Editing Steve Ballmer

{{short description|American businessman and investor (born 1956)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Steve Ballmer
| image              = Steve ballmer 2007 outdoors2-2.jpg

| caption            = Ballmer in 2007
| birth_name         = Steven Anthony Ballmer
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1956|3|24}}
| birth_place        = [[Detroit]], Michigan, U.S.
| education          = {{plainlist|
* [[Harvard University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
* [[Stanford University]] (dropped out)
}}
| occupation         = {{hlist|Businessman|
investor}}
| known_for          = Former CEO of [[Microsoft]]<br>Co-founder of [[Ballmer Group]]<br>Owner of the [[Los Angeles Clippers]]
| spouse             = {{marriage|Connie Snyder|1990}}
| children           = 3
| relatives          = [[Gilda Radner]] (2nd cousin)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19980125/2730718/microsofts-heir-apparent|title=Business – Microsoft's Heir Apparent – Steve Ballmer|website=Seattle Times Newspaper|access-date=September 10, 2016|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064018/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19980125&slug=2730718|url-status=live}}</ref>
| signature          = Steve Ballmer signature.svg
}}
'''Steven Anthony Ballmer''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɔː|l|m|ər}}; March 24, 1956)<!--CNN cite also verifies birth name Steven Anthony Ballmer--> is an <!--Do not "Swiss"; discuss on the talk page if you disagree.-->American businessman and investor who served as chief executive officer of [[Microsoft]] from 2000 to 2014.<ref name="cnnbio">{{cite web |date=March 11, 2015 |title=Steve Ballmer Fast Facts |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/08/us/steve-ballmer-fast-facts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206053327/http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/08/us/steve-ballmer-fast-facts/ |archive-date=February 6, 2016 |access-date=January 28, 2016 |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> He is the owner of the [[Los Angeles Clippers]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA). He is a co-founder of [[Ballmer Group]], a philanthropic investment company.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Greif |first=Andrew |date=July 8, 2020 |title=Steve Ballmer is putting his billions behind bigger causes in L.A. than the Clippers |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2020-07-08/steve-ballmer-group-foundation-clippers-owner-billionaire |access-date=November 18, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=November 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118102814/https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2020-07-08/steve-ballmer-group-foundation-clippers-owner-billionaire |url-status=live }}</ref> 

As of May 2025, [[Bloomberg Billionaires Index]] estimated his personal wealth at around $151 billion,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/ |website=bloomberg.com |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref> making him the eighth-richest person in the world, and the Forbes ''Real-Time Billionaires List'' ranked him as the ninth-richest person with a net worth of $118 billion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List |url=https://www.forbes.com/real-time-billionaires/ |website=forbes.com |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref>

Ballmer was hired by [[Bill Gates]] at Microsoft in 1980, and subsequently left the [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] program at [[Stanford University]]. He eventually became president in 1998, and replaced Gates as CEO on January 13, 2000.<ref name="ms bio">{{cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/steve/default.mspx |title=Steve Ballmer: Chief Executive Officer |date=March 1, 2005 |publisher=Microsoft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203132040/http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/exec/steve/default.mspx |archive-date=February 3, 2008}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> On February 4, 2014, Ballmer retired as CEO and was replaced by [[Satya Nadella]]; Ballmer remained on Microsoft's board of directors until August 19, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2013/aug13/08-23announcementpr.aspx |title=Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to retire within 12 months. |date=August 23, 2013 |publisher=Microsoft |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824142520/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2013/aug13/08-23AnnouncementPR.aspx |archive-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref><ref name="nadella">{{cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2014/feb14/02-04newspr.aspx |title=Microsoft Board names Satya Nadella as CEO |date=February 4, 2014 |publisher=Microsoft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204183103/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2014/feb14/02-04newspr.aspx |archive-date=February 4, 2014}}</ref> Under Ballmer's leadership, a 14-year period, the company tripled sales and doubled profits, but lost its [[market dominance]] and missed out on [[21st century skills|21st-century technology trends]] such as the ascendance of [[smartphone]]s in the forms of [[iPhone]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/10/25/why-tim-cook-is-steve-ballmer/ |title=Why Tim Cook is Steve Ballmer |date=October 26, 2016 |access-date=November 12, 2017 |archive-date=November 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113003548/https://venturebeat.com/2016/10/25/why-tim-cook-is-steve-ballmer/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/business/2012/08/microsoft-lost-mojo-steve-ballmer |title=How Microsoft Lost Its Mojo: Steve Ballmer and Corporate America's Most Spectacular Decline |first=Kurt |last=Eichenwald |website=The Hive |date=July 24, 2012 |access-date=November 12, 2017 |archive-date=November 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113083549/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/business/2012/08/microsoft-lost-mojo-steve-ballmer |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-ballmer-newsmaker/steve-ballmer-ends-run-as-microsofts-relentless-salesman-idUSBRE97M0YV20130823 |title=Steve Ballmer ends run as Microsoft's relentless salesman |first=Bill |last=Rigby |newspaper=Reuters |date=August 23, 2013 |access-date=November 12, 2017 |archive-date=November 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113003632/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-ballmer-newsmaker/steve-ballmer-ends-run-as-microsofts-relentless-salesman-idUSBRE97M0YV20130823 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Players and sportswriters generally consider Ballmer's ownership of the Clippers as an improvement over previous owner [[Donald Sterling]], citing his willingness to acquire superstar players and finance the construction of [[Intuit Dome]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://theathletic.com/2261119/2020/12/17/nba-owners-ranked/ |title=Ranking NBA's best and worst owners: Why Steve Ballmer went No. 1 |access-date=January 4, 2021 |archive-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217215457/https://theathletic.com/2261119/2020/12/17/nba-owners-ranked/ |url-status=live |last1=Vorkunov |first1=Mike }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/blake-griffin-the-boss |title=The Boss &#124; by Blake Griffin |date=October 17, 2014 }}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Steven Anthony Ballmer was born on March 24, 1956, in [[Detroit]], Michigan, as the son of Beatrice Dworkin and Frederic Henry (Fritz Hans) Ballmer, a German born manager at the [[Ford Motor Company]].<ref name="cnnbio" /><ref name=":2" /> Frederic (1923–2000) was from [[Zuchwil]], Switzerland, and arrived in the United States in 1948.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=Lifestyles |date=2022-10-19 |title=$149 million new gift from Ballmers for climate-change efforts follows their gift of $425 million earlier this year for children's health. – Lifestyles Magazine |url=https://lifestylesmagazine.com/latest-news/149-million-new-gift-from-ballmers-for-climate-change-efforts-follows-their-gift-of-425-million-earlier-this-year-for-childrens-health/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-28 |title=Success Story of Steve Ballmer: How He Transformed Microsoft |url=https://primeinsights.in/success-story-of-steve-ballmer/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |language=en-US}}</ref> Through his mother, Ballmer is a second cousin of actress and comedian [[Gilda Radner]].<ref name=":2">{{cite web |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19980125/2730718/microsofts-heir-apparent----steve-ballmer |title=Business – Microsoft's Heir Apparent – Steve Ballmer – Seattle Times Newspaper |access-date=September 10, 2016 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064018/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19980125&slug=2730718 |url-status=live}}</ref> Ballmer grew up in the affluent community of [[Farmington Hills, Michigan|Farmington Hills]], [[Michigan]]. Ballmer also lived in Brussels from 1964 to 1967, where he attended the [[International School of Brussels]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Steve Ballmer lived in Brussels! |website=[[YouTube]] |date=August 26, 2007 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvcPlwKrquM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/zvcPlwKrquM |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=December 4, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 1973, he attended college prep and engineering classes at [[Lawrence Technological University]]. He graduated as [[valedictorian]] from [[Detroit Country Day School]], a private [[university-preparatory school|college preparatory school]] in [[Beverly Hills, Michigan|Beverly Hills]], [[Michigan]], with a score of 790 on the mathematical section of the [[SAT]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.woopidoo.com/biography/steve-ballmer/index.htm |title=Steve Ballmer Biography – Microsoft CEO |publisher=Woopidoo.com |date=March 24, 1956 |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-date=April 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416132824/http://www.woopidoo.com/biography/steve-ballmer/index.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/business/yourmoney/28ballmer.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all |work=The New York Times |first=Steve |last=Lohr |title=Preaching From the Ballmer Pulpit |date=January 28, 2007 |access-date=February 20, 2017 |archive-date=August 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816235708/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/business/yourmoney/28ballmer.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all |url-status=live }}</ref> and was a [[National Merit Scholarship Program|National Merit Scholar]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalmerit.org/s/1758/interior.aspx?sid=1758&gid=2&pgid=416 |title=National Merit Scholarship Corporation – Scholars You May Know |publisher=nationalmerit.org |access-date=August 26, 2015 |archive-date=February 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228095002/http://www.nationalmerit.org/s/1758/interior.aspx?sid=1758&gid=2&pgid=416 |url-status=live }}</ref> 

