People · #9 of 100 Net worths as of Sep 24, 2026

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#9 of 100 · AI & tech

Steve Ballmer

Microsoft

Net worth

$155.6B

Forbes Real-Time · as of Sep 24, 2026

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Latest moves

Sep 26, 2026 edition

Steve BallmerLeadershipOtherPrivateAI read · — Fallout

Ballmer accepts NBA ban, hands Clippers to interim CEO

The move

Steve Ballmer reversed course and accepted the NBA's one-year suspension over salary-cap violations tied to Kawhi Leonard, plus a $30 million fine and forfeiture of five first-round draft picks, which the team has already paid. On September 21, the Clippers named trial lawyer and longtime season-ticket holder John S. Gibson as interim CEO and governor to run basketball and business operations during Ballmer's ban.

Why it matters

It's an unusually direct penalty against an NBA owner, and Ballmer stepping back rather than fighting it in court removes a distraction for the league even as it costs the Clippers real draft assets.

The bear case

A one-year ban from team activities doesn't touch Ballmer's ownership stake or his fortune, which is still mostly Microsoft stock, so the personal financial impact is limited.

What to watch

How Gibson handles basketball and business decisions Ballmer would otherwise have made himself.

Source · NBC Los AngelesRead original ↗Report an error

Recent SEC filings

No SEC filings in the last 90 days.

Form 4 insider trades post within 2 business days. 13F fund holdings can arrive 45 days after quarter end. New to filings? Read Filings 101.

Footprint

Companies

Los Angeles Clippers (NBA)Owner · 100%

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Role: Owner (bought Aug 2014 for $2B)
Stake: 100% (reported)

Intuit Dome (Inglewood, CA arena; opened Aug 15, 2024; ~$2B)Owner via Murphy's Bowl LLC

Ballmer GroupCo-founder

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Role: Co-founder (2015, with Connie Ballmer); philanthropic LLC

USAFacts (nonprofit government-data site, launched 2017)Founder/funder

Stakes

Microsoft Corp.MSFT · ~4% · as of 2023 · $497.93 ▼ 0.53%

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Ticker: MSFT
Stake: ~4% after 2003 sales (older figure); Wikipedia notes ~$1B/yr in dividends as of 2023
Stake as of: 2023

Stagwell Inc. Class ASTGW · 116,044,633 shares = 43.5% of… · as of Apr 2025 · $8.31 ▼ 2.00%

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Ticker: STGW
Stake: 116,044,633 shares = 43.5% of Class A (via Polpat LLC; received in Stagwell Media LP distribution)
Stake as of: 2025-04-04

Investment vehicles

Polpat LLCholding co · CIK 0002066700

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Type: holding co
Notes: Delaware LLC wholly owned by Ballmer, Bellevue WA; holds Stagwell stake; EDGAR shows only a Form 3 (2025-05-05), no 13F-HR.

Ballmer Groupfamily office

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Type: family office
Notes: Philanthropic investment LLC (not a foundation) focused on economic mobility in WA, LA County and Detroit; limited disclosure. No EDGAR/13F match.

Murphy's Bowl LLCholding co

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Type: holding co
Notes: Ballmer entity through which he owns Intuit Dome.

Private deals

Stagwell Media LP exchanged 151.6M Class C shares for Class A and distributed them; Ballmer (via Polpat) received…Apr 2025

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In full: Stagwell Media LP exchanged 151.6M Class C shares for Class A and distributed them; Ballmer (via Polpat) received 116.0M STGW Class A shares
Date: 2025-04-08

Real estate

Hunts Point, WAprimary residence

Coupeville (Whidbey Island), WA~10 properties (as of 2024) · 2024

Inglewood, CAThe Forum arena (bought from MSG, all… · $400M · 2020

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Type: The Forum arena (bought from MSG, all cash)
Price: 400000000
Date: 2020

Inglewood, CAIntuit Dome arena (Clippers home… · $2B · Aug 2024

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Type: Intuit Dome arena (Clippers home; hosted 2026 NBA All-Star Game; 2028 Olympics basketball)
Price: 2000000000
Date: 2024-08-15
Via: Murphy's Bowl LLC

Trophies

Los Angeles Clippers NBA franchise

Intuit Dome and The Forum arenas, Inglewood (Intuit naming rights: 23 years, >= $500M)

Legal & regulatory

NBA investigation (via Wachtell Lipton) into alleged salary-cap circumvention via Aspiration payments to Kawhi…

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In full: NBA investigation (via Wachtell Lipton) into alleged salary-cap circumvention via Aspiration payments to Kawhi Leonard; Wikipedia reports NBA found Clippers and Ballmer guilty, imposed record penalties and a one-year ban on Ballmer (Sept 2026)

Kawhi Leonard fined $700,000 by NBA in the same probe (concluded Sept 2)

Ballmer's lawyers moved (Jan 2026) to dismiss him from Aspiration-related investor lawsuit

Clippers previously fined $250,000 in 2015 for cap circumvention

Giving

Ballmer Group (LLC; e.g., $165M to Communities in Schools, 2023)

University of Oregon ($425M behavioral-health institute gift, 2022)

USAFacts

Research gaps: Web-search budget exhausted; relied on EDGAR and Wikipedia. Current MSFT share count/% unverified (Ballmer no longer files Section 16 reports; ~4% is an older figure). NBA penalty details (exact fines, draft picks, suspension dates) only from Wikipedia without primary NBA.com source. Ballmer Group is an LLC so no EIN; USAFacts EIN not found. No recent residential purchases verified.

Prices via Finnhub · as of Sep 24, 2026 4:00 PM ET. For information only.

What to watch

Scope/duration of NBA suspension of Ballmer and Clippers penalties heading into 2026-27 season; any appeal

Aspiration-related investor litigation naming Ballmer (dismissal motion filed Jan 2026)

Any Schedule 13D amendments on Stagwell (43.5% holder; 13D reserves right to buy/sell or engage board)

Microsoft dividend income / any Ballmer MSFT sales (no Section 16 filings since 2014)