Steve Ballmer

We sit down with Steve Ballmer, the legendary former Microsoft CEO and owner of the LA Clippers, for an epic conversation covering his 34 years at Microsoft. Steve listened to our Microsoft episodes and had some thoughts to share — and boy, did he deliver. Steve takes us point-by-point through the original IBM DOS deal that started everything, how he built Microsoft's enterprise business from scratch, and offers his candid reflections on missing mobile and search. We also cover the story behind “developers, developers, developers”, the complexities of his relationship with Bill Gates (including a year where they didn't speak), and why he ultimately decided to step down as CEO. Plus, we learn why Steve has held onto his Microsoft stock through it all — giving him arguably the best investment track record in the world over the last 10 years with his net worth growing from $20B to $130B since leaving. And of course, we couldn't resist also talking about his other passion: the Clippers and Intuit Dome. Hit play and get ready to experience the patented Steve Ballmer energy and fun on full display! Sponsors: Anthropic: https://bit.ly/acquiredclaude25 Sentry: https://bit.ly/acquiredsentry The Acquired Meetup (in SF!): https://bit.ly/sentryacquiredmeetup WorkOS: https://bit.ly/workos26 Full Acquired Unplugged Videos: https://acquired.fm/unplugged Statsig: https://bit.ly/acquiredstatsig26 Links: Steve's PowerPoint Slides Join us July 15 at Radio City! More Acquired! Get email updates with hints on next episode and follow-ups from recent episodes Join the Slack Subscribe to ACQ2 Merch Store ! © Copyright 2015-2026 ACQ, LLC ‍Note: Acquired hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.

This episode of the Positive Leadership Podcast is truly special—for two reasons. First, Microsoft is celebrating its 50th anniversary , marking five decades of innovation, transformation, and leadership in the tech industry. Second, on a personal level, this milestone resonates deeply with me. Having spent 40 years at Microsoft, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible journey of this company, the people who shaped it, and the leadership lessons that continue to inspire me today. To mark the occasion, I am honored to welcome Steve Ballmer —a true legend, former CEO of Microsoft, and one of the most passionate, energetic leaders I’ve ever had the chance to work with. In this episode, Steve shares: ✅ His first encounter with Bill Gates and the early days of Microsoft ✅ The legendary IBM-MS-DOS deal that changed everything ✅ What it was like leading one of the world’s most influential companies ✅ His transition to owning the LA Clippers and his vision for social impact in the U.S. Expect a conversation full of energy, laughter, and powerful insights on leadership, resilience, and the future of technology. 🎧 Don’t miss this special episode! I also encourage you to (re)discover those past great episodes: Finding meaning in your work (with Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO): https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/8966432-finding-meaning-in-your-work-with-satya-nadella-microsoft-ceo Unlocking the Secrets to Leading Across Borders (with Erin Meyer): https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/16477213-unlocking-the-secrets-to-leading-across-borders-with-erin-meyer I’m Michelin: making every individual matter (with Florent Menegaux): https://thepositiveleadershippodcast.buzzsprout.com/1798971/episodes/16252992-i-m-michelin-making-every-individual-matter-with-florent-menegaux New here? Subscribe to Positive Leadership & You for one edition a month, written for leaders who want to build companies and communities people thrive in. https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/positive-leadership-you-6970390170017669121/ Want to go deeper? Listen to the Positive Leadership Podcast on your favourite platform. 130+ conversations with the leaders, founders and thinkers shaping a more human future of work. 🎧 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/positive-leadership/id1574911588 🎤 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1EdnJcYgh9nXPTFJ5euOBf

