Steve Ballmer

Biography

Ballmer dropped out of Stanford's business school in 1980 to become Bill Gates's first business hire at Microsoft. As CEO from 2000 he tripled Microsoft's revenue through its enterprise and Windows businesses. After retiring in 2014 he bought the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion and founded USAFacts, a not-for-profit that presents US government data in plain form.

American businessman who was Microsoft's first business manager and its CEO for 14 years, later buying the Los Angeles Clippers.

Known for

Leading Microsoft as CEO from 2000 to 2014.

Notable works & defining projects

• Microsoft (CEO era: Windows XP, Windows 7, enterprise growth)
• Los Angeles Clippers (owner)
• USAFacts (founder)

Notable achievements

• Served as Microsoft CEO (2000–2014), tripling its annual revenue
• Bought the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014 for a then-record $2 billion
• Founded USAFacts, a nonpartisan data initiative on US government spending

Timeline

1. 1980Joined Microsoft as its first business manager
2. 2000Became Microsoft's CEO
3. 2014Retired from Microsoft and bought the Los Angeles Clippers

Did you know?

• His courtside enthusiasm and the famous 'developers, developers, developers' chant made him one of tech's most recognisable executives
• He was the first business manager Bill Gates hired at Microsoft