Steve Ballmer: The CEO of Microsoft Corp

credit: Microsoft

Steven Anthony Ballmer, popularly known as Steve Ballmer, took the command of the software Giant Microsoft Corporation in his hand as CEO on January 13, 2000. Let’s take a sneak-peak into the life of yet another multi billionaire Steve (considering Steve jobs, Steve Wozniak, Steve Spielberg, Steve Gerrard, Steve Waugh and many more) who has made it big in life…

 His early years… 

Steve Ballmer was born on March 24, 1956, to Frederic Henry Ballmer, a Swiss (who worked as manager in Ford Motors in Belgium) and Beatrice Dworkin, a Jewish American. He spent his childhood in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Detroit completing his schooling from Detroit Country Day School.  

He got into Harvard University, winning a scholarship for the same with a perfect 800 in mathematics in SAT, and completed his Bachelor’s in mathematics and economics in 1977. Not only was he a mathematics geek, he also managed the football team; he was the advertising manager of The Harvard Crimson Newspaper and The Harvard Advocate. It was Harvard University where he became friends with his dorm mate Bill Gates.  

His life after College:

He worked for two years (1977-79) as assistant Product Manager at Proctor & Gamble and then he decided to go for an MBA in Stanford Graduate School of Business. But soon, after a year he quit MBA to join Microsoft Corp, founded by his friend Bill Gates.

His tryst with Microsoft began on June 11, 1980, as its 24^th employee and also as the first Business Manager in company’s history. He was offered a salary of $50,000 and some percentage of ownership of the company. This dynamic leader headed several departments and projects in MS like Operating Systems Development, sales and support, operations. Eventually on January 13, 2000 he was made the CEO of Microsoft and Bill Gates stepped down as the over all lead. 

Some interesting facts and figures about Steve Ballmer: 

1. His annual compensation: $ 1,350, 834 (Rs 6, 75, 41,700).
2. He has served as board of directors for :
   • Accenture Ltd
   • Accenture SCA
   • Detroit Country Day School
3. He is the 43^rd richest man in world according to Forbes 2008 World’s Richest People Ranking with a mammoth wealth of $11 billion in his name.
4. He is also famous for reasons with a difference, like for screaming the word ‘developers’ continuously in the developer’s conference and acting crazy by screaming and jumping on a presentation. To have a look at these you can click on the links below : 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvsboPUjrGc&feature=related 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8To-6VIJZRE 

Awards and Recognition:

1. He was honoured with a citizenship of Lausen, Switzerland on October 4, 2007.
2. He is named Cannes lions Media Person of the Year 2009

 Personal Life: 

This Flamboyant Jewish American CEO is married to Connie Snyder since 1990 (She was in Microsoft’s PR team in 80s) and the couple has three sons.He also plans to own NBA in partnership with his colleague Paul Allen(another Microsoft big shot).  He along with Bill Gates shares the honour of being with Microsoft Corp for the longest duration.