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Paul Allen Rips Bill Gates In Autobiography

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the your-mother-dresses-you-funny dept.

itwbennett writes "Bill Gates was guilty of 'mercenary opportunism' when he schemed with Steve Ballmer to dilute Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's equity in the company while Allen was recovering from Hodgkin's disease, according to Allen. In his upcoming autobiography, 'Idea Man,' which is excerpted in Vanity Fair, Allen paints a portrait of Gates as brilliant, focused, driven ... and ruthless. According to Allen, Gates in the early days twice sought larger equity in the company on the grounds that he 'did more.' Allen says he acquiesced each time, both because he understood his partner's reasoning and to avoid major conflict."

55 of 249 comments (clear)

  1. Does it surprise anyone... by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...That Gates and Ballmer are scheming cut-throats?

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    1. Re:Does it surprise anyone... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Paul Allen has $13 billion. Please excuse me if I find it difficult to feel sorry for him.

    2. Re:Does it surprise anyone... by mwvdlee · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Nope.
      It's just nice to hear it confirmed by somebody with first-hand experience.

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    3. Re:Does it surprise anyone... by fivevoltforest · · Score: 2

      Really, does anyone get to where Bill Gates is right now without screwing a couple people in the process?

    4. Re:Does it surprise anyone... by thsths · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The two good points are made, can we close the discussion now, before it gets ugly?

    5. Re:Does it surprise anyone... by sodul · · Score: 2

      I've got first hand experience: I have been the involuntary user user of Microsoft products over the past 20+ years. Right now Exchange and Sharepoint.

    6. Re:Does it surprise anyone... by hairyfeet · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Oh it wasn't just him, I remember a story about how Jobs fucked Woz out of something like $1500 by saying that the game that Woz wrote that Jobs sold to Atari had only netted $300 (and thus making Woz's half $150) when it actuality it had sold for something like $3000, and this was supposed to be his friend..

      I bet if someone did a full psyche work up on most successful CEOs you'd find that damned near every single one is a sociopath because to reach that level of success and power one has to be willing to fuck EVERYBODY, friends, family, workers, everyone they come in contact with. So is it any surprise that Gates did what probably every other top CEO did and fucked his colleague? Sadly we reward sociopaths when it comes to business.

      Doesn't make him any less of a douche, it just gives him a hell of a lot of company, Jobs, Ellison, I bet every major tech CEO that has reached the billionaires club has a hell of a lot of fucked over friends left in their wake.

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    7. Re:Does it surprise anyone... by AVryhof · · Score: 4, Funny

      .... or $1 a year.

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      Make America grate again!
    8. Re:Does it surprise anyone... by Lumpy · · Score: 2

      Fact: you dont get filthy rich by being the nice guy. you MUST screw others.

      I love how the "american dream" is to become rich yet most people dont have the guts to stab each other in the back and climb to the top on a pile of corpses..

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    9. Re:Does it surprise anyone... by Meneguzzi · · Score: 2

      You do know that this $1 a year is just a tax scam, right? The amount of money they use personally through the company to pay for anything from a private jet to mansions and other perks is far more than their salary would be, however. Not only do they not pay what they should in personal income tax, they also screw the American tax payer by using all sorts of loopholes in where the company declares its earnings.

      --
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    10. Re:Does it surprise anyone... by St.Creed · · Score: 2

      And to continue in that vein, Glenn Beck did the real screwing when he raped and killed a girl.

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  2. That's how you sell an autobiography by MrEricSir · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Saying nice things about people never sold anything. If he said nice things about Gates, would the book even be on Slashdot?

    If you want your autobiographical book, newspaper, magazine, etc. to sell, you have to be at least a little mean.

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    1. Re:That's how you sell an autobiography by Daengbo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Gates was always ruthless, egotistical, and manipulative in his dealings with others -- possibly even sociopathic. His recent change is just Robber Baron Guilt playing itself out like it always does. No one wants to go down in history the way he was going to go. You've got to distract the public, donchaknow?

