Steve Ballmer Surpasses Bill Gates in Net Worth Due to Microsoft Stock Gains
Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has surpassed Bill Gates as the richest person among former tech leaders, with a net worth of $179 billion compared to Gates' $114 billion. This shift is largely due to the rebound in Microsoft's stock price from $348 earlier this year to over $513 currently. Ballmer owns 4% of Microsoft and remains its largest individual shareholder. In contrast, Bill Gates has significantly reduced his stake by donating nearly $100 billion through philanthropy efforts like the Gates Foundation. His wealth was also impacted by a divorce in 2021 that resulted in a $7.9 billion transfer to Melinda French Gates' foundation. Ballmer's fortune is further bolstered by his ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers, now valued at $7.5 billion. Microsoft has seen strong performance due to its AI investments and recent earnings reports showing rising revenue and profitability.
Tickers: $MSFT
Topics: Bill Gates Microsoft philanthropy Steve Ballmer stock performance