Ballmer, the first in his family to graduate from college,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramirez |first=Eddy |title=Camino Nuevo Wins $750,000 Grant to Prepare More Students for College |date=July 12, 2018 |url=https://cisneros.caminonuevo.org/apps/news/article/886552 |access-date=November 5, 2023 |archive-date=November 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105225036/https://cisneros.caminonuevo.org/apps/news/article/886552 |url-status=live }}</ref> attended [[Harvard College]], where he was a manager for the [[Harvard Crimson football]] team and a member of the [[Fox Club (Harvard)|Fox Club]], worked on ''[[The Harvard Crimson]]'' newspaper as well as the ''[[Harvard Advocate]]'', and lived down the hall from fellow sophomore [[Bill Gates]]. He scored highly in the [[William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition]], an exam sponsored by the [[Mathematical Association of America]], scoring higher than Bill Gates.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/business/yourmoney/28ballmer.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |work=The New York Times |first=Steve |last=Lohr |title=Preaching From the Ballmer Pulpit |date=January 28, 2007 |access-date=February 20, 2017 |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215135807/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/business/yourmoney/28ballmer.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Josefowitz |first=Nicholas F. |date=June 4, 2002 |title=Personable Ballmer Leads College Extracurriculars, Microsoft |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2002/6/4/personable-ballmer-leads-college-extracurriculars-microsoft/ |work=The Harvard Crimson |access-date=September 23, 2024 }}</ref> He graduated ''[[magna cum laude]]'' with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in [[applied mathematics]] and economics in 1977.<ref>{{cite web |title=Steve Ballmer Biography – Microsoft CEO |url=http://www.woopidoo.com/biography/steve-ballmer/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004071133/http://www.woopidoo.com/biography/steve-ballmer/ |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |access-date=June 14, 2013 |publisher=Woopidoo.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 2, 2017 |title=Steve Ballmer Fast Facts |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/08/us/steve-ballmer-fast-facts/ |work=CNN Library |publisher=CNN |access-date=April 20, 2017 |archive-date=August 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814180323/https://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/08/us/steve-ballmer-fast-facts/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ballmer worked as an assistant product manager at [[Procter & Gamble]] for two years, where he shared an office with [[Jeff Immelt]], who later became CEO of [[General Electric]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2007-04-29-ballmer-ceo-forum-usat_N.htm|work=[[USA Today]]|title=CEO Forum: Microsoft's Ballmer having a 'great time{{'-}}|author=David Lieberman|date=April 29, 2007|quote=First job: Assistant product manager for [[Duncan Hines]]' Moist & Easy cakes and brownies. His cubicle mate was Jeffrey Immelt, now CEO of General Electric.|access-date=September 15, 2017|archive-date=July 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702111914/http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2007-04-29-ballmer-ceo-forum-usat_N.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> After briefly trying to write screenplays in Hollywood,<ref name="leibovich20001231">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2000/12/31/alter-egos/91b267b0-858c-4d4e-a4bd-48f22e015f70/ |title=Alter Egos |last=Leibovich |first=Mark |date=December 31, 2000 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=June 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225224631/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2000/12/31/alter-egos/91b267b0-858c-4d4e-a4bd-48f22e015f70/ |archive-date=December 25, 2016 |issn=0190-8286 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> he started attending the [[Stanford Graduate School of Business]] for his MBA (where [[Mukesh Ambani]] was his classmate<ref>{{Cite news |title=Will Mukesh Ambani overtake his Stanford classmate Steve Ballmer to become world's 5th richest? |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/will-mukesh-ambani-overtake-his-stanford-classmate-steve-ballmer-to-become-worlds-5th-richest-5550891.html |work=Moneycontrol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Did you know: Microsoft's Steve Ballmer was Mukesh Ambani's classmate |url=https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/did-you-know-microsofts-steve-ballmer-was-mukesh-ambanis-classmate-2-3635685.html |work=Firstpost}}</ref>), but dropped out in 1980 to join Microsoft.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/02_24/b3787001.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020614172301/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/02_24/b3787001.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 14, 2002 |work=[[BusinessWeek]] |title=Ballmer's Microsoft |first1=Jay |last1=Greene |first2=Steve |last2=Hamm |first3=Jim |last3=Kerstetter |date=June 17, 2002 |quote=After two years, Ballmer headed for Stanford University's MBA program for a better grounding in business. When the fledgling Microsoft ran into problems in 1980, Gates persuaded his friend to drop out and give him a hand.}}</ref>

==History with Microsoft==
Ballmer joined [[Microsoft]] on June 11, 1980, and became Microsoft's 30th employee and the first business manager hired by Gates.<ref>{{cite web |title=Steve Ballmer: Chief Executive Officer |website=[[Microsoft]] |url=https://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/steve/default.aspx?tab=biography |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=January 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107054933/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/steve/default.aspx?tab=biography |url-status=live}}</ref>

Ballmer joined Microsoft with a salary of $50,000 plus 10% of the profit he generated and no equity.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hiring Steve Ballmer Was One Of Bill Gates' Early Moves At Microsoft. Now, AI Has Helped Ballmer Surpass Gates On The Billionaire's Index |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/hiring-steve-ballmer-one-bill-170208229.html |website=Yahoo |date=July 5, 2024 |access-date=September 20, 2024}}</ref> However, Ballmer's profit-share started to balloon out of control as Microsoft grew. When Dave Marquardt suggested for Microsoft to reorganize as a corporation instead of a private partnership, he proposed that Ballmer own 8% of the company in exchange for cancelling the profit-sharing model. [[Paul Allen]] initially disagreed, but Gates and Allen reached an agreement when Gates agreed to fund an outsized majority of Ballmer's 8% stake.<ref>{{cite web |title=Long-Ago Twist Yields Ballmer A Fortune In Microsoft Stock |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/georgeanders/2014/09/30/long-ago-twist-yielded-ballmer-a-fortune-in-microsoft-stock|website=Forbes |access-date=September 20, 2024}}</ref> When Microsoft was incorporated in 1981, Ballmer owned 8% of the company. In 2003, Ballmer sold 39.3 million Microsoft shares for about $955 million, reducing his ownership to 4%.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2003/may/28/1 |title=Microsoft chief calms investors after selling shares |newspaper=The Guardian |date=May 28, 2003 |access-date=January 12, 2017 |archive-date=July 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726020511/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2003/may/28/1 |url-status=live}}</ref> The same year, he replaced Microsoft's [[employee stock option]]s program.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/2003/07/08/cx_aw_0708msft.html |title=Microsoft Loses Its Options |work=Forbes |date=July 8, 2003 |access-date=January 12, 2017 |archive-date=April 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403233013/https://www.forbes.com/2003/07/08/cx_aw_0708msft.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In his first 20 years at the company, Ballmer headed several Microsoft divisions, including operations, operating systems development, and sales and support. In February 1992, he became Executive Vice President for Sales and Support. Ballmer led Microsoft's development of the [[.NET Framework]]. Ballmer was promoted to President of Microsoft in July 1998, making him the ''de facto'' number two after the chairman and CEO, Bill Gates.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/microsoft/10262853/Microsoft-the-ups-and-downs-of-the-Ballmer-era.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/microsoft/10262853/Microsoft-the-ups-and-downs-of-the-Ballmer-era.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Microsoft: the ups and downs of the Ballmer era |work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |date=August 23, 2013 |access-date=January 17, 2014 |location=London |first=Sophie |last=Curtis}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Chief executive officer (2000–2014)===
[[File:Steve Ballmer MWC 2010.jpg|thumb|upright|Ballmer at the Mobile World Congress 2010]]

