Over Ballmer's 13-year tenure as CEO, Microsoft shares lost about 30% of their value, while the S&P 500 rose roughly 22%. But a challenging final few years at Microsoft didn't slow Ballmer down ...

After three decades in Bill Gates' shadow, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has a seven-point plan to reinvent himself on a scale worthy of America's 18th-richest person.

Steve Ballmer began his extraordinary journey in 1980 when he joined Microsoft as an assistant to the president. His role eventually shifted more towards that of a business manager.