Entrepreneurs
Steve Ballmer Net Worth
| Net Worth: | $120.1 Billion |
|---|---|
| Age: | 67 |
| Born: | March 24, 1956 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) |
| Country of Origin: | United States of America |
| Source of Wealth: | Businessman |
| Last Updated: | February 15, 2024 |
Introduction
Steve Ballmer is an American investor, businessman, and philanthropist with an estimated net worth of $120.1 Billion.
Ballmer built his net worth during his thirty-four-year career at Microsoft, having joined the company when it was worth just a few million dollars. He served as the chief executive officer for fourteen years, earning an average of $1.2 million/year in compensation. His initial 8% stake in the company has since been reduced to less than 4%, with shares worth well over $3.2 billion sold during his tenure.
Since retiring, Ballmer has acquired the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team and begun focusing more heavily on philanthropic efforts with his wife, Connie Snyder. In this profile, we’ll discuss our research on Steve Ballmer’s net worth history, his career at Microsoft, his salary and earnings, and other factors that have shaped his wealth over time.
In this profile, we’ll discuss our research into Steve Ballmer’s net worth history, income sources, and investments.
Quick Facts
- Debuted on the Forbes Billionaires Index in 1999
- Previously held an 8% stake in Microsoft
- Earned $17.1 million in salary as CEO of the company
- Paid $2 billion to acquire the Los Angeles Lakers NBA team
Net Worth History
| Net Worth: | $120.1 Billion |
|---|---|
| Age: | 67 |
| Born: | March 24, 1956 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) |
| Country of Origin: | United States of America |
| Source of Wealth: | Businessman |
| Last Updated: | February 15, 2024 |
Since nearly all of Steve Ballmer’s wealth was generated through his 8% stake in Microsoft, his net worth history can be tracked relatively easily. In 1986, Microsoft launched its IPO, which sent its valuation soaring, giving it a market capitalization of $777 million. This gave Ballmer a net worth of roughly $62 million at the time.
By the end of 1990, the company’s market cap had grown to $4.8 billion, increasing the value of his stake to $384 million. In 2000, his stake had grown to an enormous $46.9 billion, but the dot-com bust wiped out over 60% of the company’s valuation in a matter of months. Ballmer regularly sold shares of Microsoft. The most notable of these was in 2003, when he sold 39.3 million shares for $955 million. This reportedly reduced his ownership stake to 4%.
In 2009, Ballmer’s net worth was estimated at approximately $11 billion. A year later, he reportedly sold more than 83.1 million Microsoft shares across five transactions, totaling more than $2.2 billion. However, it appears he’s been quiet on the trading front since then, with his net worth continuing to increase as Microsoft’s market cap grows.
In 2015, he was worth approximately $21.5 billion; by 2019, $41.2 billion; and by 2022, $91.4 billion. At the time of writing, Steve Ballmer is estimated to be worth approximately $120.1 Billion.
Microsoft
In 1980, Steve Ballmer became Microsoft’s 30th employee, taking on the role of business manager. Upon joining, he received an 8% stake in the company and an initial reported base salary of $50,000/year. He helped oversee the Windows and Office franchises during the late 1980s and 1990s and helped launch Windows 95.
When Bill Gates stepped down as CEO of Microsoft in 2000, Ballmer took his place and led the company until 2014. During this time, Microsoft had some of its most successful years, launching Windows XP, Windows 7, and, most notably, its Xbox gaming console. In 2000, Microsoft reported annual revenues of $25 billion; by the time Ballmer stepped down, this figure had tripled to $78 billion.
Acquisitions
As CEO, Ballmer also led some of the company’s most notorious acquisitions, both good and bad. In 2007, they acquired aQuantive for $6.3 billion to compete with Google in digital advertising. Just five years later, Microsoft effectively wrote off $6.2 billion and admitted its failure.
In 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion, perhaps one of the more successful acquisitions during Ballmer’s reign as CEO. In 2013, they also acquired Nokia for $7.2 billion, hoping to compete in the smartphone market, but it again had to be marked down as a multi-billion-dollar write-off.
