Story perspectives
Bill Gates' Memoir: The Power of Friendship with Ballmer
2/9/2025
37 9
1 of 1
Story summary
- Bill Gates' memoir "Source Code" recounts his early friendship with Steve Ballmer, starting in 1976 at Harvard.
- Ballmer enhanced Gates' social connections and became an essential business ally.
- Gates awarded Ballmer a 4% stake in Microsoft, currently valued over $120 billion.
- Ballmer took over as Microsoft CEO in 2000 and is now the owner of the LA Clippers.
- Their collaboration began in 1980 when Ballmer left business school to join Microsoft.
