SPIEGEL ONLINE:

When did Bill Gates become a part of your life - and when did you get the idea, to take over a part of his?

Steve Sires: For several years before I started to work as a professional Bill Gates impersonator I had many people tell me that I looked like Bill. The first few times it occurred I was somewhat taken aback because I did not know who this Bill Gates was, if only I had bought stock in Microsoft then.
That was in the late 1980's. As the years passed people stopping me on the street or just staring became more frequent.
Taking over a part of Bill's life was never my idea. That idea belongs to my wife who responded to an article in a local newspaper discussing a local talent agencies business. Pam called the company up and talked about me for a bit and then told me. I was to call the agency but never did. A couple of weeks passed by and they called my wife back who gave them my work number of all things. So the short of it is I went in and they looked at me and decided I fit the "bill". The agency found work, I set up a website or rather had my son Chris set up the website, bogusbill.com. The timing on this decision was June of 1998.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Is it a hard business? How much competition do you have, and are there any contacs between different impersonators?

Steve Sires: 1. The business can be hard. Very high pressure because for most of my Bogus Bill work I get one shot to make the impression and pull off the deception even temporarily. The easier jobs make up for the hard jobs, those would be film or photo work where I can try it again if the shot is not quite right.

2. There is competition, though the exact number of Bill Gates impersonators I do not know. I can account for at least three in the United States and a client of mine from Canada indicated, that she had found at least two other Bill impersonators there; I have found one in Canada. Luckily for me I have landed some very visible work and have continued to be successful for my clients.

3. I have only met the other "local" Bill impersonator once. That was on a local afternoon TV show. I did not know he was to be there nor did he know I would be there. I walked into the Green Room and he saw me and said, "oh it's you, you're good". He had kept a copy of my picture with him. Not sure why. The audience was unofficially polled to compare our likeness to Bill Gates. I won.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Is that a fulltime-job? Can you make a living on being Bill?

Steve Sires: No, unfortunately Bill-work is not consistent enough though I feel there is more and I am working on marketing my skills. So the answer to the second question is at this time no I cannot make a living at doing bill work. I run a consulting business providing civil engineering design and production to civilengineering businesses.

• Gates-Doppelgänger:Steve "Bogus Bill" Sires 

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Did you ever meet "the real" Bill Gates?

Steve Sires: To this point in time I have not ever met Bill Gates. I did some stand in work for a Comdex video for which he was also in. I did the fun parts of the film. But though we were close his timing was off and he did not have the pleasure of meeting Steve Sires.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: On your website you claim to be the impersonator "used by Microsoft as a stand in for the real Bill Gates". Do things like that really happen?

Steve Sires: See the answer above. HA. Yes things like that really really happen. Maybe there will be more in the future.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: In an interview you once said, that beeing tapped for money was a pretty common experience for you. What are the risks of looking like the richest person on earth? Do you take security-precautions (dress down, change looks etc) when you are not "on duty"?

Steve Sires: Thus far I have not felt at risk unless you call people walking up to you and spilling there life history or desires to you. For the most part people get excited about meeting Bill. Some people start talking up their resume looking for employment. Others ask for stock tips, to which I reply, "buy low sell high. I don't change my looks; I am just me most of the time. For Bill jobs I dress for the part specifically but other than that I don't change anything. I look like you see me in the photos. No security precautions thus far, if I were to use something visible that would be clincher to some people that I am the real deal so that is not the best idea. Going incognito so to speak would be the easiest but not a guarantee.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Are you ever afraid of a freak really mistaking you for the real person?

Steve Sires: Not thus far. Bill is a very respected man here and abroad though he has his detractors. There is always the chance that a freak could do something but you can't shut your life down for the occasional kook.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Summing it all up: What is like to be Bill? Can you picture what it would be like for him? How does it feel for you?

Steve Sires: 1. Not exactly sure of course but he has some very big responsibilities and has set some very large goals for himself and the company. His life must be somewhat stressful as a result, I hope not though. I am sure he gets tired of being hounded. He probably gets tired of reading about "look alike impersonators. He has done so much for humanity and the future can only bring more if his actions are indications. What a blessing Bill has been for the United States and for the world. A few sentences can never convey the impact Bill has had on everyone.

2. I can get a small idea of how life is for Bill. Very small idea. I think history will tell of a brilliant programmer who brought others of like mind together and wrote code that changed the direction of technology forever changing how people live their lives.

3. It is an interesting life I live. I worked hard to learn my trade and woke up one day able to make money at something I had never tried to do before. What luck, really what a blessing from God. Even with all that has transpired with regards to Bill my life is completed by my wife, Pam, children and the rest of my family and friends.