Microsoft Salary
| Year | Base Salary | Bonus | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | $600,000 | $200,000 | $800,000 |
| 2001 | $656,000 | $374,500 | $1,030,000 |
| 2002 | $656,000 | $324,500 | $980,500 |
| 2003 | $700,000 | $400,000 | $1,100,000 |
| 2004 | $901,000 | $175,000 | $1,080,000 |
| 2005 | $605,000 | $620,000 | $1,230,000 |
| 2006 | $616,667 | $350,000 | $966,667 |
| 2007 | $620,000 | $700,000 | $1,320,000 |
| 2008 | $640,833 | $700,000 | $1,340,000 |
| 2009 | $665,833 | $700,000 | $1,370,000 |
| 2010 | $682,500 | $670,000 | $1,350,000 |
| 2011 | $682,500 | $682,500 | $1,370,000 |
| 2012 | $685,000 | $620,000 | $1,300,000 |
| 2013 | $700,000 | $550,000 | $1,260,000 |
| 2014 | $500,000 | $375,000 | $875,000 |
| Totals: | $9,950,000 | $7,140,000 | $17,090,000 |
Ballmer never had a particularly high salary during his time at Microsoft, at least compared to his overall net worth today. We already mentioned his starting salary of $50,000/year, but how about as CEO?
From 2000 to 2014, as Microsoft’s CEO, Steve Ballmer received an annual base salary ranging from $600,000 to $700,000. The only two outliers from this range were in 2004, when he received $901,000, and 2014, which wasn’t a full calendar year. Ballmer also earned an annual bonus, ranging from $175,000 in 2004 to $700,000 (in multiple years). His average annual bonus as CEO was roughly $510,000.
Overall, this meant he earned between $800,000 and $1.2 million annually for the first seven years. This was followed by earnings of between $1.26 million and $1.37 million annually from 2007 to 2013. He’s estimated to have earned $17.1 million in compensation as the CEO.
Los Angeles Clippers Acquisition
Upon leaving Microsoft in 2014, Ballmer acquired the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion. Several bids were placed to purchase the team after Donald Sterling, the previous owner, was caught on tape making racist comments and was banned for life by the NBA. Ballmer’s bid was the highest, closing his acquisition of the team. At the time, the purchase was considered an incredibly high-risk move, with professional valuations of the Clippers coming in at under $1 billion.
However, in recent years, his investment has paid off significantly, with the team’s value more than doubling in the last five years. Recent estimates place the club’s value at $5.5 billion, generating $353 million in revenue over the past twelve months.
Entrepreneurs
Stephen Schwarzman Net Worth
| Net Worth: | $35 Billion |
|---|---|
| Age: | 79 |
| Born: | February 14, 1947 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Country of Origin: | United States of America |
| Source of Wealth: | Entrepreneur |
| Last Updated: | Sep 12, 2026 |
Introduction
Stephen Schwarzman is an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist with an estimated net worth of $35 Billion.
In this profile, we’ll discuss Stephen Schwarzman’s net worth history, investments, acquisitions, and other aspects of his finances.
Quick Facts
- Debuted on the Forbes Billionaires Index in 2001
- Peak net worth of $44.4 billion in 2025
- Holds a 20% minority stake in the Blackstone Group
- Received at least $6.96 billion in compensation from the firm since 2007
- Earned $1.22 billion last year in salary, compensation, and dividends
- Donated $350 million to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Donated $100 million to the New York Public Library
Net Worth History
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2017 | $11.8 Billion |
| 2018 | $12.6 Billion |
| 2019 | $13.2 Billion |
| 2020 | $15.4 Billion |
| 2021 | $21.9 Billion |
| 2022 | $34.8 Billion |
| 2023 | $27.8 Billion |
| 2024 | $38.8 Billion |
| 2025 | $44.4 Billion |
| 2026 | $38.3 Billion |
For the last four decades or so, Stephen Schwarzman’s net worth has been closely correlated with the valuation of the Blackstone Group, the private equity firm he co-founded with Peter Peterson in 1985. Schwarzman debuted on the Forbes Billionaires Index in 2006, which appears to have been just before the company’s IPO. At the time, he held an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion.
The biggest changes to his fortune have occurred during the last decade. By 2017, Schwarzman was worth approximately $11.8 billion. That said, since 2020, Blackstone’s market cap has exploded, reaching $102 billion in 2021, $130 billion in 2024, and an all-time high of $230 billion in 2025. Since Stephen holds a 20% stake in the company, his share of that $230 billion valuation would have been roughly $46 billion.
At the time of writing, Schwarzman’s net worth is estimated to be $35 Billion, and Blackstone’s market cap is approximately $162 billion. Thus, his 20% stake currently accounts for 75-80% of his fortune. The remainder is largely derived from the $6.9 billion he’s received in dividends and compensation since 2007.
