Early Life and Education
Steven Anthony Ballmer was born on March 24, 1956, in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in Farmington Hills, Michigan. He attended Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in applied mathematics and economics in 1977. At Harvard, he lived down the hall from Bill Gates and was a manager for the Harvard Crimson football team.
Rise to Success
Ballmer joined Microsoft on June 11, 1980, as its 30th employee, at the invitation of Bill Gates, a college friend. He quickly rose through the ranks, taking on various leadership positions. He became CEO of Microsoft in January 2000, succeeding Bill Gates. During his tenure as CEO, Microsoft saw significant growth, tripling its sales and doubling its profits. Under his leadership, Microsoft also acquired Skype for $8.5 billion. He retired from Microsoft in 2014, but remained on the board until August 19, 2014.
Key Business Strategies
Ballmer's tenure as CEO was marked by a focus on expanding Microsoft's product offerings and increasing its market share. He oversaw the launch of the Xbox gaming console and made significant investments in cloud computing. He is known for his enthusiastic and energetic leadership style.
Philanthropy
In 2014, Ballmer and his wife, Connie, co-founded the Ballmer Group, a philanthropic investment company. The Ballmer Group focuses on initiatives related to economic mobility, particularly for children and families in disadvantaged communities. They have made significant donations to various organizations, including the University of Oregon and Communities in Schools.