Just to clarify, he did not invent the internet. It was Tim Berners-Lee. TBL, born 1955, is currently a senior researcher and holder of the 3Com Founders Chair at
MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). He is also a
Knight Commander (second-highest rank in the Order of the British Empire). Wiki him. While you're at it, look up
Philo T. Farnsworth. He invented the television. These are good guys to know about.
Al Gore probably made that claim because he, like most people, does not know who actually invented the Internet. And continues to make sure
it stays royalty-free. We (should) all
owe him a lot. But he chose not to profit from it. Thanks Tim!