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Steve Ballmer: age, children, wife, house, yacht, profiles, net worth in billions

Who is Steve Ballmer? He is an American businessman and investor who served as the chief executive officer of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. In addition, he is the current owner of the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association. But how did he rise to be one of the wealthiest people in the world? This article has that and much more about his career and personal life.

Steve Ballmer age

As a college friend of Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft , Steve Ballmer was one of the company's early employees. In fact, he was the first business manager hired by Gates. Below is his full bio.

Steve Ballmer's profile summary and bio

  • Full Name : Steven Anthony Ballmer
  • Born: March 24, 1956
  • Steve Ballmer's age: 65 (As of 2021)
  • Height: 1.96 m
  • Zodiac Sign: Aries
  • Birth Place: Detroit, Michigan
  • City: Detroit, Michigan
  • U.S. State : Michigan
  • Education: Lawrence Technological University Southfield, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Harvard University Cambridge
  • Occupation: Businessman
  • Industry: Technology
  • Best known for: CEO of Microsoft
  • Current role: Retired
  • Spouse: Connie Snyder
  • Father: Frederic Henry
  • Mother: Beatrice Dworkin
  • Children: Sam, Aaron, Peter
  • Steve Ballmer's Twitter : @Steven_Ballmer

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Barron Hilton II: age, baby, girlfriend, sister, career, house, profiles, worth

Steve Ballmer age

Steve Ballmer was born in a wealthy suburb of Detroit, Michigan, to Frederic and Beatrice. The father, a Swiss immigrant, had a midlevel management job at Ford Motor Company . He had a fairly affluent childhood, but that did not deter him from wanting to be the best in whatever business he made his foray into.

Born into an affluent family, Steve grew up to be an exceptionally brilliant student with extraordinary skills in mathematics. However, he was perceived as an overachiever at Detroit Country Day School , which he attended on a scholarship. A brilliant and enthusiastic student with a talent for math, he earned a 4.0-grade point average, played on the football and track teams, managed the basketball team , and participated in various school clubs.

He later joined Harvard University , studied applied mathematics, managed the football team, and worked on the Harvard Crimson newspaper and the university literary magazine.

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Steve Ballmer's wife

He married Connie Snyder in 1990. They have three sons. Their children are Sam, Peter, and Aaron.

Career life

Steve Ballmer age

After graduating from Harvard, he joined Procter & Gamble , where he was tasked with marketing brownie and muffin mixes. After a year, he quit the job and visited his college friend Bill Gates in Seattle, hoping for a summer job at Gates company, Microsoft. Instead, Gates persuaded him to take a full-time job managing the company's operations.

Over the next two decades, Steve held various posts as Microsoft grew into one of the most influential and profitable companies in American history. Much of its initial success was due to the dominance of its operating systems MS/DOS and Windows.

In 1998, he became the president of Microsoft, and two years later, he became the company's CEO, after Gates stepped down from that position to become chairman.

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The Rock's net worth, age, height, children, spouse, movies, profiles

In 2009, the company expanded into the search engine market, releasing Bing.

Since 1980, Microsoft's growth has been driven by his fierce loyalty and managerial talent. Although he was described as pleasant and easygoing, he was best known for a loud, boisterous style and a high-energy personality that dominated most interactions. Since 1980, Microsoft's growth has been driven by his fierce loyalty and managerial talent. A

Steve Ballmer buys clippers

Steve Ballmer age

What does Steve Ballmer do now? The same year he retired from Microsoft, he bought the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion. In 1981, the Clippers were sold to Donald Sterling, a Los Angeles-based real estate mogul, who moved the team to his home city in 1984. The Clippers under Sterling's ownership were often cited as the worst franchise in North American professional team sports.

Steve Ballmer's philanthropic works

In 1994, Ballmer and Bill Gates jointly donated $10 million to the Harvard University computer science department.

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Robert N. Fried: age, children, spouse, movies, house, profiles, net worth

In 2014, he donated $50 million to the University of Oregon for scholarships, external branding/communications, and public health research and advocacy.

Steve Ballmer's net worth in billions

Steve joined the $100 billion net worth club. Steve Ballmer net worth 2021 is more than $100 billion, making him the ninth person in the world to reach that lofty plateau. So, how did Steve Ballmer get rich? He has derived much of his wealth as the CEO of Microsoft. Besides, he is also a shareholder at the company.

