1 EXHIBIT 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Robert W. Herbold and William R. Nenkom, or either of them, his attorneys-in-fact, for him in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement on Form S-4 in connection with the issuance of shares of Microsoft Corporation common stock to stockholders of Intuit Inc. and to sign any pre-effective or post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact, or their substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. SIGNATURE DATE --------- ---- /s/ WILLIAM H. GATES January 28, 1995 ------------------------- William H. Gates /s/ PAUL G. ALLEN January 28, 1995 ------------------------- Paul G. Allen /s/ RICHARD A. HACKBORN January 28, 1995 ------------------------- Richard A. Hackborn /s/ DAVID F. MARQUARDT January 28, 1995 ------------------------- David F. Marquardt /s/ ROBERT D. O'BRIEN January 28, 1995 ------------------------- Robert D. O'Brien /s/ WILLIAM G. REED, JR. January 28, 1995 ------------------------- William G. Reed, Jr. /s/ JON A. SHIRLEY January 28, 1995 ------------------------- Jon A. Shirley