Bill Gates He has told in his recent book ‘Source Code: My Beginnings‘One of the great bets he made in the Microsoft direction, when He signed his university friend Steve Ballmer, after offering 8.75% of the actions of his technological company. Currently, Ballmer accumulates greater wealth than Gates.
The founder of Microsoft made the strategic decision to recognize Ballmer’s unique skills to lead and motivate teams, as well as its ability to handle the company’s commercial side. In his book, Gates qualifies this decision as one of the best of his careerhighlighting that it was key to transform Microsoft from a small startup into a global technological giant.
The relationship between Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer began in the halls of Harvard University in 1976. According to Gates in his book, both They met in a postgraduate class in economics thanks to a friend in common. From the beginning, Gates was impressed by the energy and charism of Ballmer, who stood out for his ability to motivate people and his ability to lead.
During his university stage, Ballmer showed a natural talent for management and organization. He was responsible for the Harvard football teamsupervised the advertising of the student newspaper and presided over the literary magazine of the University.
This vibrant and dynamic personality made him a key figure in the social circle of Gates, who even It was introduced by Ballmer to the exclusive Fox Club, a group known for its traditions and archaic rituals.
The friendship between the two was strengthened over time, and together they shared great plans for the future, in addition to developing unconventional strategies to approve their exams, such as studying intensely at the last minute. This personal and professional connection laid the foundations for the collaboration that would change the course of Microsoft years later.
In 1980, when Microsoft was still a small emerging company, Gates made a decision that would mark a before and after in the history of the company. Recognizing that He needed a partner with complementary skills to his, Gates offered Ballmer a management position in the company.
Initially, Microsoft founders were willing to yield 5% of the shares, but Ballmer, demonstrating his negotiating talent, managed to obtain 8.75%.
Gates reflected on this decision in his memoirs, stating that he was one of the most successful of his life. As explained, Ballmer contributed a business vision that complemented its technological approachwhich allowed Microsoft to grow exponentially in the following decades.
However, Ballmer’s years at the head of Microsoft were not exempt from challenges. During his mandate as executive director, The company faced criticism for not having known how to capitalize on the rise of mobile telephonya sector that transformed the technology industry in the 2000s.
After leaving Microsoft, Ballmer decided to devote himself to one of his great passions: basketball. In 2014, the NBA Los Angeles Clippers team acquiredan investment that not only allowed him to fulfill a personal dream, but also contributed to consolidate his fortune.
According to Forbes, Microsoft’s financial success under the direction of Satya Nadella, the current CEO, has significantly increased the value of the actions that Ballmer still has, which has been a key factor in the growth of its heritage.
At the moment, Ballmer has managed to overcome his friend and mentor Bill Gates in wealthaccording to the list of Millionaires of Forbes. With an estimated assets of 121.3 billion dollars, former manager occupies the eleventh place in the world ranking, while the Microsoft founder is behind.
For its part, Bill Gateswho for decades was considered the richest man in the world, He has allocated much of his fortune to philanthropic causes through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This approach in philanthropy has influenced its position on the list of millionaires, although it remains one of the most influential figures in the technological and social field.