On January 13, 2000, Ballmer was officially named the chief executive officer; he would shed the title of president in February 2001.<ref name="ms bio" /><ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/602708.stm |title=Steve Ballmer, friend of Bill |work=BBC News |date=January 13, 2000 |access-date=January 12, 2017 |archive-date=May 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528170710/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/602708.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> As CEO, Ballmer handled company finances and daily operations, but Gates remained chairman of the board and still retained control of the "technological vision" as chief software architect.<ref>{{cite web |last=Farber |first=Dan |date=August 26, 2013 |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57600098-75/bill-gates-steve-ballmer-and-the-parting-of-the-ways/ |title=Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer and the Parting of the Ways |website=CNET News |access-date=September 4, 2013 |archive-date=August 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827013318/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57600098-75/bill-gates-steve-ballmer-and-the-parting-of-the-ways/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Gates relinquished day-to-day activities when he stepped down as chief software architect in 2006, while staying on as chairman, and that gave Ballmer the autonomy needed to make major management changes at Microsoft.<ref name="businessweek1">{{cite news|last=Vance |first=Ashlee |author-link=Ashlee Vance |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/steve-ballmer-reboots-01122012.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112174846/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/steve-ballmer-reboots-01122012.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 12, 2012 |title=Steve Ballmer Reboots |work=Businessweek |date=January 12, 2012 |access-date=June 14, 2013}}</ref>

When Ballmer took over as CEO, the company was fighting an antitrust lawsuit brought on by the U.S. government and 20 states, plus class-action lawsuits and complaints from rival companies. While it was said that Gates would have continued fighting the federal suit, Ballmer sought to settle these, saying: "Being the object of a lawsuit, effectively, or a complaint from your government is a very awkward, uncomfortable position to be in. It just has all downside. People assume if the government brought a complaint that there's really a problem, and your ability to say we're a good, proper, moral place is tough. It's actually tough, even though you feel that way about yourselves."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/12/11/for-steve-ballmer-a-lasting-touch-on-microsoft/?iid=SF_F_River |work=CNN |title=For Steve Ballmer, a lasting touch on Microsoft |access-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-date=December 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216195458/http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/12/11/for-steve-ballmer-a-lasting-touch-on-microsoft/?iid=SF_F_River |url-status=live }}</ref>

Upon becoming CEO, Ballmer required detailed business justification to approve new products, rather than allowing hundreds of products that sounded potentially interesting or trendy. In 2005, he recruited [[B. Kevin Turner]] from [[Walmart]], who was the president and CEO of [[Sam's Club]], to become Microsoft's chief operating officer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lohr |first1=Steve |title=Microsoft Shops at Wal-Mart for an Operating Chief |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/technology/microsoft-shops-at-walmart-for-an-operating-chief.html |website=The New York Times |date=August 5, 2005 |access-date=February 20, 2017 |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530060739/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/technology/microsoft-shops-at-walmart-for-an-operating-chief.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Turner was hired at Microsoft to lead the company's sales, marketing, and services group and to instill more process and discipline in the company's operations and salesforce.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bass |first1=Dina |title=Microsoft's Nadella Reshapes Top Management as Turner Leaves |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-07/microsoft-s-nadella-reshapes-management-team-as-turner-leaves |website=Bloomberg.com |date=July 7, 2016 |access-date=March 11, 2017 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308121146/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-07/microsoft-s-nadella-reshapes-management-team-as-turner-leaves |url-status=live}}</ref>

Since Bill Gates' retirement, Ballmer oversaw a "dramatic shift away from the company's PC-first heritage", replacing most major division heads in order to break down the "talent-hoarding fiefdoms"; in 2012, this led ''[[Businessweek]]'' to say that the company "arguably [had] the best product lineup in its history". Ballmer drove Microsoft's "connected computing" strategy with acquisitions such as [[Skype]].<ref name="businessweek1" />

Under Ballmer's tenure as CEO, Microsoft's share price stagnated<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ballmer-era-stock-price-2013-8 |title=Microsoft's Stock Chart Under The Ballmer Era |access-date=June 13, 2018 |archive-date=April 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403233017/https://www.businessinsider.com/ballmer-era-stock-price-2013-8 |url-status=live }}</ref> even as the company's annual revenue surged from $25&nbsp;billion to $70&nbsp;billion, while its net income increased 215% to $23&nbsp;billion, and its gross profit of 75 cents on every dollar in sales was double that of [[Google]] or [[IBM]].<ref name="wsj2"/> With the company's total annual profit growth of 16.4%, Ballmer's tenure at Microsoft surpassed the performances of other well-known CEOs such as [[General Electric]]'s [[Jack Welch]] (11.2%) and [[IBM]]'s [[Louis V. Gerstner Jr.]] (2%).<ref name="businessweek1"/> These gains came from the existing Windows and Office franchises, with Ballmer maintaining their profitability, fending off threats from competitors such as [[Linux]] and other [[Open-source software|open-source]] [[operating system]]s and [[Google Docs]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2013/08/microsoft-steve-ballmer-and-the-art-of-monopoly.html |title=Steve Ballmer and the Art of Managing a Monopoly – The New Yorker |date=August 26, 2013 |publisher=newyorker.com |access-date=August 26, 2015 |archive-date=March 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327133145/http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2013/08/microsoft-steve-ballmer-and-the-art-of-monopoly.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Ballmer also built half a dozen new businesses,<ref name="wsj2"/> such as the data centers division and the [[Xbox]] entertainment and devices division ($8.9&nbsp;billion),<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-21/microsoft-unveils-new-xbox-in-widening-home-entertainment-battle.html |title=Microsoft Unveils New Xbox in Bid to Lead Home Entertainment |author1=Dina Bass |author2=Cliff Edwards |name-list-style=amp |publisher=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=May 21, 2013 |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 11, 2017 |archive-date=July 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730005638/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-21/microsoft-unveils-new-xbox-in-widening-home-entertainment-battle.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Fortune">[http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/12/11/for-steve-ballmer-a-lasting-touch-on-microsoft/?iid=SF_F_River Fortune] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216195458/http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/12/11/for-steve-ballmer-a-lasting-touch-on-microsoft/?iid=SF_F_River |date=December 16, 2013 }}</ref> and oversaw the acquisition of Skype. Ballmer also constructed the company's $20&nbsp;billion Enterprise Business, consisting of new products and services such as [[Microsoft Exchange Server|Exchange]], [[Windows Server]], [[History of Microsoft SQL Server|SQL Server]], [[SharePoint]], System Center, and [[Dynamics CRM]], each of which initially faced an uphill battle for acceptance but have emerged as leading or dominant in each category.<ref name="Fortune"/> This diversified product mix helped to offset the company's reliance on PCs and mobile computing devices as the company entered the [[post-PC era]]; in reporting quarterly results during April 2013, while [[Windows Phone 8]] and [[Windows 8]] had not managed to increase their market share above single digits, the company increased its profit 19% over the previous quarter in 2012, as the Microsoft Business Division (including [[Office 365]]) and Server and Tools division (cloud services) are each larger than the Windows division.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bott |first=Ed |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-versus-microsoft-the-ticker-tape-tells-the-tale/ |title=Apple versus Microsoft: the ticker tape tells the tale |work=ZDNet |date=April 26, 2013 |access-date=June 14, 2013 |archive-date=October 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020160216/http://www.zdnet.com/apple-versus-microsoft-the-ticker-tape-tells-the-tale-7000014556/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="wsj2">Ovide, Shira. (August 25, 2013) [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324906304579035141246779898 "Next CEO's Biggest Job: Fixing Microsoft's Culture"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404003540/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324906304579035141246779898 |date=April 4, 2023 }}. ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''. Retrieved on September 4, 2013.</ref>

