A claim has surfaced suggesting that the silhouette used as the default profile icon in Microsoft Outlook 2010 was inspired by a 1977 mug shot of Microsoft’s co-founder, Bill Gates. The claim stems from a noticeable resemblance between the silhouette and Gates’ mug shot, taken when he was arrested for traffic violations in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Bill Gates’ Mugshot on Microsoft’s Default Pic
The incident, which occurred when Gates was in his early twenties, resurfaced when Ars Technica pointed out the similarity in a side-by-side comparison. The article speculated that the silhouette might indeed be based on Gates’ mug shot, citing the uncanny resemblance and the silhouette’s absence in later Outlook releases.
While the authenticity of Gates’ mug shot and the Outlook 2010 default profile icon has been verified, neither Microsoft nor Gates has officially commented on the claim. Despite numerous discussions across various platforms like Reddit and Facebook, the speculation remains unconfirmed.
Efforts to obtain clarification from Microsoft have been made, but as of now, no response has been received. Consequently, the claim is currently labeled as “Research in Progress” until an official statement from Microsoft or Gates addresses the alleged connection.
