Steve Ballmer is a prominent figure in the technology and business world, known for his energetic leadership as Microsoft's CEO from 2000 to 2014. Succeeding Bill Gates, he oversaw a period of significant growth and expansion for the company, including the launch of Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. While criticized for some strategic decisions, his tenure was marked by a focus on software development and aggressive market competition. After leaving Microsoft, Ballmer acquired the Los Angeles Clippers, demonstrating his passion for sports and investment. He also co-founded Ballmer Group with his wife, Connie, focusing on philanthropic efforts to improve economic mobility for American families.
1914: Samuel Dworkin immigrates to the US
In 1914, Samuel Dworkin, Steve Ballmer's maternal grandfather, fled to the United States from Russia.
1948: Frederic Henry Ballmer immigrates to the US
In 1948, Frederic Henry Ballmer, Steve's father, immigrated to the United States from Switzerland.
1964: Steve Ballmer moves to Brussels
Steve Ballmer moved to Brussels in 1964 and lived there until 1967.
1967: Steve Ballmer leaves Brussels
Steve Ballmer left Brussels in 1967 after living there for three years.
1973: Steve Ballmer attends Lawrence Technological University
In 1973, Steve Ballmer attended college prep and engineering classes at Lawrence Technological University.
1977: Steve Ballmer graduates from Harvard College
Steve Ballmer graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in applied mathematics and economics.
June 11, 1980: Steve Ballmer officially joins Microsoft
On June 11, 1980, Steve Ballmer officially joined Microsoft as its 30th employee.
1980: Steve Ballmer drops out of Stanford's MBA program to join Microsoft
In 1980, Steve Ballmer dropped out of the Stanford Graduate School of Business to join Microsoft.
1980: Steve Ballmer joins Microsoft
In 1980, Steve Ballmer joined Microsoft, dropping out of his MBA program at Stanford.
1981: Microsoft incorporates, Ballmer owns 8%
When Microsoft incorporated in 1981, Steve Ballmer owned 8% of the company.
1986: Windows 1.0 Parody Video
In 1986, a parody video featuring Steve Ballmer promoting Windows 1.0 in the style of a Crazy Eddie commercial was produced for Microsoft employees.
1990: Marriage to Connie Snyder
Steve Ballmer married Connie Snyder in 1990. They have three sons.
February 1992: Ballmer becomes Executive VP of Sales and Support
In February 1992, Steve Ballmer became the Executive Vice President for Sales and Support at Microsoft.
1994: Joint Donation with Bill Gates
In 1994, Steve Ballmer made a joint donation with Bill Gates of $10 million to Harvard's computer science department.
July 1998: Ballmer promoted to President of Microsoft
In July 1998, Steve Ballmer was promoted to President of Microsoft.
1998: Steve Ballmer becomes president of Microsoft
In 1998, Steve Ballmer was promoted to president of Microsoft.
January 13, 2000: Steve Ballmer replaces Bill Gates as CEO
On January 13, 2000, Steve Ballmer replaced Bill Gates as the CEO of Microsoft.
July 2000: Ballmer's Criticism of Linux
In July 2000, Steve Ballmer controversially called the free software Linux kernel 'communism,' expressing concern over its impact on Microsoft's intellectual property. This marked a notable moment in his career as he voiced strong opposition to open-source software.
September 2000: Ballmer's Energetic Anniversary Appearance
In September 2000, at Microsoft's 25th-anniversary event, Steve Ballmer made a memorable appearance, jumping across the stage and enthusiastically proclaiming, "I love this company!" This moment became a widely circulated viral video.
2000: Death of Frederic Henry Ballmer
Frederic Henry Ballmer, Steve Ballmer's father, passed away in 2000.
2000: Steve Ballmer becomes CEO of Microsoft
In 2000, Steve Ballmer became the chief executive officer of Microsoft.
2000: Ballmer Becomes CEO and Relationship with Gates
In 2000, Steve Ballmer became CEO of Microsoft, allowing Bill Gates to focus on technology. Despite their close relationship, there were reports of tension surrounding this transition of authority, including disagreements and arguments. Ballmer expressed a desire to be independent of Gates' influence after the transition.
February 2001: Ballmer sheds President title, remains CEO
In February 2001, Steve Ballmer shed the title of President but remained as the CEO of Microsoft.