Ballmer attracted criticism for failing to capitalize on several new consumer technologies, forcing Microsoft to play catch-up in the areas of tablet computing, smartphones and music players with mixed results.<ref name="businessweek1" /><ref name="wsj2" /> According to ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', under Ballmer's watch, "In many cases, Microsoft latched onto technologies like smartphones, touchscreens, 'smart' cars and wristwatches that read sports scores aloud long before Apple or Google did. But it repeatedly killed promising projects if they threatened its cash cows [Windows and Office]."<ref name="wsj2"/> Ballmer was even named one of the worst CEOs of 2013 by the [[BBC]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20131212-the-worst-ceos-of-2013 |title=Worst CEOs of 2013 |access-date=June 13, 2018 |archive-date=March 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314031712/http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20131212-the-worst-ceos-of-2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result of these many criticisms, in May 2012, hedge fund manager [[David Einhorn (hedge fund manager)|David Einhorn]] called on Ballmer to step down as CEO of Microsoft. "His continued presence is the biggest overhang on Microsoft's stock," Einhorn said in reference to Ballmer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hedge Fund Star Einhorn Calls for Microsoft's Ballmer to Go|agency=Reuters|publisher=Fox Business|url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/2011/05/26/hedge-fund-star-einhorn-calls-microsofts-ballmer/#ixzz27Bx2W6m5|access-date=September 22, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116121416/http://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/2011/05/26/hedge-fund-star-einhorn-calls-microsofts-ballmer/#ixzz27Bx2W6m5|archive-date=January 16, 2013}}</ref> In a May 2012 column in ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine, Adam Hartung described Ballmer as "the worst CEO of a large publicly traded American company", saying he had "steered Microsoft out of some of the fastest growing and most lucrative tech markets (mobile music, headsets and tablets)".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamhartung/2012/05/12/oops-5-ceos-that-should-have-already-been-fired-cisco-ge-walmart-sears-microsoft/3/ |work=Forbes |first=Adam |last=Hartung |title=Oops! Five CEOs Who Should Have Already Been Fired (Cisco, GE, WalMart, Sears, Microsoft) – Forbes |access-date=September 15, 2017 |archive-date=September 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908074957/https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamhartung/2012/05/12/oops-5-ceos-that-should-have-already-been-fired-cisco-ge-walmart-sears-microsoft/3/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2009, and for the first time since Bill Gates resigned from day-to-day management at Microsoft, Ballmer delivered the opening keynote at [[Consumer Electronics Show|CES]].<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/jan/08/steve-ballmer-ces-keynote |title=Ballmer unveils Windows 7 at CES |work=The Guardian |date=January 8, 2009 |access-date=January 12, 2017 |archive-date=February 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204035755/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/jan/08/steve-ballmer-ces-keynote |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Steve Ballmer - MIX 2008.jpg|thumb|Ballmer at [[MIX (Microsoft)|MIX]] in 2008]]

As part of his plans to expand on [[Computer hardware|hardware]], on June 19, 2012, Ballmer revealed Microsoft's first ever computer device, a tablet called [[Microsoft Surface]] at an event held in Hollywood, Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsavitz/2012/06/18/microsoft-live-from-hollywood |work=Forbes |first=Eric |last=Savitz |title=Microsoft: Live From Hollywood! Introducing Microsoft Surface Tablet (Updated) |access-date=September 15, 2017 |archive-date=November 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113010431/https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsavitz/2012/06/18/microsoft-live-from-hollywood |url-status=live }}</ref> He followed this by announcing the company's purchase of [[Nokia]]'s mobile phone division in September 2013,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.co.uk/information-technology/2017/06/microsoft-hardware-company-steve-ballmer/|title=Steve Ballmer: We should have turned Microsoft into a "world-class hardware company"|date=May 31, 2017|access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-date=November 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113060103/https://arstechnica.co.uk/information-technology/2017/06/microsoft-hardware-company-steve-ballmer/|url-status=live}}</ref> his last major acquisition for Microsoft as CEO.

On August 23, 2013, Microsoft announced that Ballmer would retire within the next 12 months. A special committee that included Bill Gates would decide on the next CEO.<ref>Chaudhuri, Saabira (August 23, 2013). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324165204579030611858818656 "Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to Retire Within 12 Months"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209051426/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324165204579030611858818656/ |date=February 9, 2017 }}. ''The Wall Street Journal''.</ref>

There was a list of potential successors to Ballmer as Microsoft CEO, but all had departed the company: [[Jim Allchin]], [[Brad Silverberg]], [[Paul Maritz]], [[Nathan Myhrvold]], [[Greg Maffei]], [[Pete Higgins (businessman)|Pete Higgins]], [[Jeff Raikes]], [[J. Allard]], [[Robbie Bach]], Bill Veghte, [[Ray Ozzie]], [[Bob Muglia]] and [[Steven Sinofsky]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Woody|first=Leonhard|title=Microsoft's 13 worst missteps of all time|url=http://www.infoworld.com/d/microsoft-windows/microsofts-13-worst-missteps-of-all-time-210521|date=January 14, 2013|work=InfoWorld|access-date=January 12, 2017|archive-date=August 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829005423/http://www.infoworld.com/d/microsoft-windows/microsofts-13-worst-missteps-of-all-time-210521?|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Leonhard |first=Woody |url=http://www.infoworld.com/t/technology-business/game-of-thrones-the-men-who-would-be-ballmer-207313 |title=Game of thrones: The men who would be Ballmer |work=InfoWorld |date=November 19, 2012 |access-date=June 14, 2013 |archive-date=May 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513164536/http://www.infoworld.com/t/technology-business/game-of-thrones-the-men-who-would-be-ballmer-207313 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[B. Kevin Turner]], Microsoft's [[Chief Operating Officer]] (COO), was considered by some to be a ''de facto'' number two to Ballmer, with Turner having a strong grasp of business and operations but lacking technological vision.<ref>Turner, Kevin. [https://money.cnn.com/gallery/technology/2013/08/26/microsoft-ceo-ballmer-replacements.fortune/6.html "Who will succeed Steve Ballmer at Microsoft?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213185602/http://money.cnn.com/gallery/technology/2013/08/26/microsoft-ceo-ballmer-replacements.fortune/6.html |date=December 13, 2013 }} ''Fortune'' / CNN. Retrieved September 4, 2013.</ref> On February 4, 2014, [[Satya Nadella]] succeeded Ballmer as CEO.<ref name=nadella/>

===Public image===
Although as a child he was so shy that he would hyperventilate before [[Hebrew school]],<ref name="leibovich20001231"/> Ballmer is known for his energetic and exuberant personality, which is meant to motivate employees and partners,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/11/ballmer_iphone_bing_win_7_ad|title=Ballmer garnishes Bing 2.0 with iPhone 'stomp': Return of the Kool-Aid kid|author=Gavin Clarke|year=2009|work=The Register|access-date=April 23, 2010|archive-date=May 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100512182206/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/11/ballmer_iphone_bing_win_7_ad/|url-status=live}}</ref> shouting so much that he needed surgery on his vocal cords.{{r|leibovich20001231}}

Ballmer's excited stage appearances at Microsoft events were widely circulated on the Internet as [[viral video]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.onsoftware.com/the-best-and-worst-of-barmy-steve-balmer/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603051704/http://en.onsoftware.com/the-best-and-worst-of-barmy-steve-balmer/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 3, 2010|title=The best and worst of barmy Steve Balmer|author=Nicholas Mead|year=2010|access-date=November 27, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/06/microsoft_slate|title=Ballmer readies slate PC for CES: Monkey boy to hurl spoiler at Apple?|author=John Oates|year=2010|work=The Register|access-date=April 23, 2010|archive-date=May 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100512182222/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/06/microsoft_slate/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2385972,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03079TX1K0000585|title=Microsoft Needs to Check Itself|author=John C. Dvorak|work=PC Magazine|access-date=June 12, 2011|date=May 26, 2011|archive-date=March 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314201910/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2385972,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03079TX1K0000585|url-status=live}}</ref> One of his earliest known viral videos was a parody video, produced for Microsoft employees in 1986, promoting [[Windows 1.0]] in the style of a [[Crazy Eddie]] commercial.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/steve-ballmers-9-craziest-moments|title=9 Craziest Steve Ballmer Moments|date=August 23, 2013|access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-date=November 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113004421/https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/steve-ballmers-9-craziest-moments|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/nov/15/microsoft-windows-system-apps|title=Has Microsoft's Windows had its day?|first=Charles|last=Arthur|date=November 15, 2010|website=the Guardian|access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-date=November 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113003544/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/nov/15/microsoft-windows-system-apps|url-status=live}}</ref> Ballmer and [[Brian Valentine]] later repeated this in a spoof promotion of [[Windows XP]].