Steve Ballmer's Microsoft shares

Steve Ballmer age

How much of Microsoft does Steve Ballmer own? In 1981, he reorganized the partnership into a corporate structure in which Gates held 53 percent of the equity, Allen 35 percent, and Ballmer 8 percent. He made most of his money from his 4 percent stake in Microsoft, which equates to about 333 million shares. Over the years, he has sold more than $3.4 billion in stocks and earned over $4.4 billion worth of dividends.

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Craig Menear: age, family, salary, home depot, house, profiles, net worth

Steve Ballmer's house

Steve Ballmer yacht also adds to his unique and prestigious collection of luxuries. He owns a $US10 million home in Hunts Point, Washington. Besides, he also has other luxurious homes in many states across the U.S.

Steve Ballmer is one of the leading men responsible for the rise of Microsoft as the leader in computing technology today. Interestingly, he is known for his exuberant, energetic personality.

READ ALSO: Carlos Ghosn: age, children, wife, book, movie, podcast, profile, net worth

In other news, Briefly.co.za reported on August 25, 2021, about Carlos Ghosn bio. Who is Carlos Ghosn? He is an automobile business tycoon with considerable stakes in both Nissan and Renault in Japan.

Why is he famous? By the age of 30, the young businessman was a chief operating officer at Michelin in South America.

Source: Briefly News

Bennett Yates (Lifestyle writer) Bennett Yates is a content creator with over five years of working experience in journalism and copywriting. He graduated from the University of Nairobi (2017) with a Bachelor's in Information Technology. In 2023, Bennett finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. He started working for Briefly in 2019. You can reach him via email at [email protected].

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Octopus Yacht Uncovered: An Insider’s Look at the Luxury Yacht

Ian Fortey

Launched back in the year 2003, the Octopus yacht was built by famous shipyard Lurssen out of Germany. Lurssen has been behind numerous other superyachts such as Kismet and Dilbar and many more. The exterior design was handled by Espen Øino Naval Architects while the interior was handled by American designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett.

Who Owns the Octopus Yacht?

steve ballmer yachts

The Octopus yacht was owned by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft. In addition to being a private pleasure yacht for Allen, the Octopus has served a variety of purposes over the years thanks to him loaning it out. It has served as an exploration vessel, been used for scientific research and has even seen use as a rescue vessel.

Allen died in 2018 and at that time the yacht underwent a refit at Blohm + Voss. In 2019 it was put on sale for a price of €295 million. The price was dropped by about 60 million and in 2021 it was picked up by an anonymous buyer. However, the anonymity didn’t last long and it was later revealed that Swedish billionaire Roger Samuelsson.

How Big is the Octopus Motor Yacht?

steve ballmer yachts

The Octopus more than qualifies as a superyacht coming in at an incredible 126.2 meters or 414 feet. While the largest yachts in the world are over 500 feet, the Octopus is clearly massive and could rightly be labeled a megayacht and one of the world’s largest yachts as well.

Aside from the incredible length of the vessel, it features a beam just shy of 69 feet across. The gross tonnage is 9,932.

How Much Did the Yacht Octopus Cost?

steve ballmer yachts

Paul Allen purchased the Octopus back in 2003. At that time the vessel cost him $200 million. Adjusted for inflation, that would work out to about $327 million by today, clearly making this one of the more expensive yachts in the world. That said, it still doesn’t meet the bar for one of the most expensive yachts ever by quite a bit.

Can You Charter the Octopus Yacht?

The Octopus is available for charter through the yacht firm Camper and Nicholsons but it’s definitely not available for most budgets. We’ve covered other yachts before that are owned by billionaires and are available for charter at some steep prices that often range around $1.2 million per week. The Octopus goes to the next level. 

You can charter the Octopus for about $2.2 million per week and that doesn’t include expenses. So you’ll be paying for things like food and fuel separately. Suffice it to say that this is not a charter for everyone but the option is there. 

Is the Octopus Yacht for Sale?

steve ballmer yachts

After its initial purchase in 2003 the Octopus was not available for sale until 2019 after owner Paul Allen passed away. There are currently some websites that claim the Octopus is for sale now and you can make an offer but the reliability of those sites is unknown and they do list the previous sale price from 2019 so they may not be current.

