this post was submitted on 10 Dec 2025
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Gates is already boarding the jet.
Nadella you mean? It's been a while since Gates was CEO of Microsoft.
This is a bit of ancient history, but back when Munich decided to move away from Microsoft (only because MS dropped Windows NT 4.0), it is said that Ballmer tried first dropping license fees down to a whooping 90% for a limited time.
That didn't work, so MS started a campaign of FUD against Linux that lasted ten years (e.g. http://www.linuxinsider.com/rsstory/77174.html).
Then a year later, it was announced that MS would move its DACH headquarters to Munich and almost serendipitously, Munich also declared that it was moving back into Microsoft's arms for.. em.. pure bureaucratic reasons: http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/3006352/munich-it-chief-slams-citys-surprise-decision-to-dump-linux-for-windows
For the love of Pete I don't remember from whom I heard it first or if I read it somewhere, but at a point Bill Gates was gloating about negotiating with Munich on behalf of Microsoft.
In any case, he never left: https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/bill-gates-still-backstage-manages-microsoft
Interesting. I knew the stuff about Munich, and I knew Gates was still a shareholder, but didn't know he was still so actively involved. Based on that last link, it sounds more like he'll be telling Nadella to get on a plane and what to say on arrival rather than get on it himself though.