A widely circulated video was his entrance on stage at Microsoft's 25th anniversary event in September 2000,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wallstreetinsanity.com/steve-ballmers-top-11-craziest-moments/|title=Steve Ballmer's Top 11 Craziest Moments|website=wallstreetinsanity.com|date=July 12, 2013|last=Cortez|first=Samantha|access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-date=November 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113060142/http://wallstreetinsanity.com/steve-ballmers-top-11-craziest-moments/|url-status=live}}</ref> where Ballmer jumped across the stage and shouted, "I love this company!"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/microsoft/8041510/Who-is-Steve-Ballmer.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/microsoft/8041510/Who-is-Steve-Ballmer.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Who is Steve Ballmer?|first=Claudine|last=Beaumont|date=October 5, 2010|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McNamara |first1=Paul |title=Replaying Ballmer's whacky Windows 1.0 ad and explaining 'except in Nebraska' |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/3006537/replaying-ballmer-s-whacky-windows-1-0-ad-and-explaining-except-in-nebraska.html |access-date=December 3, 2020 |work=Buzzblog |publisher=NetworkWorld |date=November 19, 2015 |archive-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120234133/https://www.networkworld.com/article/3006537/replaying-ballmer-s-whacky-windows-1-0-ad-and-explaining-except-in-nebraska.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Another viral video was captured at a [[Windows 2000]] developers' conference, featuring a visibly perspiring Ballmer repeatedly chanting the word "developers".<ref>{{cite news|last=Wakabayashi|first=Daisuke|title=Ballmer becomes lone voice at Microsoft's helm|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-ballmer-idUSN2634300220080629|work=Reuters|access-date=December 6, 2012|date=June 29, 2008|archive-date=March 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311173712/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-ballmer-idUSN2634300220080629|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/ballmers-visage-evoked-for-developers-developers-developers|title=Ballmer's visage evoked for 'developers, developers, developers' demo app on Windows Phone 7 Series|author=Chris Ziegler|year=2010|work=Engadget|access-date=April 23, 2010|archive-date=March 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323013918/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/ballmers-visage-evoked-for-developers-developers-developers/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Relationship with Bill Gates===
Ballmer was Gates' [[best man]] at his wedding to [[Melinda French]], and the two men described their relationship as a marriage. They were so close for years that another Microsoft executive described it as a [[mind meld]]. Combative debates—a part of Microsoft's corporate culture—that many observers believed were personal arguments occurred within the relationship; while Gates was glad in 2000 that Ballmer was willing to become CEO so he could focus on technology,{{r|leibovich20001231}} ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' reported that there was tension surrounding the transition of authority. Things became so bitter that, on one occasion, Gates stormed out of a meeting after a shouting match in which Ballmer jumped to the defense of several colleagues, according to an individual present at the time. After the exchange, Ballmer seemed "remorseful", the person said. Once Gates leaves, "I'm not going to need him for anything. That's the principle", Ballmer said. "Use him, yes, need him, no".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121261241035146237?mod=googlenews_wsj&apl=y&r=125394|title=Gates-Ballmer Clash Shaped Microsoft's Coming Handover|author=Robert A. Guth|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=June 5, 2008|date=June 5, 2008|archive-date=February 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225085005/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121261241035146237?mod=googlenews_wsj&apl=y&r=125394|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2014, a few months after Ballmer left his post at Microsoft, a ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' profile stated that Ballmer and Gates no longer talk to each other due to animosity over Ballmer's resignation.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=McLean|first1=Bethany|title=The Empire Reboots|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/business/2014/11/satya-nadella-bill-gates-steve-ballmer-microsoft#|magazine=Vanity Fair|access-date=October 8, 2014}}</ref> In a November 2016 interview, Ballmer said he and Gates have "drifted apart" ever since, saying that they always had a "brotherly relationship" beforehand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/why-steve-ballmer-and-bill-gates-have-drifted-apart-2016-11|title=Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates have 'drifted apart' since Ballmer left Microsoft|website=[[Business Insider]] |access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-date=October 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025000059/http://uk.businessinsider.com/why-steve-ballmer-and-bill-gates-have-drifted-apart-2016-11|url-status=live}}</ref> He said that his push into the hardware business, specifically [[smartphone]]s, which Gates did not support, contributed to their relationship breakdown.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-04/steve-ballmer-says-smartphones-broke-his-relationship-with-bill-gates|title=Steve Ballmer Says Smartphones Strained His Relationship With Bill Gates|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=November 4, 2016|via=www.bloomberg.com|access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-date=November 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113003358/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-04/steve-ballmer-says-smartphones-broke-his-relationship-with-bill-gates|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Retirement===
After saying in 2008 that he intended to remain CEO for another decade, Ballmer announced his retirement in 2013, after losing billions of dollars in acquisitions and on the Surface tablet. Microsoft's stock price rebounded on the news.<ref>[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/08/27/ballmer_time_to_go/ "Why Teflon Ballmer had to go: He couldn't shift crud from Windows 8, Surface"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116092647/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/08/27/ballmer_time_to_go/ |date=November 16, 2018 }}.</ref>

Ballmer says that he regretted the lack of focus on [[Windows Mobile]] in the early 2000s, leaving Microsoft a distant third in the smartphone market [in 2013].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24178512 |title=Microsoft too slow on phones, admits boss Steve Ballmer |date=September 20, 2013 |work=BBC News |access-date=September 20, 2013 |archive-date=April 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403234432/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24178512 |url-status=live }}</ref> Moreover, he attributed the success of the expensively-priced [[iPhone]]s to carrier subsidies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.recode.net/2016/11/7/13548032/steve-ballmer-apple-iphone-bloomberg|title=Steve Ballmer says Apple's iPhone succeeded because of carrier subsidies. He's wrong.|first=Ina|last=Fried|date=November 7, 2016|access-date=November 8, 2016|archive-date=March 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330093630/https://www.recode.net/2016/11/7/13548032/steve-ballmer-apple-iphone-bloomberg|url-status=live}}</ref> He went on to say,{{Blockquote|People like to point to this quote where I said iPhones will never sell, because the price at $600 or $700 was too high. And there was a business model innovation by Apple to get it essentially built into the monthly cellphone bill.}} Ballmer called the acquisition of the mobile phone division of [[Nokia]] his "toughest decision" during his tenure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alphr.com/news/387415/ballmer-nokia-buy-was-hardest-decision-at-microsoft|title=Ballmer: Nokia buy was hardest decision at Microsoft|work=Alphr |date=March 5, 2014 |access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-date=May 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514124531/https://www.alphr.com/news/387415/ballmer-nokia-buy-was-hardest-decision-at-microsoft/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ballmer hosted his last company meeting in September 2013,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24301733|title=Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer dances at tearful send-off|date=September 27, 2013|work=BBC News|access-date=September 27, 2013|archive-date=September 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927140524/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24301733|url-status=live}}</ref> and stepped down from the company's board of directors in August 2014.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alex |last=Wilhelm |title=Steve Ballmer Steps Down From Microsoft's Board |url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/08/19/ballmer-steps-down-from-microsofts-board/?ncid=pushup |work=Techcrunch |date=August 19, 2014 |access-date=August 19, 2014 |archive-date=August 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821210122/http://techcrunch.com/2014/08/19/ballmer-steps-down-from-microsofts-board/?ncid=pushup |url-status=live }}</ref>

On December 24, 2014, the ''[[Seattle Times]]'' reported that the [[Microsoft v. Internal Revenue Service|IRS sued]] Ballmer, [[Craig Mundie]], [[Jeff Raikes]], [[Jim Allchin]], Orlando Ayala and David Guenther in an effort to compel them to testify in Microsoft's corporate tax audit. The IRS had been looking into how Microsoft and other companies deal with [[transfer pricing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2025308578_microsoftirsxml.html|title=IRS demands Ballmer, other Microsoft leaders testify in corporate tax audit &#124; The Seattle Times|publisher=seattletimes.com|access-date=August 26, 2015|archive-date=December 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226032941/http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2025308578_microsoftirsxml.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, he and his wife co-founded [[Ballmer Group]], a philanthropic investment company that aims to help children, particularly those in poor families, achieve [[economic mobility]].<ref name=":1" />

