Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft and current owner of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, is known for his energetic leadership during a significant period of Microsoft's growth and diversification.
News and publications generally cite his wealth figures based on their value at the time of reporting. This page, however, converts those historical estimates into inflation-adjusted equivalents using the US Consumer Price Index (CPI). This adjustment offers a more accurate understanding of how the real purchasing power of his estimated fortune has evolved.
Explore the chart and data below to visualize the difference between reported wealth and its inflation-adjusted equivalent over time. Adjusted values use June 2025 dollars as the baseline.
The table below provides the estimated inflation-adjusted net worth and its year-over-year percentage change.
| Year | Inflation-adjusted Net Worth | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $118 billion | -5.16% |
| 2024 | $124.4 billion | 45.64% |
| 2023 | $85.4 billion | -15.2% |
| 2022 | $100.7 billion | 23.18% |
| 2021 | $81.8 billion | 24.51% |
| 2020 | $65.7 billion | 26.35% |
| 2019 | $52 billion | 5.38% |
| 2018 | $49.3 billion | 24.95% |
| 2017 | $39.5 billion | 25% |
| 2016 | $31.6 billion | 7.94% |
| 2015 | $29.3 billion | 11.27% |
| 2014 | $26.3 billion | 24.95% |
| 2013 | $21 billion | -4.58% |
| 2012 | $22.1 billion | 6.08% |
| 2011 | $20.8 billion | -3.06% |
| 2010 | $21.4 billion | 29.69% |
| 2009 | $16.5 billion | -26.41% |
| 2008 | $22.5 billion | -3.7% |
| 2007 | $23.3 billion | 7.24% |
| 2006 | $21.8 billion | 8.88% |
| 2005 | $20 billion | -5.62% |
| 2004 | $21.2 billion | 8.8% |
| 2003 | $19.5 billion | -26.66% |
| 2002 | $26.5 billion | -12.24% |
| 2001 | $30.2 billion | - |
Steve Ballmer's wealth is primarily derived from his long tenure at Microsoft, where he was one of the earliest employees and eventually served as CEO from 2000 to 2014. His leadership period was marked by:
After retiring from Microsoft, Steve Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team in 2014 for $2 billion. At the time, this was the highest price ever paid for an NBA franchise. Adjusted for inflation, the purchase is equivalent to over $2.7 billion in today's dollars. The Clippers' value has continued to rise, with Forbes estimating the team to be worth $5.5B as of October 2024, resulting in a significant appreciation in Ballmer's investment.
Ownership of a major sports franchise like the Clippers is often considered a hedge against inflation, as professional sports teams have historically appreciated in value faster than the general rate of inflation, driven by media rights, sponsorships and global brand growth.
Steve and Connie Ballmer are among the most prominent US philanthropists. Through the Ballmer Group, they have committed over $2 billion to programs that aim to improve economic mobility, especially for children and families facing persistent poverty. Their giving focuses on measurable, long-term impact in areas such as education, criminal justice reform and community health.
The Ballmers are also signatories of the Giving Pledge, having pledged to donate the majority of their wealth to charitable causes.
Net worth estimates are compiled from publicly available data from sources like Forbes and Bloomberg, primarily reflecting known asset values at specific points in time. They should be considered well-informed estimates, not precise accounting values.
We then adjust all historical figures to their equivalent in today's dollars, calculated using the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This methodology provides a more accurate comparison of real purchasing power across different years.
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Other Inflation-Adjusted Data