2001: Director and General Partner at Accenture
In 2001, Steve Ballmer became a director of Accenture and a general partner of Accenture SCA, positions he held until 2006. Details about his remuneration in these roles remain undisclosed, highlighting his involvement in significant corporate roles during this period.
2003: Ballmer sells Microsoft shares, reduces ownership to 4%
In 2003, Steve Ballmer sold a significant amount of his Microsoft shares, reducing his ownership to 4%. He also replaced Microsoft's employee stock options program.
2005: B. Kevin Turner joins Microsoft as COO
In 2005, B. Kevin Turner joined Microsoft as the chief operating officer.
2006: Gates steps down as Chief Software Architect
Bill Gates stepped down as Chief Software Architect in 2006, allowing Steve Ballmer more autonomy at Microsoft.
2007: Ballmer's iPhone Market Share Prediction
In 2007, Steve Ballmer predicted that the iPhone would not gain significant market share. This statement became notable as the iPhone eventually became a dominant force in the smartphone market.
March 6, 2008: Failed Attempt to Keep SuperSonics in Seattle
On March 6, 2008, a group including Steve Ballmer made a significant financial commitment to renovate KeyArena and purchase the Seattle SuperSonics to keep them in Seattle. However, the initiative failed, and the team relocated to Oklahoma City as the Thunder.
2008: Ballmer's Intention to Remain CEO
In 2008, Steve Ballmer stated his intention to remain CEO of Microsoft for another decade.
2009: Ballmer's CES Keynote
In 2009, Steve Ballmer delivered the opening keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), marking the first time he did so since Bill Gates stepped down from day-to-day management at Microsoft.
May 2012: Criticism and Calls for Ballmer's Resignation
In May 2012, Ballmer faced criticism for Microsoft's struggles in emerging tech markets like tablets, smartphones, and music players. Hedge fund manager David Einhorn publicly called for his resignation, and Forbes magazine columnist Adam Hartung labeled him the "worst CEO of a large publicly traded American company."
June 19, 2012: Microsoft Surface Unveiling
On June 19, 2012, Steve Ballmer unveiled Microsoft's first-ever computer device, the Microsoft Surface tablet, at an event in Los Angeles. This marked a significant move for the company into the hardware market.
2012: Microsoft's "connected computing" strategy
By 2012, under Ballmer's leadership, Microsoft shifted away from its PC-first focus and pursued a "connected computing" strategy, including acquisitions like Skype.
2012: Overview of Ballmer's Tenure as CEO
Throughout 2012, Ballmer oversaw a significant increase in Microsoft's revenue and net income. He focused on maintaining the profitability of the Windows and Office franchises while also developing new businesses such as the data centers division and the Xbox entertainment and devices division. The acquisition of Skype and the growth of the Enterprise Business, including products like Exchange, Windows Server, and SQL Server, were also key achievements.
April 2013: Microsoft's Financial Performance under Ballmer
In April 2013, Microsoft reported strong financial results under Ballmer's leadership, with a 19% profit increase over the previous quarter in 2012. Despite challenges in the mobile market with Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8, the company's diversified product mix, including the Microsoft Business Division (with Office 365) and Server and Tools division (cloud services), contributed to this growth.
August 23, 2013: Ballmer Announces Retirement
On August 23, 2013, Microsoft announced that Steve Ballmer would retire within 12 months. A committee, including Bill Gates, was formed to select the next CEO.
September 2013: Acquisition of Nokia's Mobile Phone Division
In September 2013, Steve Ballmer announced Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's mobile phone division, marking his last major acquisition as CEO.
September 2013: Ballmer's Last Company Meeting
Steve Ballmer hosted his last company meeting as CEO in September 2013.
2013: Ballmer Announces Retirement
In 2013, after acquisitions and the Surface tablet resulted in financial losses, Ballmer announced his retirement, causing Microsoft's stock price to rise. He later expressed regret over not focusing more on Windows Mobile earlier.
2013: Ballmer's Regret over Windows Mobile
In 2013, Steve Ballmer expressed regret over Microsoft's lack of focus on Windows Mobile in the early 2000s, acknowledging that it left the company trailing behind in the smartphone market.
February 4, 2014: Steve Ballmer retires as CEO, Satya Nadella takes over
On February 4, 2014, Steve Ballmer retired as CEO of Microsoft, and Satya Nadella replaced him.