In December 2023, ''[[CNN]]'' estimated that Ballmer was set to collect $1 billion in dividends from his ongoing ownership of Microsoft stock, after the company announced an increase in its dividend to $3 per share.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buchwald |first=Elisabeth |date=December 27, 2023 |title=Steve Ballmer is set to make $1 billion a year for doing nothing {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/business/investing/steve-ballmer-one-billion-dividends/index.html |access-date=December 27, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=December 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227181247/https://www.cnn.com/business/investing/steve-ballmer-one-billion-dividends/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Other positions==
Ballmer was a director of [[Accenture]] and a general partner of Accenture SCA from 2001 to 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Headley |first=CW |title=Steve Ballmer just joined the $100 billion club. Here are his career hits and misses |url=https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/steve-ballmer-just-joined-the-100-billion-club-here-are-his-career-hits-and-misses |website=Ladders}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oracle Gives Accenture Room to Grow In |url=https://www.consultingmag.com/2006/09/02/oracle-gives-accenture-room-to-grow-in/ |access-date=April 11, 2024 |website=Consultingmag.com |language=en}}</ref> Details about his remuneration in these positions remain undisclosed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tara |date=February 2, 2024 |title=The Remarkable Success of Steve Ballmer as a Centibillionaire |url=https://urbanmatter.com/the-remarkable-success-of-steve-ballmer-as-a-centibillionaire/ |access-date=April 11, 2024 |website=UrbanMatter |language=en-US}}</ref>

==On competing companies and software==

===Apple===
In 2007, Ballmer said, "There's no chance that the [[iPhone]] is going to get any significant market share. No chance."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-what-steve-ballmer-thought-about-the-iphone-five-years-ago-2012-6#ixzz2gnjXZ4wo |title=Here's What Steve Ballmer Thought About The iPhone Five Years Ago |website=Business Insider |date=June 29, 2012 |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227163238/http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-what-steve-ballmer-thought-about-the-iphone-five-years-ago-2012-6#ixzz2gnjXZ4wo |url-status=live }}</ref>

Speaking at a conference in NYC in 2009, Ballmer criticized Apple's pricing, saying, "Now I think the tide has turned back the other direction (against Apple). The economy is helpful. Paying an extra $500 for a computer in this environment—same piece of hardware—paying $500 more to get a logo on it? I think that's a more challenging proposition for the average person than it used to be."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.slashgear.com/ballmer-critiques-apple-500-more-to-get-a-logo-2038377|title=Apple is no more than a $500 logo|date=March 20, 2009|access-date=August 3, 2009|archive-date=August 22, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822183058/http://www.slashgear.com/ballmer-critiques-apple-500-more-to-get-a-logo-2038377/|url-status=live}} [[SlashGear]]</ref>

On September 25, 2014, Ballmer said he would bar the team from using [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] products such as [[iPad]]s, and replace them with Microsoft products.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 25, 2014 |title=Ballmer wants Clippers to ban Apple products |url=https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/9/25/6844451/steve-ballmer-clippers-apple-ban-policy-microsoft-nba-2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113060250/https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/9/25/6844451/steve-ballmer-clippers-apple-ban-policy-microsoft-nba-2014 |archive-date=November 13, 2017 |access-date=November 12, 2017}}</ref> It has been reported that he had previously also barred his family from using iPhones.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maddaus |first1=Gene |date=September 25, 2014 |title=Steve Ballmer To Ban L.A. Clippers From Using Apple Products |url=https://www.laweekly.com/steve-ballmer-to-ban-l-a-clippers-from-using-apple-products/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307231833/https://www.laweekly.com/steve-ballmer-to-ban-l-a-clippers-from-using-apple-products/ |archive-date=March 7, 2020 |access-date=April 4, 2020 |website=LA Weekly}}</ref>

In 2015, when Apple had become the world's most valuable company, Ballmer called Microsoft's decision to invest in Apple to save it from [[bankruptcy]] in 1997 as the "craziest thing we ever did".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/microsofts-biggest-mistake-investing-apple-was-craziest-thing-we-ever-did-1525752|title=Microsoft's biggest mistake: Investing in Apple was the 'craziest thing we ever did'|first=James|last=Billington|date=October 26, 2015|access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-date=November 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106044529/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/microsofts-biggest-mistake-investing-apple-was-craziest-thing-we-ever-did-1525752|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, Ballmer revisited his [[iPhone]] statements, saying, "People like to point to this quote...but the reason I said that was [that] the price of $600–$700 was too high". He said he did not realize that Apple was going to have phone carriers build the cost into the customer's monthly bill.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFe0S3F389w |title=Microsoft's Former CEO Says Disagreement With Gates on Smartphones Drove Them Apart |work=Bloomberg |via=[[YouTube]] |author= |date= November 4, 2016|access-date=January 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107061621/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFe0S3F389w&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=November 7, 2016 |url-status=live}} {{webarchive |format=addlarchives |url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/qFe0S3F389w |date=December 5, 2021 |title=Ghostarchive}}</ref>

===Free and open source software===
{{Main|Microsoft and open source}}
In July 2000, Ballmer called the [[free software]] [[Linux kernel]] "[[communism]]"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/07/31/ms_ballmer_linux_is_communism/|title=MS' Ballmer: Linux is communism|website=[[The Register]]|access-date=December 29, 2017|archive-date=December 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204002525/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/07/31/ms_ballmer_linux_is_communism/|url-status=live}}</ref> and further claimed that it infringed with Microsoft's intellectual property.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/ballmer-linux-infringes-our-intellectual-property/|title=Ballmer: Linux "Infringes our intellectual property" – ZDNet|first=Adrian|last=Kingsley-Hughes|website=[[ZDNet]]|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=June 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614035624/https://www.zdnet.com/article/ballmer-linux-infringes-our-intellectual-property/|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2001 he called Linux a "cancer that attaches itself in an intellectual property sense to everything it touches".<ref>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011211130654/http://www.suntimes.com/output/tech/cst-fin-micro01.html |date=December 11, 2001 |title=Microsoft CEO takes launch break with the Sun-Times }}, ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', June 1, 2001; archived from the [http://www.suntimes.com/output/tech/cst-fin-micro01.html original] on December 11, 2001; retrieved December 18, 2009.</ref> Ballmer used the notion of [[viral license|"viral" licensing terms]] to express his concern over the fact that the [[GNU General Public License]] (GPL) employed by such software requires that all derivative software be under the GPL or a compatible license. In April 2003 he even interrupted his skiing holiday in [[Switzerland]] to personally plead with the mayor of [[Munich]] not to switch to Linux.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/munich-breaks-with-windows-for-linux/|title=Munich breaks with Windows for Linux|newspaper=CNET|access-date=November 23, 2016|archive-date=November 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122223459/https://www.cnet.com/news/munich-breaks-with-windows-for-linux/|url-status=live}}</ref> But he did not succeed with this and Munich switched to [[LiMux]], despite his offering a 35% discount at his [[lobbying|lobbying visit]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2003-07-13-microsoft-linux-munich_x.htm|title=Linux took on Microsoft, and won big in Munich|newspaper=USAtoday|access-date=November 28, 2016|archive-date=February 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223170254/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2003-07-13-microsoft-linux-munich_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2016, Ballmer changed his stance on Linux, saying that he supports his successor [[Satya Nadella]]'s [[Open-source model|open source]] commitments. He maintained that his comments in 2001 were right at the time but that times have changed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.informationweek.com/software/ballmer-linux-no-longer-a-cancer--/d/d-id/1324661|title=Ballmer: Linux No Longer A Cancer – InformationWeek|date=March 11, 2016|access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-date=November 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113003426/https://www.informationweek.com/software/ballmer-linux-no-longer-a-cancer--/d/d-id/1324661|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.silicon.co.uk/software/open-source/steve-ballmer-linux-microsoft-187802?inf_by=5a088e9d671db8d83d8b4959|title=Steve Ballmer: Linux Is No Longer 'A Cancer'|date=March 11, 2016|access-date=November 12, 2017|archive-date=November 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113003828/http://www.silicon.co.uk/software/open-source/steve-ballmer-linux-microsoft-187802?inf_by=5a088e9d671db8d83d8b4959|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Google===
In 2005, Microsoft sued Google for hiring one of its previous vice presidents, [[Kai-Fu Lee]], claiming it was in violation of his one-year [[non-compete clause]] in his contract. [[Mark Lucovsky]], who left for Google in 2004, alleged in a sworn [[affidavit]] to a Washington state court that Ballmer became enraged upon being told by Lucovsky that he was about to leave Microsoft for [[Google]], picked up a chair, and threw it across his office, and that, referring to then Google Executive Chairman [[Eric Schmidt]] (who had previously worked for competitors Sun and Novell), Ballmer vowed to "kill Google." <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2005/09/14/microsoft-google-both-claim-victory/e76ecf6d-1f24-4efb-8661-08866515e573/ |title=Microsoft, Google Both Claim Victory |newspaper=the Washington Post |date=September 13, 2005 |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Heats up">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4213466.stm |work=BBC News |title=Microsoft-Google battle heats up |date=September 4, 2005 |access-date=February 17, 2011 |archive-date=May 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512003510/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4213466.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Lucovsky reports:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/05/chair_chucking/|title=Microsoft's Ballmer: Chair-tossing potty-mouth|work=The Register|author=John Oates|date=September 5, 2005|access-date=February 7, 2014|archive-date=February 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212150551/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/05/chair_chucking/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{blockquote|At some point in the conversation Mr. Ballmer said: "Just tell me it's not Google." I told him it was Google. At that point, Mr. Ballmer picked up a chair and threw it across the room hitting a table in his office. Mr. Ballmer then said: "Fucking Eric Schmidt is a fucking pussy. I'm going to fucking bury that guy, I have done it before, and I will do it again. I'm going to fucking kill Google."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/08/24/top_10_steve_ballmer_quotes_from_microsoft_history/ |title=Top 10 Steve Ballmer quotes: '%#&@!!' and so much more |website=The Register |date=August 24, 2013 |access-date=January 12, 2017 |archive-date=January 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113144341/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/08/24/top_10_steve_ballmer_quotes_from_microsoft_history/ |url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Ballmer then resumed attempting to persuade Lucovsky to stay at Microsoft. Ballmer has described Lucovsky's account of the incident as a "gross exaggeration of what actually took place".<ref name="Heats up" />

