STEVE BALLMER: 20 FUN FACTS

1) Steve Ballmer sure isn’t getting tired of Microsoft. The CEO of Microsoft has been the company head since 2000. He ranks 19 on the Forbes list of 400 Richest Americans, with a net worth of US$ 15.7 billion in 2012.

2) Steve Ballmer grew up in a wealthy neighborhood in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The city ranks as the safest city in the U.S., a large feat for any city in the U.S. to accomplish. The city is known as “The City of the Future, Today”.

3) Truly a math wizard, Ballmer scored a perfect score of 800 on the mathematics section of the SAT, which he wrote after graduating from a private college preparatory school. He graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics.

4) Ballmer was not just a math geek. He played football at Harvard and was manager of the team, and he also wrote for The Harvard Crimson newspaper and the Harvard Advocate. He lived in the same dorm as Bill Gates who was also a sophomore at the time, and the two played poker together.

5) When Steve joined Microsoft in 1980, he was Microsoft’s 30th employee. He became CEO in 2000, after loyally working with the company for 20 years. During his time as a CEO, Microsoft’s revenue has increased significantly from US$ 25 billion to US$ 70 billion, with a 215% net income increase of US$ 23 billion.

6) Ballmer is known for his loud and energetic personality. This can sometimes be an asset to Ballmer as it helps motivate his employees and has done so on stage on many occasions. However, his rather vigorous way of speaking sometimes lands him in trouble when paired with his anger. He is also known for yelling at fellow colleague, Bill Gates.

7) During his reign as CEO, Ballmer has received much criticism regarding his method of managing the company. Many complain that he has not devoted enough of the company’s efforts on joining the fast-paced advancements of popular technologies such as handsets and tablets. In June 2012, Microsoft introduced its new tablet device, Microsoft Surface, which has received mixed reviews.

8) Though the two worked together with Microsoft for some time, there was tension between Gates and Ballmer. In a meeting the two were having, Gates and Ballmer argued and yelled at each other. Gates left the meeting in an angry state. Ballmer was heard to have said regarding Gates, “I’m not going to need him for anything… Use him, yes, need him, no.”

9) Ballmer is very critical of Microsoft’s competitor, Apple. He criticized the company’s price list, saying it was too expensive for the average person. Ballmer says most people can afford around $500 dollars for a computer, but will not be able to step up and add another $500 more “to get a logo on it”.

10) Steve Ballmer comes from a mixed family background. His father was Swiss and his mother’s family came from Eastern Europe from a city, which is now in Belarus, where his parents currently reside. In 2007, Ballmer received an honorary citizenship from Lausanne, Switzerland.

11) In 1990, he married Connie Snyder, and the two have been happily married for over 12 years now. They have 3 intelligent boys. Ballmer enjoys taking his wife with him to important events. In 2011, he brought her with him to a dinner at the White House that was held in honor of China’s President.

12) Ballmer’s charismatic and enthusiasm is contagious. He loves being the center of attention, and does not shy away from stage appearances. On Microsoft’s 25th anniversary, he surprised partygoers by appearing suddenly out of a large cake.

13) Ballmer is not only famous in the business and IT world, but also with viral videos. Some popular videos of Ballmer include one known as the “Dancing Monkey Boy” in which he jumps around the stage, screaming. Another video has an emotional Ballmer chanting “developers” again and again.

14) He has been a dramatic person even in his early days with Microsoft. In a meeting in Japan in 1991, he was recorded screaming “Windows!” with such force that he injured his vocal cords. For some, this showed his loyalty and passion for the company he had been committed to since 1980.

15) Steven Ballmer, even at the age of 54, has an interest in video games. When asked what his favorite Xbox game was, he was not ashamed to answer. With a smile, he told listeners that his favorite Xbox video game had to be Beach Volleyball.

16) Ballmer sure knows how to enjoy the perks of being a Microsoft CEO. He owns an 80-inch Windows 8 tablet that he has hanging on his office wall. The large tablet screen has replaced his need for a phone, and he takes all notes using the touch screen tablet.

17) The recent launch of Microsoft’s latest program, Office 365 Home Premium, has sparked an increase of interest in the company, which had been going through some tough times at the end of 2012. The latest version of Office has all the features people have been using for many years now, and much more. It is offered in 162 markets and in 21 languages, and can be used on up to 5 different devices.

18) Ballmer is undoubtedly a workaholic. He has managed to decrease his 100-hour weeks to around 60 hours a week. He stated that he had made the change so that he could spend more time with his family. He also likes to spend time jogging and playing golf.

19) Ballmer has had his share of public ridicule, but as always, with his attitude, he made nothing of it. In a 2008 visit to the Hungarian University of Economy in Hungary, Budapest, Ballmer was reportedly attacked by a graduate student who threw eggs at him.

20) For those who are awaiting Ballmer’s resignation from Microsoft, they will have to wait a few more years. Steve says that he is not prepared to leave Microsoft until his youngest son begins college in 2017. What would you expect when he’s earning US$ 1.35 million a year?