On today’s Daily Puck Drop , Jason “Puck” Puckett discusses the latest NFL news, focusing on the Seahawks' recent trade for LB Ernest Jones. He analyzes the implications of the trade, the team's current performance, and the importance of building a strong roster. The Seahawks needed to improve their run defense and they did it. They have a real chance to win the NFC West, which would be amazing in Mike Macdonald’s first season. Mike Garafolo, NFL Network joins the show for his weekly visit. They jump right into the latest trade rumors in the NFL and why Seattle may not be done as of yet. Would Maxx Crosby fit in Seattle and could they make it happen? Are the Rams really serious about trading quarterback Matt Stafford? Cooper Kupp appears to be gone. Puck and Garafolo dive into the MVP discussion between Josh Allen and Ravens running back Derrick Henry, who is on pace to eclipse Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record, which would be incredible. After Garafolo leaves the show, Puck jumps back into college football, reviewing the Cougs and Huskies upcoming games. Promoting ‘Old Crimson Cougars Podcast, Cougs Corner and Puck the Huskies. WSU has a shot to run the table, but Puck is concerned there is at least one more loss coming…where? UW has their hands full with Indiana on Saturday, it’s being called the Gasman Bowl. Who wouldn’t want Steve Ballmer as an owner? Puck would do anything to have him in Seattle! Finally, “Hey, What the Puck!?” James Franklin's PR Crisis at Penn State. How to not handle it properly! Rundown 00:00 Ernest Jones trade recap…Great move for Seattle. They desperately needed to improve their run defense 09:49 Seahawks' Season Outlook and Team Identity 12:46 Injury Updates on the Seahawks…who’s in and who’s out 21:01 Mike Garafolo, NFL Network Trade Strategies and General Manager Insights. Understanding the 21-Day Window that Abe Lucas is in and his potential return. Status of DK Metcalf and will he play or not? Will Maxx Crosby be traded to Seattle? Stafford trade rumors are false, but Rams listening on Cooper Kupp. Why Derrick Henry should be the MVP over Josh Allen. Mike’s daughter’s interruption the show and Puck starts asking them gambling advice! 01:03:21 Previewing the Cougs and Huskies upcoming games. Promoting ‘Old Crimson Cougars Podcast, Cougs Corner and Puck the Huskies. WSU has a shot to run the table, but Puck is concerned there is at least one more loss coming…where? UW has their hands full with Indiana on Saturday, it’s being called the Gasman Bowl. 01:14:56 Wouldn’t you want Steve Ballmer to be your owner for your favorite sports team!? 01:18:03 “Opponent Preview” Buffalo Bills. It all begins and ends with Josh Allen. 01:24:31 Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson's MVP Chances 01:29:46 “Hey, What the Puck!?” James Franklin's PR Crisis at Penn State. How to not handle it properly!

Megyn Kelly begins the show by discussing the new lie being pushed this week by the corporate media and the left about Trump targeting "the enemy from within," their fear-mongering that he'll target Americans who don't vote for him, the Democrats in full desperation mode now, and more. Then Josh Hammer, host of "America on Trial," and Delano Squires, research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, join to discuss the corporate media and left attacking Trump in more exaggerated ways, their desperation as Kamala keeps losing ground in the election, Kamala's new effort to target black males, why the efforts aren't working and are ringing hollow, the feminine way Democrats talk to voters, Bill Clinton accidentally admitting Laken Riley’s death could have been avoided if our border was tighter under the Biden-Harris administration, how his campaigning has backfired for the Democrats, and more. Then Steve Ballmer, founder of "USA Facts," joins to talk about how he keeps his fact-based site completely unbiased, why it's important to use fewer adjectives when displaying just the facts, the need for Americans to have access to facts without political bias, the facts about the national debt and economy, the epidemic of Fentanyl deaths in America, how the increase in accidental deaths is alarming, raising kids to stay humble, and more. Hammer- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/america-on-trial-with-josh-hammer/id1727785259 Squires- https://www.heritage.org/staff/delano-squires Ballmer- https://usafacts.org/ DonorsTrust: https://www.DonorsTrust.org/MK Ground News: Use the link https://groundnews.com/megyn to get 40% off the Vantage subscription to see through mainstream media narratives. Tax Network USA: https://TNUSA.com/MEGYN My Patriot Supply: https://PreparewithMegyn.com Follow The Megyn Kelly Show on all social platforms: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MegynKelly Twitter: http://Twitter.com/MegynKellyShow Instagram: http://Instagram.com/MegynKellyShow Facebook: http://Facebook.com/MegynKellyShow Find out more information at: https://www.devilmaycaremedia.com/megynkellyshow Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special episode of No Labels Talks, host Ryan Clancy interviews former Microsoft CEO and philanthropist Steve Ballmer. They dive into Ballmer's efforts with USAFacts, an initiative that aims to provide nonpartisan, data-driven insights into the biggest issues facing our country, from our looming national debt crisis to our border security. In addition, Ballmer shares his thoughts on the challenges of making sense of vast government data, the need for accountability in public policy, and how better access to information can empower citizens. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolabels.substack.com