During the 2011 [[Web 2.0 Summit]] in San Francisco, he said: "You don't need to be a computer scientist to use a Windows Phone and you do to use an Android phone&nbsp;... It is hard for me to be excited about the Android phones."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://androidandme.com/2011/10/news/steve-ballmer-android-is-for-computer-science-geeks/ |title=Steve Ballmer: Android is for computer science geeks |publisher=Android and Me |date=October 19, 2011 |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227124607/http://androidandme.com/2011/10/news/steve-ballmer-android-is-for-computer-science-geeks/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTX1e-pMN6E |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/MTX1e-pMN6E |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Microsoft's Ballmer mocks Android phone |date=October 19, 2011 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=December 27, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2013, Ballmer said that Google was a "[[monopoly]]" that should be pressured from market competition authorities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/9/20/4751516/ballmer-calls-google-a-monopoly |title=Ballmer calls Google a 'monopoly' that authorities should control |date=September 20, 2013 |access-date=November 12, 2017 |archive-date=November 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113003629/https://www.theverge.com/2013/9/20/4751516/ballmer-calls-google-a-monopoly |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Sports==
On March 6, 2008, [[List of mayors of Seattle|Seattle mayor]] [[Greg Nickels]] announced that a local ownership group involving Ballmer made a "game-changing" commitment to invest $150&nbsp;million in cash toward a proposed $300&nbsp;million renovation of [[KeyArena]] and were ready to purchase the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] from the [[Professional Basketball Club LLC]] in order to keep the team in Seattle. However, this initiative failed, and the SuperSonics [[Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City|relocated]] to [[Oklahoma City]], [[Oklahoma]], where they now play as the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.seattle.gov/news/detail.asp?ID=8243&dept=40 |title=Mayor Nickels announces local effort to buy Sonics, renovate KeyArena |publisher=Seattle.gov |access-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118022805/http://www.seattle.gov/news/detail.asp?ID=8243&dept=40 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In June 2012, Ballmer was an investor in [[Chris R. Hansen]]'s [[Sonics Arena|proposal to build a new arena]] in the [[SoDo, Seattle|SoDo neighborhood]] of Seattle and bring the SuperSonics back to Seattle.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Thompson, Lynn |author2=Young, Bob |title=Ballmer, Nordstroms part of Seattle arena investor group |newspaper=The Seattle Times |date=June 13, 2012 |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018421214_arena14m.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615172237/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018421214_arena14m.html |archive-date=June 15, 2012 |access-date=November 5, 2023}}</ref> On January 9, 2013, Ballmer and Hansen led a group of investors in an attempt to purchase the [[Sacramento Kings]] from the [[Maloof family]] and [[Failed Relocation of the Sacramento Kings#Seattle|relocate]] them to Seattle for an estimated $650&nbsp;million. However, this attempt also fell through.<ref>espn.com, [https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/11005695/seattle-bid-nba-team-dealt-blow-steve-ballmer-agrees-purchase-los-angeles-clippers Clippers name has to go with Sterling], accessed May 30, 2014.</ref>

Following the [[Donald Sterling#Racist remarks and lifetime ban|Donald Sterling scandal]] in May 2014, Ballmer was the highest bidder in an attempt to purchase the [[Los Angeles Clippers]] for a reported price of $2&nbsp;billion, which was then the second-highest bid for a sports franchise in North American sports history (after the $2.15&nbsp;billion sale of the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in 2012). After a California court confirmed the authority of [[Shelly Sterling]] to sell the team, it was announced on August 12, 2014, that Ballmer would become the Los Angeles Clippers owner.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/steve-ballmer-takes-over-ownership-los-angeles-clippers-n178761 |title=Steve Ballmer Takes Over Ownership of Los Angeles Clippers – NBC News |date=August 12, 2014 |publisher=nbcnews.com |access-date=August 26, 2015 |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904022818/http://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/steve-ballmer-takes-over-ownership-los-angeles-clippers-n178761 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2020, Ballmer agreed to buy [[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|The Forum]] in [[Inglewood, California]].<ref name="The Forum">{{cite web |last1=Greif |first1=Andrew |title=Clippers buy Forum for $400 million, clearing way for new arena construction |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2020-03-24/ballmer-clippers-buy-forum-from-msg-for-400-million-dollars |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=April 4, 2020 |date=March 24, 2020 |archive-date=April 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404115728/https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2020-03-24/ballmer-clippers-buy-forum-from-msg-for-400-million-dollars |url-status=live }}</ref> The purchase would allow him to build [[Intuit Dome]] in the nearby area since plans for a new Clippers' arena were opposed by the former owners of The Forum.<ref name="The Forum" />

In a survey conducted by ''[[The Athletic]]'' in December 2020, Ballmer was voted the best owner in basketball.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Vorkunov|first=Mike|title=Who are the NBA's best and worst team owners? League insiders vote|url=https://theathletic.com/2261119/2020/12/17/nba-owners-ranked/|access-date=January 4, 2021|website=The Athletic|archive-date=February 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214171526/https://theathletic.com/2261119/2020/12/17/nba-owners-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Wealth and taxes==
In 2021, [[ProPublica]] documented how Ballmer is using his ownership of various sports teams as a means to lower his federal income tax to as low as 12%, compared to around 35% for the athletes playing in the team. The report exposes how the Clippers were profitable before their acquisition by Ballmer, but then reported $700 million in losses for tax purposes in following years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simani |first=Robert Faturechi, Justin Elliott, Ellis |date=July 8, 2021 |title=The Billionaire Playbook: How Sports Owners Use Their Teams to Avoid Millions in Taxes |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/the-billionaire-playbook-how-sports-owners-use-their-teams-to-avoid-millions-in-taxes |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=ProPublica |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 8, 2021 |title=Report: LeBron James' 2018 federal tax rate was triple that of Los Angeles Clippers' billionaire owner |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/report-le-bron-james-2018-federal-tax-rate-was-triple-that-of-los-angeles-clippers-billionaire-owner-165320954.html |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2023, ProPublica did another report, about Ballmer's usage of [[wash sale]]s helped by [[Goldman Sachs]], under the label "Tax Advantaged Loss Harvesting", resulting in tax savings of more than half a billion dollars over 5 years<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Ernsthausen |first1=Jeff |last2=Kiel |first2=Paul |date=February 9, 2023 |title=How the Wealthy Save Billions in Taxes by Skirting a Century-Old Law |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/irs-files-taxes-wash-sales-goldman-sachs |access-date=June 14, 2024 |website=ProPublica |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Foley |first=Stephen |date=March 28, 2023 |title=Tax loss harvesting: an investment tactic that has gone too far |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a7bf2d21-618b-448f-8a6b-53ad4b9a3f54 |access-date=June 14, 2024 |work=Financial Times}}</ref>