Blackstone Annual Compensation
| Year | Base Salary | Other | Dividends (est.) | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | $175,000 | $179,482 | unknown | $354,482 |
| 2008 | $350,000 | $2,297,632 | unknown | $2,647,632 |
| 2009 | $350,000 | -$759,217 | unknown | -$409,217 |
| 2010 | $350,000 | $2,475,766 | unknown | $2,825,766 |
| 2011 | $350,000 | $4,609,445 | unknown | $4,959,445 |
| 2012 | $350,000 | $8,064,804 | unknown | $8,414,804 |
| 2013 | $350,000 | $21,641,142 | unknown | $21,991,142 |
| 2014 | $350,000 | $85,538,640 | unknown | $85,888,640 |
| 2015 | $350,000 | $73,741,000 | unknown | $74,091,000 |
| 2016 | $350,000 | $46,981,000 | unknown | $47,331,000 |
| 2017 | $350,000 | $125,169,429 | unknown | $125,519,429 |
| 2018 | $350,000 | $68,767,000 | unknown | $69,117,000 |
| 2019 | $350,000 | $56,723,953 | $440,000,000 | $497,073,953 |
| 2020 | $350,000 | $86,030,331 | $440,000,000 | $526,380,331 |
| 2021 | $350,000 | $159,931,754 | $941,600,000 | $1,101,881,754 |
| 2022 | $350,000 | $252,772,146 | $1,020,000,000 | $1,273,122,146 |
| 2023 | $350,000 | $119,434,375 | $777,000,000 | $896,784,375 |
| 2024 | $350,000 | $83,677,000 | $916,000,000 | $1,000,027,000 |
| 2025 | $350,000 | $125,600,000 | $1,100,000,000 | $1,225,950,000 |
| Totals: | $6,475,000 | $1,322,875,682 | $5,634,600,000 | $6,963,950,682 |
While Schwarzman’s equity in the Blackstone Group is technically the primary source of his net worth, it’s not the only way in which he’s compensated by the company. Schwarzman receives an annual base salary, bonuses, and, of course, dividend payments from his Blackstone share holdings. Let’s separate these out one by one.
Base Salary
Based on the available historical information, Stephen has received a base salary of $350,000 per year since Blackstone’s IPO in June 2007. The only year in which this isn’t the case is 2007, because the IPO occurred midway through the year. Thus, he reportedly earned $750,000 instead of the full $350,000. As a result, over 19 years under this contract, he’s earned approximately $6.48 million in base salary. Clearly, base salary is more of a formality and not a significant wealth driver.
All Other Compensation
Schwarzman technically doesn’t receive bonuses or stock options. His additional annual compensation from Blackstone isn’t listed under either category. Instead, it’s listed under “all other compensation.” We’re not talking about dividends here, just annual compensation. It appears that the majority of his payments within this category are related to “carried interest” from investments.
His biggest payouts have come in the last few years, including an all-time high of $252.8 million in 2022. All things considered, the sums in this category total roughly $1.32 billion between 2007 and 2025.
Dividend History
This is where things get incredibly challenging to estimate. The only years for which we could produce dividend estimates were between 2019 and 2025. Bear in mind this is a combination of estimates based on Blackstone’s annual dividend rate and Schwarzman’s known shareholdings, as well as reporting from Bloomberg and Reuters, among others.
For example, Reuters reported a combined total of $1.26 billion in dividends and compensation for 2022, and dividends of $777 million in 2023. The following year, the publication listed annual dividends of $916 million. In other words, things seem to line up with the figures we have on file.
Annual Earnings Summary
All things considered, this means that Stephen Schwarzman has earned at least $6.9 billion from Blackstone since 2007, comprising base salary, other compensation, and dividend payments. In several of those years, including 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025, he’s received more than $1 billion in annual payouts. Dividends account for roughly $5.63 billion of his compensation since 2019.
Real Estate
When it comes to his real estate portfolio, one of Stephen Schwarzman’s properties stands out among the rest. In 2022, he paid approximately £80 million for a 2,500-acre estate in Wiltshire, England, known as Conholt Park. This property is a Grade II-listed building and is subject to strict rules and regulations for renovations, which Schwarzman plans to undertake.
Entrepreneurs
Carlos Ghosn Net Worth
| Net Worth: | $120 Million |
|---|---|
| Age: | 72 |
| Born: | March 9, 1954 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Country of Origin: | Brazil |
| Source of Wealth: | Entrepreneur |
| Last Updated: | Sep 12, 2026 |
Introduction
Carlos Ghosn is a Brazilian-born French businessman with an estimated net worth of $120 Million.
In this profile, we’ll discuss our research into Carlos Ghosn’s net worth history, income sources, and the legal issues that led to his arrest.
