Ballmer vs Buffett

Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway.

The differences

Forbes puts Steve Ballmer about $13.6B ahead of Warren Buffett.Forbes figures from 15 Oct 2026 and 17 Oct 2026.
Warren Buffett is about 26 years older than Steve Ballmer.
Warren Buffett has signed the Giving Pledge; Steve Ballmer has not.

Put someone else on either side

Ballmer

Buffett

Net worth, Forbes: $165BForbes, 15 Oct 2026; $151BForbes, 17 Oct 2026
Net worth, Bloomberg: $185BBloomberg, 16 Oct 2026; $147BBloomberg, 9 Oct 2026
Forbes rank: No. 9Real-Time list, 15 Oct 2026; No. 9Annual list, 1 Mar 2026
Billionaire since: Not stated; Not stated

How it started: Built it upNeither founder nor heir: he joined Microsoft in 1980 as employee No. 30 and first business manager, and was CEO 2000-2014; Forbes counts him as self-made; Built it upDid not found Berkshire Hathaway: his investment partnership (BPL) began buying its shares in 1962 and took control in May 1965; Forbes lists him as self-made
Main source: Microsoft stockBloomberg: 'The majority of Steve Ballmer's fortune is derived from a stake in Microsoft'; Berkshire Hathaway stockBloomberg: 'The majority of Warren Buffett's fortune is derived from his interest in Berkshire Hathaway'; the 10-K describes Berkshire as a holding company in insurance, freight rail, utilities and energy, manufacturing, services and retailing
Companies: MicrosoftMicrosoft: None (shareholder); Berkshire HathawayBerkshire Hathaway: Chairman Emeritus and director (since September 18, 2026)
Biggest stake: MicrosoftStake not stated; Berkshire Hathaway13.2% owned

Born: 24 Mar 1956Detroit, Michigan, United States; 30 Aug 1930Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Country: United StatesLives in Hunts Point, Washington, United States; United StatesLives in Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Education: Bachelor's degreeDegree in applied mathematics and economics, Harvard University; left Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1980 to join Microsoft; Graduate degreeBachelor's degree, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Master of Science, Columbia University
Parents: Father was a manager at Ford Motor Co.Mother's occupation not in the cited sources; His father, Howard, worked in the investment business and was elected to Congress in 1942; his paternal grandparents had a grocery business

Giving Pledge: Not a signer; Signed in 2010Co-founded the Giving Pledge with Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation: Ballmer GroupCo-founded with his wife Connie Ballmer in 2015; he also founded USAFacts; Berkshire stock gifts to the Gates Foundation and four family foundationsSince 2006 he has given Berkshire stock to the Gates Foundation and to the Susan Thompson Buffett, Sherwood, Howard G. Buffett and NoVo foundations
Lifetime giving: $7.4BForbes, 14 Oct 2026. Forbes: 'the Ballmers have given away more than $7.4 billion' (Steve and Connie together); $72BForbes, 15 Sep 2026. Forbes: 'So far he has given away more than $72 billion, mostly through the Gates Foundation and his kids' foundations'. The Gates Foundation reports $47.9 billion from him through 2025

Role now: No roleFormer Microsoft CEO and director; owner and chairman of the LA Clippers; On the boardChairman Emeritus and director of Berkshire Hathaway
Successor: Satya Nadella succeeded him as Microsoft CEO in February 2014No Ballmer family member is named in a Microsoft executive role; Greg Abel (CEO since January 1, 2026); Howard G. Buffett (chairman since September 18, 2026)The company notices give the roles but don't state Howard Buffett's relationship to him
Public office: None found; None found
Legal record: None found; None found