Early Life and Education of Steve Ballmer: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Steve Ballmer, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Steve Ballmer is an American businessman best known for his tenure as CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. During his leadership, Microsoft navigated the dot-com bubble burst and shifted towards cloud computing. He is recognized for his energetic and passionate presentations. Beyond Microsoft, Ballmer owns the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team. He is also a co-founder of Ballmer Group, a philanthropic organization focusing on social mobility and community development.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1923: Birth of Frederic Henry Ballmer

In 1923, Frederic Henry (Fritz Hans) Ballmer, Steve Ballmer's father, was born.

1948: Frederic Ballmer Arrives in the United States

In 1948, Frederic Ballmer, Steve Ballmer's father, arrived in the United States from Switzerland.

March 24, 1956: Steven Ballmer's Birth

On March 24, 1956, Steven Anthony Ballmer was born in Detroit, Michigan. He later became the CEO of Microsoft.

1964: Ballmer Lived in Brussels

From 1964 to 1967, Steve Ballmer lived in Brussels and attended the International School of Brussels.

1967: Ballmer Lived in Brussels

From 1964 to 1967, Steve Ballmer lived in Brussels and attended the International School of Brussels.

1973: Ballmer Attended College Prep Classes

In 1973, Steve Ballmer attended college prep and engineering classes at Lawrence Technological University.

1977: Ballmer Graduated from Harvard

In 1977, Steve Ballmer graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in applied mathematics and economics from Harvard College.

1980: Ballmer Dropped Out of Stanford to Join Microsoft

In 1980, Steve Ballmer dropped out of the Stanford Graduate School of Business to join Microsoft.

1986: Parody Video for Windows 1.0

In 1986, Steve Ballmer produced a parody video promoting Windows 1.0 in the style of a Crazy Eddie commercial.

1990: Married Connie Snyder

In 1990, Steve Ballmer married philanthropist Connie Snyder.

1994: $10 million donation to Harvard computer science

In 1994, Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates made a joint gift of $10 million to Harvard University's computer science department.

September 2000: "I love this company!"

In September 2000, at Microsoft's 25th anniversary event, Steve Ballmer jumped across the stage and shouted, "I love this company!", which became a widely circulated video.

2000: Death of Frederic Ballmer

In 2000, Frederic Ballmer, Steve Ballmer's father, passed away.

March 6, 2008: Commitment to invest in KeyArena renovation and purchase SuperSonics

On March 6, 2008, Seattle mayor Greg Nickels announced that a local ownership group involving Steve Ballmer made a commitment to invest $150 million in cash toward a proposed $300 million renovation of KeyArena and were ready to purchase the Seattle SuperSonics, but this initiative failed.

June 2012: Investor in proposal to build a new arena

In June 2012, Steve Ballmer invested in Chris R. Hansen's proposal to build a new arena in the SoDo neighborhood of Seattle and bring the SuperSonics back to Seattle.

2012: Los Angeles Dodgers sale

In 2012, the Los Angeles Dodgers were sold for $2.15 billion.

January 9, 2013: Attempt to Purchase Sacramento Kings

On January 9, 2013, Steve Ballmer and Chris Hansen led an investor group's attempt to purchase the Sacramento Kings for an estimated $650 million, aiming to relocate the team to Seattle, but this attempt also fell through.

May 2014: Highest bidder for Los Angeles Clippers

In May 2014, Steve Ballmer was the highest bidder in an attempt to purchase the Los Angeles Clippers for a reported price of $2 billion.

August 12, 2014: Ballmer becomes Los Angeles Clippers owner

Following the Donald Sterling scandal, on August 12, 2014, it was announced that Steve Ballmer would become the Los Angeles Clippers owner after a California court confirmed Shelly Sterling's authority to sell the team.

September 25, 2014: Banned Apple products from Los Angeles Clippers

On September 25, 2014, Steve Ballmer announced that he would bar the Los Angeles Clippers from using Apple products such as iPads, replacing them with Microsoft products, and had previously banned his family from using iPhones.

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November 12, 2014: $50 Million Donation to University of Oregon

On November 12, 2014, Steve Ballmer and his wife Connie donated $50 million to the University of Oregon to support scholarships, public health research, and branding efforts.

November 13, 2014: Estimated $60 Million Gift to Harvard University's Computer Science Department

On November 13, 2014, it was announced that Steve Ballmer would donate a gift, estimated at $60 million, to Harvard University's computer science department to hire new faculty and increase the program's national stature.

2015: Co-founded Ballmer Group

In 2015, Steve Ballmer and his wife co-founded Ballmer Group, a philanthropic investment company focused on helping children from poor families achieve economic mobility.

2017: Launched USAFacts.org

In 2017, Steve Ballmer launched USAFacts.org, a not-for-profit organization aimed at enabling people to understand U.S. government revenue, spending, and societal impact. He contributed $10 million to fund research teams.

March 2020: Agreed to buy The Forum

In March 2020, Steve Ballmer agreed to buy The Forum in Inglewood, California, to enable the construction of Intuit Dome nearby, as plans for a new Clippers' arena faced opposition from The Forum's former owners.

December 2020: Voted Best Owner in Basketball

In a survey conducted by The Athletic in December 2020, Steve Ballmer was voted the best owner in basketball.

2022: $425 Million Donation to University of Oregon

In 2022, Steve Ballmer donated $425 million to the University of Oregon to fund a new institute for children's behavioral health.

December 2023: Estimated $1 Billion in Dividends from Microsoft Stock

In December 2023, CNN estimated that Steve Ballmer was set to collect $1 billion in dividends from his ongoing ownership of Microsoft stock, following the company's announcement of an increase in its dividend to $3 per share.

2024: Properties near Coupeville, Washington

As of 2024, Steve and Connie Ballmer owned a total of 10 properties near Coupeville, Washington.

March 5, 2025: Ballmer's Estimated Wealth in 2025

On March 5, 2025, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimated Steve Ballmer's wealth at around $136 billion, making him the tenth-richest person in the world.

March 2025: Estimated Personal Wealth

As of March 2025, Steve Ballmer's personal wealth was estimated at around $136 billion by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, making him the tenth-richest person in the world.