1980
Steve Ballmer joined Microsoft in June 1980 as employee number 30.
“Steve had just joined the company in June of 1980. He's employee number 30.”
Topic
Steve Ballmer
13 facts from 3 episodes, in date order. These are what speakers said on the shows, each linked to the moment it was said. They aren't independently verified.
1980
Steve Ballmer received about 8.5% equity in Microsoft on a handshake deal when he joined.
“Steve is the first person, besides Bill and Paul, to get equity in the company when he joins. And it's 8.5%, and it's a handshake deal at this point.”
1998
Steve Ballmer was promoted to president of Microsoft in July 1998, and Bill Gates handed him the CEO role on January 13, 2000.
“So in July 98, right as this big, huge DOJ antitrust suit is heating up, Steve Ballmer gets promoted to president of the company.”
2000
Steve Ballmer promoted Brad Smith to general counsel after becoming CEO and told him to settle Microsoft's legal disputes.
“he promotes Brad Smith to general counsel, who Brad Smith is still, of course, leading all this at Microsoft to this day.”
2000-2014
During Steve Ballmer's tenure as CEO, Microsoft's revenue grew from $23 billion to $84 billion, and operating income rose from $12 billion to $30 billion.
“Revenue went from $23 billion to $84 billion. That's a 3.5x over 14 years.”
2000s
Ballmer decided Microsoft had to build its own Surface hardware because the OEM model could not deliver high-end PCs that competed with the Mac.
“I decided the only way we were going to get there, we couldn't sit there with our OEM model and have it work.”
2000s
Early in Ballmer's tenure as CEO, accounting rules began requiring companies to expense stock options, which depressed Microsoft's reported profits and led it to shift to stock awards.
“because people forget there was a major change that came along early in my tenure. And that's the move to have to expense stock options.”
2000
When the federal government ordered Microsoft split, Ballmer recalls the likely plan was for him to run operating systems and Bill Gates to run applications.
“I think that there was, I would run operating systems and Bill would take applications.”
2000
Ballmer says he and Bill Gates did not speak for about a year, from around spring 2000 to 2001, after Ballmer became CEO.
“I think it was basically from sometime in about March or April of 2000 to 2001. I mean, literally, we weren't speaking.”
2000s
Ballmer says he explored buying HTC, then the largest Windows Phone maker, before Microsoft partnered with Nokia.
“They were the biggest Windows phone OEM at the time. Nokia wasn't signed up.”
2013
Microsoft agreed on September 3, 2013 to buy Nokia's mobile unit for $7 billion, ten days after Steve Ballmer announced his retirement.
“On September 3rd, so 10 days later, Microsoft agrees to buy Nokia's mobile unit for $7 billion.”
2014
Steve Ballmer's net worth was about $20 billion in 2014 when he left Microsoft, almost entirely in Microsoft stock.
“In 2014, when Steve left Microsoft, his net worth was $20 billion, almost entirely comprised of Microsoft stock.”
2025
Ballmer says dividends from Microsoft and his other holdings roughly equal the amount his family gives away through philanthropy.
“Between Microsoft and the other stuff I own, the dividend checks are pretty close to what we give away.”
Episodes