Gordon Earle Moore (1929-2023) was an American engineer, chemist, physicist, and businessman renowned for co-founding Intel Corporation in 1968 with Robert Noyce and for formulating Moore's Law in 1965, a pivotal observation predicting that the number of transistors on an integrated circuit (microchip) would double approximately every two years, driving the exponential advancement of computing power and profoundly influencing the semiconductor industry. Born on January 3, 1929, in Pescadero, California, to Walter Harold Moore (a sheriff and former lumber hauler) and homemaker Florence Almira 'Mira' Williamson, Moore grew up in a modest farming community. His early interest in chemistry was sparked by a Christmas gift in 1940, leading him to study at San Jose State University, earn a BS in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 1950, and a PhD in physical chemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 1954. After briefly working at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Moore joined Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory in 1956 as part of the 'Traitorous Eight' group of engineers, later co-founding Fairchild Semiconductor in 1957 with Robert Noyce and others, where he served as director of research and development and pioneered silicon integrated circuits.

At Intel, Moore held key leadership roles, including director of research and development, executive vice president, president (1975–1979), CEO (1975–1987), and chairman (1979–1997), guiding the company through its growth into a global leader in microprocessors and the personal computer revolution. He stepped down as CEO in 1987 but remained influential until 1997, succeeded by Andy Grove. Beyond business, Moore was a prominent philanthropist; in 2000, he and his wife Betty established the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation with an initial $5 billion endowment, which grew to over $8.6 billion in assets by 2023. The foundation has granted over $5 billion to environmental conservation, scientific research, healthcare, patient care, and Bay Area initiatives, including major donations such as $600 million to Caltech in 2001 and $166 million to UC Berkeley for science programs. Moore received numerous honors, including the National Medal of Technology in 1990 and the IEEE Medal of Honor, and served as chairman of Caltech's board of trustees from 1993 to 2000.

Moore's personal life was marked by humility and privacy; married to Betty since the 1950s, they raised three sons and resided in Woodside, California, before acquiring a Hawaii estate in 2006. His net worth was estimated at $7.1 billion at death, largely from Intel stock, much of which funded philanthropy. No major controversies or legal issues marred his career, though Intel faced typical industry scrutiny over monopolistic practices in the 1990s, resolved without Moore's personal involvement. He passed away on March 24, 2023, in Waimea, Hawaii, at age 94, leaving an enduring legacy as a quiet innovator who shaped modern technology, science, and philanthropy.