Bill Gates' Former Assistant Steve Ballmer Close To Replacing Him As World's Fourth Richest Person
Bill Gates¡¯ former assistant at Microsoft is now the fifth-richest person in the world, per Bloomberg¡¯s tally, and only one spot behind Gates on the real-time list of the world¡¯s richest people.
Steve Ballmer, the man who was once Bill Gates¡¯ assistant, then went on to become Microsoft CEO, is now on the brink of replacing him as the world's fourth richest person.
Who Is Bill Gates' Former Assistant?
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Steve Ballmer, who is a former Microsoft CEO and also a former assistant of Bill Gates, is now the fifth-richest person in the world, as per the Bloomberg Billionaire Index. He is now only one spot behind the Microsoft co-founder on the list of the world¡¯s richest people.
Steve Ballmer, who joined Microsoft as its 24th employee in 1980, has seen his wealth balloon to $117 billion, per Bloomberg¡¯s data on Tuesday, CNN reported.
Also Read: Microsoft Decides To Cancel Salary Hikes For Full-time Employees
How Much Is Steve Ballmer Away From Bill Gates?
Steve Ballmer's current net worth of $117 billion is only $6 billion shy of Bill Gates's estimated net worth of $123 billion. Ballmer¡¯s $31.5 billion jump in net worth puts him in fifth place on the Billionaires Index.
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Also Read: Bill Gates Shares The Best Advice He Has Received From Warren Buffett
When Did Steve Ballmer Join Microsoft?
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Steve Ballmer had attended Harvard University, where he met Bill Gates. While Gates dropped out to start Microsoft, Ballmer graduated in 1977 with degrees in applied mathematics and economics. He joined Microsoft in 1980 after dropping out of Stanford's MBA program.
67-year-old Ballmer began his career at Microsoft as an assistant to the president, though his role at the time was more of a business manager. He rose through the ranks to eventually become its president and then CEO, succeeding Gates. Ballmer stepped down as CEO in 2014, the same year he bought the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team.
Much of Ballmer¡¯s wealth (approx $108 billion out of $117 billion) remains tied up in Microsoft stock. Shares for Microsoft have rocketed up more than 40% in 2023 alone, thanks in large part to an AI-fueled turnaround rally in the tech sector.
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