Quick Facts
- Total reported income of $113.3 million between 2009 and 2018
- Earned $92 million in compensation with Nissan (2009-2017)
- Earned an additional $19.3 million with Renault (2010-2018)
- Peak annual income of $14.7 million
- Arrested for concealing $80+ million of income from authorities (2018)
Salary History
| Year | Renault | Nissan | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | N/A | $13,000,000 | $13,000,000 |
| 2010 | $1,600,000 | $11,000,000 | $12,600,000 |
| 2011 | $1,770,000 | $12,000,000 | $13,770,000 |
| 2012 | $3,700,000 | $11,000,000 | $14,700,000 |
| 2013 | $3,050,000 | $10,000,000 | $13,050,000 |
| 2014 | $2,170,000 | $9,000,000 | $11,170,000 |
| 2015 | $1,930,000 | $9,000,000 | $10,930,000 |
| 2016 | $1,920,000 | $10,000,000 | $11,920,000 |
| 2017 | $1,850,000 | $7,000,000 | $8,850,000 |
| 2018 | $1,290,000 | N/A | $1,290,000 |
| Totals: | $19,280,000 | $92,000,000 | $111,280,000 |
When discussing Carlos Ghosn’s past salaries, it’s best to review his total annual compensation, since he served as chairman of Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Motors simultaneously.
Additionally, the table above only covers his compensation from Renault and Nissan. Ghosn served as chairman of Mitsubishi for only three fiscal years, and, for the most part, his salary wasn’t disclosed to the public. That is, except for 2017, when he received ¥180 million in cash and ¥47 million in stock options, for a total of ¥227 million. At the time, this worked out to about $2 million USD ($1.6 million in cash and $400,000 in stock), though the Japanese Yen has been decimated since then.
Renault Compensation
Finding Ghosn’s salary as Renault’s chairman was somewhat difficult, since we had to track down all of the company’s past filings. The figures in the table above, to the best of our knowledge, are the approximate amounts that Renault actually paid Ghosn each year, converted from EUR to USD.
In total, he earned approximately $19.28 million with the company between 2010 and 2018, peaking at $3.7 million annually. Now, there are some misleading reports online that state Ghosn earned $17 million in 2017, of which $8.4 million came from Renault. This wasn’t the amount he earned; it was a theoretical compensation package, which included:
- €1.23 million in base salary
- €362,850 in variable cash compensation
- €1,088,550 in deferred shares
- €4,642,000 in performance shares
- €47,540 in director fees
- €5,610 in benefits
However, since he ultimately resigned in January 2019, Ghosn did not receive the deferred and performance shares; thus, he never earned that $8.4 million in its entirety.
Nissan Compensation
Thankfully, Ghosn’s earnings at Nissan are much more cut-and-dried. An SEC filing revealed all of his recorded salaries, both in Japanese Yen and USD. It also becomes clear that his roles at Nissan were where he derived the majority of his income.
We should note that Ghosn first joined Nissan as the company’s Chief Operating Officer in 1999. Unfortunately, the only information listed in the filing is from 2009 through 2017. Back in 2009, Ghosn earned $13 million in annual salary, which was coincidentally his highest known salary at the company.
For the majority of the 2010s, he typically earned between $9 million and $12 million per year. As for 2017, his final year at Nissan, he earned a lower sum of $7 million. All things considered, this brought Carlos Ghosn’s total Nissan compensation to $92 million from 2009 through 2017. Now, the SEC filing states $91 million, but the individual numbers listed in the document total $92 million. It’s likely caused by rounding.
Arrest & Legal Issues
Ghosn’s arrest in Tokyo in November 2018 ignited a major corporate scandal. Japanese authorities charged him with concealing over $80 million in income and using Nissan funds for personal expenses. Shortly after, additional allegations surfaced, including breach of trust and misuse of company assets for personal gain.
In 2019, U.S. authorities added charges for his failure to disclose $140 million in expected compensation and retirement benefits, leading Ghosn to settle with a $1 million fine and a 10-year ban from serving as an officer or director of any U.S. public company.
Ghosn spent several months in solitary confinement in a Tokyo prison cell and was eventually granted bail at 1 billion yen (around $8.9 million), a record-breaking amount in Japan at the time. However, his bail was granted under strict conditions, including that he would remain under house arrest, be subject to constant surveillance, and be limited to restricted contact with others. But in December 2019, Ghosn executed a dramatic escape from house arrest, hiding inside an audio equipment box on a private jet to Turkey, and then boarded another plane bound for Beirut, Lebanon, a country with no extradition agreement with Japan.
From Beirut, Ghosn claimed his arrest was a corporate scheme led by Nissan executives to block his $30 billion plan for a full Nissan-Renault merger. He argues that Nissan’s leadership, worried about losing control to Renault, worked with Japanese officials to push him out.
