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Steve Ballmer, renowned for his tenure as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microsoft during the 2000s, currently boasts a net worth exceeding $120 billion. According to Forbes, he ranks eighth on the list of the world's richest people, trailing only Bill Gates among Microsoft alumni.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, on March 24, 1956, Ballmer attended Detroit Country Day School before moving on to Harvard University in the 1970s. After graduating from Harvard and a brief stint at Procter & Gamble, he enrolled in graduate school at Stanford University but left in 1980 to join Microsoft as its 30th employee and first business manager.
Ballmer's impact on Microsoft was immediate. He was awarded an eight percent ownership share when the company incorporated in 1981. Throughout the1980s and 1990s, he headed several divisions including operations, sales, and support. In January2000, Ballmer became CEO of Microsoft while Bill Gates remained Chairman of the Board. During his14-year tenure as CEO until February2014, Microsoft tripled its sales and doubled its profits.
