The Steve Ballmer Interview
Acquired2 Juni 2025

The Steve Ballmer Interview

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:

Links:


More Acquired!

© Copyright 2015-2025 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.

Avsnitt(213)

SpaceX

SpaceX

On the eve of SpaceX's historic scheduled launch of its first human spaceflight mission — both the first ever by a private company, and the first to take place on American soil in nearly a decade — we...

26 Maj 20202h 46min

Adapting Episode 3: Intel

Adapting Episode 3: Intel

When you think of Intel today, you probably think of the microprocessor company. Maybe you also think about about 'Intel Inside' and their famous jingle. You might even think "big, stable, boring publ...

12 Maj 20201h 26min

Special Episode: Jason Calacanis

Special Episode: Jason Calacanis

We're joined by the one and only Jason Calacanis for this very special episode, wherein we chronicle Jason's journey from a kid porter in the barrooms of Brooklyn to building the largest independent m...

29 Apr 20201h 38min

Adapting Episode 2: Sequoia’s Black Swan Memo (with Roelof Botha)

Adapting Episode 2: Sequoia’s Black Swan Memo (with Roelof Botha)

On March 5th 2020, Sequoia Capital published a Medium post entitled ‘Coronavirus: The Black Swan of 2020’. The memo minces no words, admonishing founders & CEOs to “question every assumption about you...

31 Mars 202044min

Adapting Episode 1: Canlis

Adapting Episode 1: Canlis

The world has changed. Acquired is changing too: we’re taking a pause from our normal episodes. The world doesn’t need stories of M&A and IPOs right now. But it does still need stories of great compan...

20 Mars 202049min

The Top 10 Acquisitions of All-Time

The Top 10 Acquisitions of All-Time

5 years and 100+ episodes into Acquired, there’s been one question we get asked more than any other: what are the best acquisitions of all-time, and what can we learn from them? We thought it was time...

17 Mars 20201h 51min

Sequoia Capital Part II (with Doug Leone)

Sequoia Capital Part II (with Doug Leone)

The wait is over. Acquired returns with a very special Part II of the Sequoia Capital story, joined by the very best person in the world to help us tell it - Doug Leone. Since 1996, Doug has served as...

18 Feb 20201h 7min

WhatsApp

WhatsApp

We kick off Season 6 with a long-awaited Acquired Classic: Facebook’s $22B purchase of WhatsApp in 2014, which still ranks as the largest acquisition of a private VC-backed startup in history. Yet des...

29 Jan 20201h 53min

Populärt inom Business & ekonomi

framgangspodden
badfluence
varvet
rss-jossan-nina
rss-svart-marknad
uppgang-och-fall
avanzapodden
rss-dagen-med-di
rss-kort-lang-analyspodden-fran-di
rss-inga-dumma-fragor-om-pengar
rss-borsens-finest
bathina-en-podcast
rss-den-nya-ekonomin
lastbilspodden
borsmorgon
market-makers
kapitalet-en-podd-om-ekonomi
fill-or-kill
rikatillsammans-om-privatekonomi-rikedom-i-livet
svd-tech-brief