Imagine being a billionaire and building a $2 billion arena for your NBA team. That’s exactly the reality Steve Ballmer experienced yesterday. He had the night of his life, going absolutely wild with excitement.
The Intuit Dome, with a seating capacity of 17,927, hosted its first-ever NBA game as the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite the loss to Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and the Suns, the former Microsoft CEO was over the moon, sharing his enthusiasm with all the fans.
Watch the best moments of Steve Ballmer during the Clippers’ opening night at the Intuit Dome:
Clipper’s Wall
Home-court advantage is crucial in the NBA, and the Clippers aimed to create a unique atmosphere in their new home. The Intuit Dome features a 38,000 square-foot halo Jumbotron, facial recognition for merchandise and beverage transactions, and cell phone chargers at every seat. However, the standout feature is “The Wall,” an uninterrupted 51-row section of seats directly behind one of the baskets.
“Incredible. I loved it. I absolutely love the wall they’ve got. It’s insane… Steve is doing a fantastic job with this franchise,” said Kevin Durant, who rarely missed two free throws last night.
Clippers vs. Suns: Overtime Thriller
Kevin Durant scored 25 points, and Bradley Beal added 24 as the Phoenix Suns opened their NBA season with a thrilling 116-113 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Clippers. Durant tied the game at 103-103 in the final 30 seconds of regulation, but James Harden’s buzzer-beater attempt for the Clippers missed.
In overtime, Beal’s free throws put the Suns ahead 114-110 with 1:20 remaining. Harden had a chance to tie but missed a crucial free throw, and Jusuf Nurkic sealed the win with two free throws.
Harden finished with 29 points and 12 rebounds, while Ivica Zubac contributed 21 points for the Clippers. The Suns stay in California to face the Lakers on Friday, while the Clippers head to Denver to play the Nuggets on Saturday.
Who is Steve Ballmer? His Net Worth Explained
Steve Ballmer, now wealthier than his former boss Bill Gates, has seen his fortune grow immensely. In August 2014, Gates was worth approximately $78 billion, while Ballmer was at $20 billion. Fast forward to July 2024, Gates’ net worth is $157 billion, and Ballmer’s has surpassed it, also at $157 billion, primarily due to his continued investment in Microsoft stock.
Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index reveals that more than 90% of Ballmer’s fortune is still tied to Microsoft stock, with the remainder in cash and his stake in the Los Angeles Clippers and their new arena.
