Steve Ballmer | Biography, Bill Gates, Education, & Facts

Steve Ballmer, American businessman who was CEO of the computer software company Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. Under his leadership, Microsoft diversified ... SteveBallmer Sections&Media Article Introduction&QuickFacts FastFacts Facts&RelatedContent Media Images AdditionalInfo MoreArticlesOnThisTopic Contributors ArticleHistory Home Politics,Law&Government Businesspeople&Entrepreneurs SteveBallmer Americanbusinessman Alternatetitles:StevenAnthonyBallmer Print Cite verifiedCite Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies. Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions. SelectCitationStyle MLA APA ChicagoManualofStyle CopyCitation Share Share Sharetosocialmedia Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Steve-Ballmer More GiveFeedback ExternalWebsites Feedback Corrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin). 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SteveBallmer-StudentEncyclopedia(Ages11andup) By TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannica | ViewEditHistory SteveBallmer Seeallmedia Born: March24,1956(age65) Detroit Michigan ...(Showmore) Seeallrelatedcontent→ SteveBallmer,infullStevenAnthonyBallmer,(bornMarch24,1956,Detroit,Michigan,U.S.),AmericanbusinessmanwhowasCEOofthecomputersoftwarecompanyMicrosoftCorporation(2000–14).BallmergraduatedfromHarvardUniversityin1977withbachelor’sdegreesinmathematicsandeconomics.AfterworkingfortwoyearsatconsumerproductscompanyProcter&Gambleasaproductmanager,heattendedtheStanfordUniversityGraduateSchoolofBusiness.In1980heleftschooltobecomeabusinessmanagerforBillGates,afriendfromHarvardwhohaddroppedoutofschoolandcofoundedMicrosoft.Overthenexttwodecades,BallmerheldvariouspostsasMicrosoftgrewintooneofthemostpowerfulandprofitablecompaniesinAmericanhistory.MuchofitsinitialsuccesswasduetothedominanceofitsoperatingsystemsMS/DOSandWindows. 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In1998BallmerbecamepresidentofMicrosoft,andtwoyearslaterhebecamethecompany’sCEO,afterGatessteppeddownfromthatpositiontobecomechairman.UnderBallmer’sleadership,MicrosoftdiversifieditsfocusthroughnewproductssuchastheelectronicgameconsolesystemXbox,firstreleasedin2001,andtheZunefamilyofportablemediaplayersintroducedin2006.TheXboxstruggledtomakeconsistentprofits,however,andtheZuneplayersfailedtochallengethemarketdominanceofApple’siPod.Ballmerfacedanotherchallengein2007,whenMicrosoft’soperatingsystemVistawasgreetedwithmixedreviews.Gates,inordertoconcentrateonhisphilanthropicinterests,withdrewfromdailyobligationsatMicrosoftin2008,makingBallmerevenmoreprominentasthepublicfaceofMicrosoft.In2009thecompanyexpandedintothesearchenginemarket,releasingBing.LaterthatyearMicrosoftbrokeredadealwithInternetportalsiteYahoo!inwhichYahoo!woulduseBingforitsWebsiteandhandlepremiumadvertisementsforMicrosoft’sWebsite.In2011Ballmerhelpedarrangethe$8.5billionacquisitionoftheInternetcommunicationcompanySkype.ItwasthelargestacquisitioninMicrosoft’shistoryandplacedthecompanyincompetitionwithApple’svideochatserviceFaceTimeandGoogle’sInternetcommunicationserviceVoice.InAugust2013BallmerannouncedthathewouldbesteppingdownasCEOwithinayear,andhewassucceededbySatyaNadellainFebruary2014.LaterthatyearBallmerpurchasedtheLosAngelesClippersoftheNBA. GetaBritannicaPremiumsubscriptionandgainaccesstoexclusivecontent. SubscribeNow TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannicaThisarticlewasmostrecentlyrevisedandupdatedbyAmyTikkanen. 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