Ghosn has since openly criticized Japan’s justice system, which has a 99% conviction rate, calling it “hostage justice” because of the pressure placed on defendants to confess under strict detention. As of this year, Ghosn is still hiding out in Lebanon, facing international arrest warrants from Japan and France, along with an Interpol Red Notice.
Entrepreneurs
Avram Glazer Net Worth
| Net Worth: | $1 Billion |
|---|---|
| Age: | 65 |
| Born: | October 19, 1960 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | Unknown |
| Country of Origin: | United States of America |
| Source of Wealth: | Entrepreneur |
| Last Updated: | Sep 12, 2026 |
Avram Glazer is an American businessman and sports team owner with an estimated net worth of $1 Billion.
This profile covers our extensive research into Avram Glazer’s net worth and investments, including ownership of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Manchester United.
Quick Facts
- Debuted on the Forbes Billionaires Index in 2024
- Holds an estimated 16.7% stake in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- That stake is now worth $900+ million
- Acquired a 68% controlling stake in Manchester United for $1.46 billion
- Sold a 25% stake of the team to James Ratcliffe for $1.3 billion in 2023
Net Worth History
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $1.7 billion |
| 2025 | $1.7 billion |
| 2026 | $2 billion |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Acquisition
Avram’s father, Malcolm, was a dedicated sports fan and had been desperately trying to secure ownership of a franchise team within both the NFL and the MLB. This included attempts to acquire or establish franchises for the New England Patriots, the Baltimore Orioles (now the Baltimore Ravens), the San Diego Padres, and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
After Hugh Culverhouse, the then-owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, passed away in August 1994, Malcolm finally managed to acquire a team. Malcolm purchased the Buccaneers for a reported $192 million, placing two of his sons, Joel and Edward, in leadership positions. All six Glazer siblings received an ownership stake in the team, which they still hold today. The exact split has never been confirmed, but assuming it’s an even split, this would bring Avram’s stake to roughly 16.7%.
In August 2024, Forbes valued the Buccaneers at $5.4 billion, indicating that the franchise’s value had increased by approximately $5.2 billion over the previous 29 years. Assuming Avram has always held 16.7%, his stake would have been worth $32.06 million in 1995 and is currently worth approximately $901.8 million.
Manchester United Acquisition
In May 2005, Avram and the Glazer family acquired a 68% majority stake in the EPL soccer team, Manchester United, through their company Red Football Ltd. The deal reportedly cost the family £800 million ($1.46 billion USD), placing the club’s valuation at approximately £1.18 billion ($2.15 billion USD).
However, the majority of the £800 million was secured by borrowing against Manchester United’s assets, which quickly put the club in financial trouble. This left the club obligated to pay £60 million per year in interest alone on its total debts. Although no longer a dominant force in the English Premier League, Manchester United won the league in five of the first seven years following the Glazers’ acquisition.
As of May 2025, the club’s market valuation is approximately $2.4 billion. According to various reports, the Glazer family still holds approximately 71%, but it’s unknown exactly how the shares are split between the family members. Nonetheless, a 71% stake in Manchester United, based on its current valuation of $2.4 billion, would equate to roughly $1.7 billion.
Financial, Tax, & Legal Issues
In December 2023, Avram Glazer’s family sold a 25% stake in Manchester United to British billionaire James Ratcliffe for $1.3 billion. This sale valued the football club at $5.2 billion, over five times its 2005 leveraged buyout price of $1 billion. However, many Manchester United fans expressed frustration, attributing years of poor club performance to mismanagement under the Glazer ownership.
The sale drew further attention because Glazer used complex tax exemption strategies through the Cayman Islands, reportedly avoiding a $100 million capital gains tax bill. While legal, it reignited debates about fair tax practices among high-net-worth individuals.
Philanthropy
The Glazer Family Foundation, founded in 2000, has maintained a strong focus on community programs despite recent financial difficulties. In 2023, the foundation reported a $121,000 deficit, with assets of $17,700 and liabilities totaling $26,600. Even so, it supports initiatives like the Glazer Children’s Museum, which nurtures educational play through donor funding.
The foundation also supports youth sports leagues that provide equipment and coaching to over 500 underserved children annually, encouraging teamwork and physical activity. Its scholarship programs have awarded over $1 million to help more than 100 students access higher education, reducing financial obstacles for their families. The foundation has also focused on health-related efforts, such as vision screenings and eyeglass donations, which have reached more than 2,000 children in the Tampa Bay area and addressed critical needs in local communities.
Together, these initiatives reflect the Glazer family’s commitment to meaningful community support, even during periods of financial strain.
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