar memory chip, in 1969. This chip, smaller than a fingertip yet holding 4,000 transistors, became the industry standard for computers. The revolutionary product enabled the company to post a profit in 1971. That same year the entrepreneurs introduced another groundbreaking product, the first microprocessor consisting of a small computer on four chips designed to work in calculators. The invention sent Intel's stock soaring, tripling in value between 1971 and 1973. By 1973 the company's revenues exceeded $66 million; a mere six years later revenues increased nearly ten–fold to $650 million and the company's staff numbered 14,000. In 1975 as Noyce began to give up some of his responsibilities, Moore was named president and CEO.

Moore's leadership abilities were immediately tested when, that same year, Intel introduced a digital wristwatch, the Microma. The product proved a disaster, losing $15 million in the three years that it was on the market. Moore wore the watch from that point on to remind himself of the mistake, dubbing it his "$15 million watch."

Moore became chairman and CEO in 1979, and Andrew Grove was named president. Their struggling company received a much–needed boost when IBM chose Intel's microprocessor for its early personal computer in 1981. Moore also sold IBM a 12 percent stake in Intel for $250 million. At the time, Intel needed to raise money and Moore was confident that IBM would not hinder the company's progress in any way. The infusion of capital was timely as Japanese chipmakers began appearing as competitors in the U.S. market. Intel's profits fell and it was forced to lay off 2,000 employees in 1986.

Realizing that Intel must streamline its focus, Moore steered the company away from memory chips and toward microprocessors. Soon Intel developed a high–powered microprocessor. Over the decades as these products became more powerful and less expensive, they were used not only in computers, but also in a variety of everyday devices, enabling them to become "smarter" and make human life easier through technology.

Chronology: Gordon E. Moore

1929: Born.

1950: Graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of California.

1954: Earned a Ph.D. in chemistry and physics from the California Institute of Technology.

1957: Co–founded Fairchild Semiconductors.

1965: Formulated "Moore's Law."

1968: Co–founded Intel Corporation.

1975: Became president and CEO of Intel.

1979: Elected chairman of Intel.

1987: Stepped down as CEO.

1997: Named chairman emeritus of Intel.

2001: Stepped down as chairman emeritus.

Moore remained CEO until 1987, when he named Grove as his successor. Noyce passed away in 1990, leaving Moore and Grove to run the company without their long–time partner. In 1997 as Moore was named chairman emeritus, Intel unveiled the powerful new Pentium II microprocessor. In 2000 the company recorded its 13th consecutive year of growth, as revenues increased by 15 percent to $33.7 billion and employees numbered 86,000. Moore resigned as chairman emeritus in May 2001 when he reached the age limit for board members.

Social and Economic Impact

Gordon Moore had a huge impact on transforming computer technology, bringing his smaller, more powerful chips to smaller, more powerful computers and into the homes of millions. The two legendary technology companies that he helped establish, Fairchild Semiconductors and, more famously, Intel Corporation, spawned a giant industry built around technology in the Silicon Valley, employing millions, and creating a new economy. Moore must be satisfied that his desire to employ his research for "practical applications" was a resounding success. Few would disagree that PCs provide a host of practical applications, allowing for the everyday use of information technology and the rise of the Internet. Moore's Law remains at work, powering computers, the Internet, cell phones, and a host of other products that continue to get better, smaller, and less expensive. The influence of Moore's theory, his companies, and his inventions has interconnected and changed the world.

Sources of Information

Bibliography

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