What do NBA fans want? A phone charger in every seat? This fall, the LA Clippers will welcome guests to their new home: the Intuit Dome. Team owner, Steve Ballmer, joins AT&T CEO John Stankey to talk with host Bob Safian about how tech can amplify the live, in-game experience. Screens, cameras, and mobile devices are an integral part of their vision, whether it’s replays or fan-cams or real-time data. Ballmer and Stankey are an engaging buddy act as they trade ideas about innovation, community, and forecasting what fans will want next. Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqpWYp7X8hM See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In a group basically defined by wealth—NBA owners—Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer has the most of all. He also has an incredible family story that will move you. Listen to co-hosts Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner chop it up with him after welcoming us all back to season 2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After retiring as Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer founded USAFacts, to make government data accessible to the general public. He wants to help Americans understand how the government spends our money and why. So every year at tax time USAFacts releases an annual 10-K report on government financial performance – something public companies are already required to do. He thinks the government should be required to turn out the same kind of report, but until they do he’s got it covered. His annual 10k is meant to give us a better picture of how we’re living, what we’re spending on, and where we’re making improvements. And he breaks some of it down in this conversation. It gave me a different perspective on how to suss the effectiveness of our government. USAFacts is a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic organization and a News Not Noise content partner. Ballmer ran Microsoft from 2000-2014. In addition to his role at USAFacts, Ballmer teaches at Stanford University’s business school and is the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. For more info on the annual USAFacts Government 10-K: ➤Web: https://bit.ly/3l0096p You can follow Jessica Yellin here: ➤Instagram: instagram.com/jessicayellin​ ➤Twitter: twitter.com/jessicayellin ➤Facebook: facebook.com/newsnotnoise ➤YouTube: youtube.com/newsnotnoise ➤Website: NewsNotNoise.com Support this work: ➤patreon.com/NewsNotNoise Jessica Yellin is the founder of News Not Noise, a channel dedicated to giving you news with real experts and providing facts, not panic attacks. Jessica is a veteran of network news, traveling the globe, covering conflict and crisis. A former Chief White House Correspondent for CNN, she reported from around the world and won awards. Now, Yellin uses her voice to break down the news, calmly and clearly for you -- free of punditry, provocation, and yelling.

Steve Ballmer has always been a numbers guy. When he left Microsoft, he started to dig into our nation's numbers to get a better picture of where his philanthropic dollars could do the most good and USAFacts was born. In this episode of Beyond the Blue Badge, host Rich Kaplan talks with Steve about USAFacts, big data around some of the nation's biggest issues from the economy to the elections, from COVID to obesity and why seeing and understanding all the data matters.

Steve Ballmer Founder, USAFacts; former CEO, Microsoft; Co-Founder, Ballmer Group; Chairman, Los Angeles Clippers “There is an information-collection problem from the counties, which is where most of the data lives. We've got a team that literally goes through both by hand and using technology. … one of the things I'd say we're very proud of is being able to help CDC with some of that.” In 1980, Steve Ballmer left Stanford’s MBA program to become Microsoft’s 30th employee. Thirty-four years later, he retired as CEO and promptly channeled his formidable energy into a variety of interests, including USAFacts.org, which makes government data accessible and understandable. In the current crisis, he is quick to quantify just how important one response will be to many Americans: “In this country, 60% of families earn less than $66,000 a year. So these $1,200 checks plus appropriate increases for presence of children in the home are highly, highly relevant to restarting the economy.”