In a brief address to thousands of attendees at the Consumer Electronics Show 2008 in Las Vegas, Gates confirmed that this will also be his last year kicking off the annual high-tech extravaganza as he steps down from day-to-day involvement at Microsoft.
Bill Gates has proven to have the same sense of humor, as he ended his tech reign with a a spoof home video, and by challenging Robbie Bach, the head of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, to a match of Guitar Hero, a video music game which is supposed to mimic the sensation of being a rock star.
The two corporate heavyweights were joined on stage by real life guitar rockers Slash and Kelly "Tipper Queen" Law-Yone, who played a set.
The spoof home video showed how Bill Gates is trying to pursue a new career. Gates want to be a rap star, but Jay Z turns him down. After he tries to pursue a rock star career but U2’s Bono is very clear: "I can't replace Edge because you got a high score on Guitar Hero, Bill"
Also the film industry is no place to start a new career as a former software tycoon. Gates calls Steven Spielberg about an audition reel showing Gates as a horror film figure. Spielberg in turn calls George Clooney about a Bill Gates movie. "I can't play Bill Gates. I just can't ... ask Russell Crowe," says Clooney.
The Daily Show's Jon Stewart turns Gates down as a co-anchor after showing a clip of Gates running off the Daily Show set. As Microsoft colleagues comment that it may not be a coincidence that Gates is leaving in an election year, we see him turned down as running mate in separate phone conversations with both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.