How Fast is the Octopus Yacht and What Engines Does it Use?

steve ballmer yachts

The Octopus has a cruising speed listed at 12.5 knots and a top speed listed at 19 knots. This is provided thanks to 8 MTU diesel engines that can generate a total of 19,200 hp. The yacht has an impressive range of up to 12,500 nautical miles at cruising speed thanks to her 1,034,000 liter fuel tanks 

What’s the Octopus Yacht Interior Like?

steve ballmer yachts

The Octopus covers eight decks and has room on board for a total of 26 guests and 63 crew. The guests can find accommodations in a full-beam master suite, two VIP suites, seven double rooms and three twins, one with an additional single bed.

The master suite is on a dedicated owner’s deck and features a king size bed, his and hers en suite bathrooms and a private observation deck that includes an al fresco dining area. There’s also a private bar and Jacuzzi There is also an owner exclusive private elevator for use. 

For years the details of the interior were a closely guarded secret while Paul Allen was still the owner. In fact, designer Espen Oeino said that this was the first yacht that ever required him to sign an NDA to keep its design secret. Since then he’s signed many more, but the Octopus was where it started. However, since Allen’s passing and the sale of the yacht, the transition to a vessel available for charter has allowed us to learn a lot more about the Octopus and its amenities and entertainment facilities.

Features and Amenities

steve ballmer yachts

The Octopus is an ice-class exploration yacht so it can go where many other luxury yachts cannot. It has two helipads as well as garages to house two helicopters. In addition, guests can find the following on board.

  • There’s a large swimming pool to the aft of the yacht on the main deck. It features numerous loungers and its own cocktail bar. There’s also a retractable glass floor that covers the pool when not in use.
  • A dance floor for parties
  • A movie theater
  • A well equipped gym for working out
  • A relaxation spa that includes a sauna
  • A large indoor/outdoor beach club area
  • A large deck Jacuzzi
  • A glass bottomed observation lounge
  • A well-stocked library for those evenings when you want to curl up with a good book

steve ballmer yachts

For those who want to have some more intense fun out on the water, the Octopus has a number of toys that can be used.

  • 59’5” Delta Powerboats 54′ Tender
  • 30’8” Vikal Custom Limo Tender with a pair of 260 HP engines
  • A 10-person submarine named Pagoo which we’ll talk more about shortly
  • A dive center with a hyperbaric chamber and scuba gear
  • A large swim platform
  • A diving platform
  • 4 separate 2 seat Yamaha FX140 Waverunners
  • 2 separate 2 Person Hobie Pursuit Kayaks
  • An Epic V5 Kayak
  • 3 Windsurfers for a range of skill levels
  • A stand up Yamaha jet ski
  • 3 surfboards
  • Kite surfers 
  • Water skis and a variety of towable toys 
  • Snorkeling gear
  • Fishing gear

Octopus Rescue Work

steve ballmer yachts

The Octopus also features a not entirely typical on board submarine and also a very rare ROV or remote operated vehicle which is essentially a remote control sub. These had been used a number of times on rescue operations when Paul Allen owned the vessel.

The sub and ROV were used to help find a pilot and two officers who vanished off the coast of Palau, and even aided the Royal Navy in finding the bell from the HMS Hood which sank off of Denmark in WWII.

The Octopus has also aided in scientific research, most notably when researchers were studying coelacanth, a species of prehistoric fish thought to have been extinct for millions of years. 

What is the Octopus Yacht Deck Plan?

steve ballmer yachts

You can see the full deck plans here. The Octopus was designed to feature some things you would never expect to find on a yacht. For instance, it had a fully equipped recording studio where the band U2 did some recording. The studio also hosted Usher, Mick Jagger and Joss Stone. However, the studio has since been replaced with a bar and lounge area.

In addition to the studio the yacht was designed with a storm cabin to help minimize the effects of bad weather and a full medical center in case of emergencies. Many of these features no longer exist since the retrofit after Paul Allen’s death.

One extremely unique feature is the central clock. Braided stainless-steel shrouds from a sailing vessel were strung on either side of the grand staircase from lower to upper deck. The designer enlisted the aid of a 102-year-old German clock making company to help bring the idea to life. It also uses digital audio software so that on a regular basis the strings can play snippets from literally any song to indicate the passage of time.

The Bottom Line

The Octopus yacht was once owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen until his death in 2018. Afterwards, some of the yacht was redesigned and it was sold for close to $300 million to Swedish billionaire Roger Samuelsson. 

