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Bill Gates' Memoir: The Power of Friendship with Ballmer

2/9/2025

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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.