As of 5 March 2025, [[Bloomberg Billionaires Index]] estimated his personal wealth at around $136 billion,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/ |website=bloomberg.com |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref> making him the tenth-richest person in the world, and the Forbes *Real-Time Billionaires List* ranked him as the twelfth-richest person with a net worth of $117.8 billion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List |url=https://www.forbes.com/real-time-billionaires/ |website=forbes.com |access-date=5 March 2025}}</ref>

==Philanthropy==
On November 12, 2014, it was announced that Ballmer and his wife Connie donated $50&nbsp;million to the [[University of Oregon]]. Connie Ballmer is a University of Oregon alumna and previously was on the institution's [[Board of Trustees of the University of Oregon|board of trustees]]. The funds will go toward the university's $2&nbsp;billion fundraising effort, and will focus on scholarships, public health research and advocacy, and external branding/communications.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Klinger|first1=Tobin|title=UO announces $50 million gift to fundraising campaign|date=November 12, 2014|url=http://around.uoregon.edu/content/uo-announces-50-million-gift-fundraising-campaign|publisher=AroundtheO|access-date=November 13, 2014|archive-date=November 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113024544/http://around.uoregon.edu/content/uo-announces-50-million-gift-fundraising-campaign|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 13, 2014, it was announced that Ballmer would provide a gift, estimated at $60 million, to Harvard University's computer science department. The gift would allow the department to hire new faculty, and hopefully increase the national stature of the program.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Steve Ballmer's Harvard Donation Will Allow It To Add 12 New Computer Science PROFESSORS PROFESSORS PROFESSORS|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/11/12/steve-ballmer-harvard/|access-date=November 13, 2020|website=TechCrunch|date=November 13, 2014|language=en-US}}</ref> Ballmer previously donated $10 million to the same department in 1994, in a joint gift with [[Bill Gates]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shu|first1=Catherine|title=Steve Ballmer's Harvard Donation Will Allow It To Add 12 New Computer Science PROFESSORS PROFESSORS PROFESSORS|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/11/12/steve-ballmer-harvard/|access-date=November 14, 2014|work=TechCrunch|archive-date=November 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114003352/http://techcrunch.com/2014/11/12/steve-ballmer-harvard/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2022, Ballmer donated $425 million to the University of Oregon to fund a new institute for [[Clinical psychology|children's behavioral health]].<ref>{{cite press release |last1=Schill |first1=Michael H. |author1-link=Michael H. Schill |title=The Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health at the University of Oregon: Office of the President |url=https://president.uoregon.edu/ballmer-institute-childrens-behavioral-health-university-oregon |access-date=March 16, 2022 |work=president.uoregon.edu |date=March 1, 2022 |archive-date=March 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302042936/https://president.uoregon.edu/ballmer-institute-childrens-behavioral-health-university-oregon |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Editorial: Ballmer donation a behavioral health game changer for kids |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2022/03/editorial-ballmer-donation-a-behavioral-health-game-changer-for-kids.html |access-date=March 16, 2022 |work=[[The Oregonian]] |date=March 6, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316212243/https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2022/03/editorial-ballmer-donation-a-behavioral-health-game-changer-for-kids.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ballmer is on the World Chairman's Council of the [[Jewish National Fund]], which means he has donated US$1 million or more to the JNF.<ref>{{cite web|title=World's Chairman Council|url=http://www.jnf.org/assets/pdf/world-chairman-s-council-ad.pdf |website=Jewish National Fund|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912093518/http://www.jnf.org/assets/pdf/world-chairman-s-council-ad.pdf |archive-date=September 12, 2015 }}</ref>

==USAFacts==
Ballmer launched [[USAFacts.org]] in 2017, a not-for-profit organization whose goal is to enable people to understand U.S. government revenue, spending and societal impact. He is reported to have contributed $10 million to fund teams of researchers who populated the website's database with official data.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/steve-ballmers-usafacts-site-surfaces-government-spending/|title=Steve Ballmer's USAFacts Site Surfaces Government Spending|last=Goldman|first=Joshua|website=CNet|access-date=April 23, 2017|archive-date=April 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424090009/https://www.cnet.com/news/steve-ballmers-usafacts-site-surfaces-government-spending/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/21/we-need-more-projects-like-usafacts/|title=Steve Ballmer's US data trove isn't the first, but may be the best|work=Engadget|access-date=December 1, 2017|archive-date=October 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022083829/https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/21/we-need-more-projects-like-usafacts/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/editorials/sd-steve-ballmer-website-usafacts-20170808-story.html|title=Steve Ballmer has a website that could change government|last=Board|first=The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial|work=sandiegouniontribune.com|access-date=December 1, 2017|archive-date=October 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028201529/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/editorials/sd-steve-ballmer-website-usafacts-20170808-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Ballmer married philanthropist Connie Snyder in 1990, and the couple have three sons.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/jun/27/microsoft.microsoft The Guardian: "Loyalty is his number one strength. He still drives Ford cars because his father used to work for the company" by Bobbie Johnson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118055817/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/jun/27/microsoft.microsoft |date=January 18, 2017 }} June 28, 2008</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-14 |title=Who Is Steve Ballmer's Wife? Connie Snyder's Job & Kids |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/steve-ballmer-wife-connie-snyder-085919835.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Yahoo Entertainment |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=Lifestyles |date=2024-08-11 |title=$15 million latest gift from Steve Ballmer and Connie Snyder to organizations supporting the most vulnerable people experiencing homelessness brings their giving to date to over $3.75 billion – Lifestyles Magazine |url=https://lifestylesmagazine.com/latest-news/15-million-latest-gift-from-steve-ballmer-and-connie-snyder-to-organizations-supporting-the-most-vulnerable-people-experiencing-homelessness-brings-their-giving-to-date-to-over-3-75-billion-2/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |language=en-CA}}</ref>

The Ballmers live primarily in [[Hunts Point, Washington]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2014/09/25/cnbc-transcript-former-microsoft-ceo-and-la-clippers-owner-steve-ballmer-speaks-with-cnbcs-josh-lipton-today.html |title=Former Microsoft CEO and LA Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer Speaks with CNBC's Josh Lipton Today |first=Josh |last=Lipton |publisher=[[CNBC]] |date=September 25, 2014 |access-date=September 15, 2017 |archive-date=February 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214171552/https://www.cnbc.com/2014/09/25/cnbc-transcript-former-microsoft-ceo-and-la-clippers-owner-steve-ballmer-speaks-with-cnbcs-josh-lipton-today.html |url-status=live }}</ref> They own multiple homes in the Seattle area, and a total of 10 properties near [[Coupeville, Washington]], as of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zap |first=Claudine |date=February 7, 2020 |title=Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer Buys Another Home in Hunts Point, WA |url=https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/fsteve-ballmer-buys-another-home-in-hunts-point/ |access-date=July 19, 2024 |website=Real Estate News & Insights {{!}} realtor.com® |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2024 |title=How ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer makes and spends his billions |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3252049/how-ex-microsoft-ceo-steve-ballmer-makes-and-spends-his-billions-bill-gates-pal-runs-la-clippers |access-date=July 19, 2024 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/exec/steve/default.aspx Corporate biography]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lhlKF6MECs, CS50 Lecture by Steve Ballmer] at [[Harvard University]], November 2014
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110430024247/http://streaming.scmp.com/podcasting/upload/tech_may24.mp3 South China Morning Post audio interview]
* [http://web.mit.edu/echemi/www/ballmer.html Steve Ballmer Playlist] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504000210/http://web.mit.edu/echemi/www/ballmer.html |date=May 4, 2011 }} Appearance on WMBR's ''[http://web.mit.edu/echemi/www/index.html Dinnertime Sampler] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504000207/http://web.mit.edu/echemi/www/index.html |date=May 4, 2011 }}'' radio show February 23, 2005
* [https://www.forbes.com/profile/steve-ballmer/ Forbes Profile]

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{{s-bef|before=[[Bill Gates]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chief Executive Officer of [[Microsoft]]|years=2000–2014}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Satya Nadella]]}}
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