Milionário e executivo norte-americano, Steve Anthony Ballmer nasceu a 24 de março de 1956. O futuro diretor da Microsoft foi criado em Detroit, onde o seu pai era gerente na Ford Motor Co.
Ballmer formou-se em Matemática e Economia na Universidade de Harvard e enquanto estudava tornou-se amigo de Bill Gates que viria a ser o fundador da Microsoft. Ainda durante a
permanência em Harvard foi treinador da equipa de futebol americano, colaborou num jornal e na revista literária da universidade.
Aos vinte e um anos, começou a trabalhar no departamento de marketing de uma empresa chamada Procter & Gamble, onde esteve dois anos.
Estudou também na Universidade de Stanford, de onde saiu ao
fim de um ano, em 1980, quando Bill Gates o foi buscar para o ajudar a dirigir a Microsoft. Ballmer foi o primeiro diretor a ser contratado para a empresa de Gates. A Microsoft viria ser, mais tarde, a líder mundial a nível de fabrico de software para computadores pessoais e industriais.
Ballmer rapidamente se tornou num dos homens de confiança de Gates e foi fundamental para o notável crescimento da empresa. Na
Microsoft liderou diversos departamentos importantes, como o de desenvolvimento de sistemas operativos e o de vendas e assistência pós-venda.
Ao longo dos anos passados na Microsoft, Ballmer fez sempre questão de manter relações próximas com os clientes e parceiros da empresa. Outras características que lhe são atribuídas são a sua concentração, agressividade, sinceridade e dinamismo, sendo também exigente, disciplinado e divertido. Em suma, quer transmitir às pessoas a paixão que tem pelos
serviços e produtos da Microsoft.
Em julho 1998 foi promovido a presidente da Microsoft, quando Bill Gates se afastou deste cargo para se dedicar mais a projetos criativos na produção de software. Em janeiro de 2000 passou a chefe executivo, assumindo a responsabilidade de dirigir totalmente a empresa.
Steve Ballmer is known as an influential technology business executive. He served as CEO of Microsoft Corporation from 2000 to 2014. Considered one of the wealthiest people in the world, Ballmer's estimated net worth exceeded $90 billion in 2022.
Key Takeaways
- Steve Ballmer attended Harvard University with Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft.
- Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 as its 30th employee.
- He is the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team.
- Steve Ballmer served as the second CEO of Microsoft, succeeding Bill Gates.
Early Life and Education
Steve Ballmer was born on March 24, 1956, in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Harvard University in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics and economics. Ballmer's first position was in product management at Proctor & Gamble. He briefly attended the Stanford Graduate School of Business before launching his career at Microsoft.
Microsoft
In 1980, Steve Ballmer joined his Harvard classmate, Bill Gates, at Microsoft. Hired as its first business manager, Ballmer was the start-up's 30th employee at age 24. His base salary was $50,000 and included equity in the company and a percentage of the profit growth Ballmer would generate. Within his first year, Steve Ballmer would help Microsoft secure a contract with IBM to provide the operating system for its computers. Microsoft went public in March 1986.
30
The number of employees at Microsoft in 1980.
Ballmer's early roles included executive vice president of sales and president. In 2000, he became the second CEO of Microsoft. During his fourteen-year tenure, Ballmer is credited with enhancing Microsoft’s enterprise strategy, overseeing the launch of the original Xbox, and investing in cloud technology. Ballmer led the expansion into search engines by releasing Bing and acquiring internet telephony provider Skype. Microsoft's revenue tripled under Ballmer's leadership.
Despite its success under Ballmer, Microsoft waivered under pressure from competitors like Apple and Google. In categories like mobile devices, search, and social media, Microsoft was slow to adapt. Critics accused Ballmer of focusing on sales and neglecting innovation. Several products underscored Microsoft's inability to compete, including the Zune digital media player, meant to rival the Apple iPod. Google Chair Eric Schmidt said of Microsoft in 2012: "They're a well-run company, but they haven't been able to bring state-of-the-art products into the fields we're talking about."
Ballmer retired from Microsoft in 2013.
Notable Accomplishments
After his retirement in 2014, Steve Ballmer bought the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers basketball team for $2 billion.
Ballmer is active in numerous charitable projects and is co-founder of the Ballmer Group, which provides philanthropy and civic engagement to help remove barriers and create opportunities throughout many stages of a young person’s life.
Steve Ballmer founded USAFacts, a non-profit organization and free website that allows users to track data and better understand U.S. government revenue and spending. In addition to the website, Numbers Geek is an accompanying podcast, produced in partnership with USAFacts, that addresses issues from education to politics with leaders in business, technology, and entertainment.
In 2018, he invested $59 million in Social Solutions, which makes software for nonprofits and government agencies.
Why Did Steve Ballmer Launch USAFacts?
To combat internet misinformation, Steve Ballmer launched a free website that compiles government data from 70 different sources to create a financial report on the government. It makes it easy to find out everything, from how much taxes we all pay to crime and divorce rates.
How Did Ballmer's Leadership Propel Xbox?
Initiated as an idea to rival the Sony Playstation, the Xbox team at Microsoft was free to try risky things, such as pursuing a strategy that helped it champion the idea of what would become a major shift in the gaming world - the connected console.
How Many Shares of Microsoft Stock Does Steve Ballmer Own?
Steve Ballmer owns a 4% stake in Microsoft, about 333 million shares.
The Bottom Line
Steve Ballmer's influence in the technology arena and at Microsoft Corporation remains evident today. His
business acumen and leadership over 33 years with the corporation helped move Microsoft from an early start-up to a dominant force in the industry. Steve Ballmer's success has made him one of the richest people in the world.