The Octopus is a massive exploration yacht measuring 414 feet making it large but nowhere near as big as something like the massive Azzam . It has been used for scientific research and rescue missions in the past and is now available for charter though at a steep price.

While it has many of the expected amenities of luxury yachts it also features some more exotic fare like the minisub with room for 8 passengers and two crew, as well as a stunning array of toys and other features.

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My grandfather first took me fishing when I was too young to actually hold up a rod on my own. As an avid camper, hiker, and nature enthusiast I'm always looking for a new adventure.

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COMMENTS

  1. Octopus (yacht)

    Octopus in Barbados, December 2, 2006 Octopus in Antibes Port Vauban, in 2009 Octopus in Hamburg, August 1, 2019. Octopus's exterior was designed by Espen Øino Naval Architects and built by the German shipbuilders Lürssen in Bremen and Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in Kiel. [3] The interior was by designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett.. Consisting of eight decks, including a private owners' deck ...

  2. OCTOPUS Yacht • Roger Samuelsson $285M SuperYacht

    Octopus Yacht: A Feat of Luxury and Engineering Excellence. The breathtaking yacht Octopus, renowned as one of the world's largest yachts, is a masterpiece crafted by the esteemed Lurssen Yachts.This magnificent sea giant was formerly owned by the billionaire Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen.The motor yacht is powered by top-tier Mercedes diesel engines, offering a maximum speed of 20 knots ...

  3. Steve Ballmer: age, children, wife, house, yacht, profiles ...

    STEVE BALLMER is the current owner of the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball. Previously, he served as the CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014. ... Steve Ballmer: age, children, wife, house, yacht, profiles, net worth in billions. Sunday, September 05, 2021 at 9:43 AM by Bennett Yates 5 min read . Who is Steve Ballmer? He is an ...

  4. Paul Allen superyacht Octopus finally sells after being listed for

    The new owner intends to make Octopus available for hire starting next year through yacht firm Camper & Nicholsons, according to the SuperYacht Times. ... Steve Ballmer on ′60 Minutes ...

  5. Steve Ballmer Bio, Wiki, Age, Wife, Microsoft, Yacht, Nokia, and Net Worth

    Steve grew up in the affluent community of Farmington Hills, Michigan. He also lived in Brussels from 1964 to 1967. Steve Ballmer Wife. Steve is married to his beautiful wife Connie Snyder. The couple celebrated their wedding in 1990. Together they have three sons Sam, Aaron, and Peter, and reside in Hunts Point, Washington. Steve Ballmer Education

  6. Octopus Yacht Uncovered: An Insider's Look at the Luxury Yacht

    The Octopus more than qualifies as a superyacht coming in at an incredible 126.2 meters or 414 feet. While the largest yachts in the world are over 500 feet, the Octopus is clearly massive and could rightly be labeled a megayacht and one of the world's largest yachts as well.. Aside from the incredible length of the vessel, it features a beam just shy of 69 feet across.

  7. Behind the build of Paul Allen's 126m Lürssen explorer Octopus

    One of the best things about flying into the South of France is the view. The brilliant blue coastline is peppered with hundreds of yachts. On this flight, however, just one of the boats below us demands our attention: the 126-metre explorer Octopus.. The following day, in the port of Marseille where her new owner's team is wrapping up a refit before Octopus departs for the Galápagos, I ...

  8. Paul Allen's superyacht Octopus

    Octopus, the 414-foot mega yacht which ranks as one of the world's largest, has been listed for $325 million. Allen, who died last October at age 65, took delivery of the vessel in 2003 and over ...

  9. Steve Ballmer

    Steven Anthony Ballmer was born on March 24, 1956, in Detroit, Michigan, as the son of Beatrice Dworkin and Frederic Henry (Fritz Hans) Ballmer, a manager at the Ford Motor Company. [1] [14] Frederic (1923-2000) was from Zuchwil, Switzerland, and arrived in the United States in 1948.[citation needed] He is Jewish.Steve's mother was the daughter of Samuel Dworkin, a Russian Jew who fled to ...

  10. Inside A Billionaire's 205-ft Mega-Yacht

    Inside A Billionaire's 205-ft Mega-Yacht. Subscribe To Newsletters | Aug 19, 2013, 05:52PM EDT. Inside A Billionaire's 205-ft Mega-Yacht. x. Inside A Billionaire's 205-ft Mega-Yacht