August 12, 2014: Ballmer Becomes Owner of Los Angeles Clippers
On August 12, 2014, Steve Ballmer officially became the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers after a court confirmed the sale. His $2 billion purchase was one of the highest for a sports franchise in North American history at that time.
August 2014: Ballmer Leaves Microsoft Board
In August 2014, Steve Ballmer stepped down from Microsoft's board of directors.
August 19, 2014: Steve Ballmer leaves Microsoft's board of directors
On August 19, 2014, Steve Ballmer left Microsoft's board of directors.
September 25, 2014: Ballmer Bans Apple Products for Clippers
On September 25, 2014, Steve Ballmer announced a policy to bar the Los Angeles Clippers from using Apple products, opting for Microsoft alternatives. This decision reflected his loyalty to Microsoft and its products.
October 2014: Ballmer and Gates' Relationship Breakdown
In October 2014, after Ballmer left Microsoft, reports emerged of a strained relationship between him and Bill Gates, suggesting they were no longer on speaking terms.
November 12, 2014: Donation to the University of Oregon
On November 12, 2014, Steve and Connie Ballmer donated $50 million to the University of Oregon, Connie's alma mater. The donation aimed to support scholarships, public health research, advocacy, and external branding.
November 13, 2014: Donation to Harvard University
On November 13, 2014, Steve Ballmer donated an estimated $60 million to Harvard University's computer science department to facilitate faculty hires and boost the program's national standing.
December 24, 2014: IRS Lawsuit Against Ballmer and Other Microsoft Executives
On December 24, 2014, the IRS sued Steve Ballmer and other Microsoft executives, seeking their testimony in a corporate tax audit related to transfer pricing practices.
2014: Steve Ballmer retires as CEO of Microsoft
In 2014, Steve Ballmer retired as the chief executive officer of Microsoft.
2015: Ballmer Group Founded
In 2015, Steve Ballmer and his wife Connie Ballmer co-founded Ballmer Group, a philanthropic organization focused on improving economic mobility for children from low-income families.
2015: Ballmer Reflects on Microsoft's Investment in Apple
In 2015, Steve Ballmer reflected on Microsoft's decision to invest in Apple in 1997 to save it from bankruptcy, calling it the 'craziest thing we ever did.' This statement highlighted his retrospective view on a pivotal moment in tech history.
November 2016: Ballmer's Reflection on Relationship with Gates
In November 2016, Ballmer confirmed that he and Gates had "drifted apart," attributing the breakdown to disagreements over Microsoft's foray into the hardware business, specifically smartphones. He characterized their prior relationship as "brotherly."
2016: Ballmer Revisits iPhone Statement
In 2016, Steve Ballmer revisited his 2007 statement about the iPhone, explaining that his skepticism was due to the high price point at the time. He acknowledged that Apple's strategy with carriers proved successful, altering the market dynamics.
2017: Launch of USAFacts.org
Steve Ballmer launched USAFacts.org in 2017. He reportedly contributed $10 million to this not-for-profit organization, which aims to make U.S. government data on finances and their impact on society more accessible to the public.
March 2020: Ballmer Agrees to Buy The Forum
In March 2020, Steve Ballmer agreed to purchase The Forum in Inglewood, California, facilitating plans to build the Intuit Dome for the Los Angeles Clippers. This move was strategic to overcome opposition from The Forum's previous owners.
December 2020: Ballmer Voted Best Owner in Basketball
In December 2020, a survey by The Athletic voted Steve Ballmer as the best owner in basketball. This accolade recognized his positive impact and leadership as the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.
2021: ProPublica Report on Ballmer's Tax Strategies
In 2021, ProPublica reported on Steve Ballmer's use of ownership in sports teams to reduce his federal income tax rate. This investigation revealed significant tax savings strategies that contrasted with the tax burdens of athletes.
2022: Donation for Children's Behavioral Health
In 2022, Steve Ballmer donated $425 million to the University of Oregon to establish a new institute for children's behavioral health.
October 2023: Ballmer's Wealth Ranking by Bloomberg
As of October 2023, Steve Ballmer's personal wealth was estimated at around $115 billion by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, ranking him as the fifth-richest person in the world. This reflects his significant financial success and influence.
2023: ProPublica Report on Ballmer's Wash Sales
In 2023, ProPublica reported on Steve Ballmer's tax savings through wash sales assisted by Goldman Sachs, labeled 'Tax Advantaged Loss Harvesting.' This strategy resulted in substantial tax savings over five years.