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    2. Re:That's how you sell an autobiography by timeOday · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Telling the truth isn't mean, and you don't get to be the richest guy in the world by sharing. You get there with a combination of perfect luck, extreme talent and motivation, and by using every trick in the book. If you didn't, somebody else who did would be #1.

    3. Re:That's how you sell an autobiography by exomondo · · Score: 5, Informative

      Not to mention at the bottom of the article:
      According to Wednesday's Wall Street Journal, Allen's portrayal of Gates "in the book is already making waves within the tight circle of early Microsoft alumni, with several people who know both men privately expressing confusion about Mr. Allen's motivations for criticizing his old business partner and questioning the accuracy of Mr. Allen's interpretation of certain events

    4. Re:That's how you sell an autobiography by rolfwind · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Well, yeah, a scandalous book might sell more, but does Paul Allen really need the money?

    5. Re:That's how you sell an autobiography by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Well, yeah, a scandalous book might sell more, but does Paul Allen really need the money?

      Just in case he doesn't, I'll be torrenting the PDF ebook scan all night.

    6. Re:That's how you sell an autobiography by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If he truly would be a sociopath, he wouldn't feel guilt.

    7. Re:That's how you sell an autobiography by SomePgmr · · Score: 2

      I'm sure you're right, but I have to wonder why he much cares if his book sells well. He's worth $13 billion. Perhaps it's vanity or legacy-building, but then there wouldn't be much incentive to get nasty or even hyperbolic, would there?

      I guess the other conclusion is that he really did just feel like he was robbed... which I'd have a little trouble feeling bad about given his enormous wealth and, let's be honest, Gates' leading role in the acquisition of said bankroll.

    8. Re:That's how you sell an autobiography by Daengbo · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Sociopaths are really good at mimicking normal emotions. In this case, it looks like guilt, but it's really just as self-serving as ever.

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    9. Re:That's how you sell an autobiography by The+End+Of+Days · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Your reasoning fails a basic sniff test; The public at large has nothing like your nerdrage-based antipathy towards Bill Gates.

    10. Re:That's how you sell an autobiography by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Experiences with sociopaths/narcissists does make one paranoid...

    11. Re:That's how you sell an autobiography by EnigmaticSource · · Score: 2

      You've never know a (clinical) sociopath; they're quite good at faking anything that furthers their wants.

      --
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    12. Re:That's how you sell an autobiography by Sem_D_D · · Score: 2

      Do you really expect WSJ to post *anything* else as their opinion?
      After all, they represent big capital in a very, VERY conservative way, not to mention that Keith Rupert Murdoch is breathing down their necks.
      Just an example of why I can relate, so to speak, to Paul Allen:
      When BillG announced his intention to "give away" or pledge half of his fortunes to the foundation of his and his wife's name, I thought: how convenient, this is what some ultra rich people are doing to actually protect their fortunes from IRS. Certainly Soros did it. But is BillG REALLY that philantropic? A couple of years later, the answer came from Bill's father himself, Bill Jr (Gates is 3rd). His father said in an interview that he has been pesking his son about starting a foundation -- NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF TAX PURPOSES -- but for some new challenges...
      A sigh... Can't get any much closer than that to the source. BillG I think had some sort of Aspergers that made him what he is - a ruthless and brilliant programmer and a cutthroat businessman. But it didn't made him human.
      Not at all.
      This was the PR department's job in Microsoft. And it's a good thing that Allen brings some perspective, even after some years, -- AND for profit -- i.e. his auto-bio book sales. It is a good grain of truth in there, somewhere, one that neither the PR people, nor BillG himself would really like to shine out in public. But hell, either of these men is rich beyond caring, so who gives? :)

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    13. Re:That's how you sell an autobiography by bye · · Score: 2

      Bill Gates, on the other hand, literally used fraud, deception, and theft to become a billionaire.

      What did he steal ?

      Gates stole intellectual property the same way Microsoft is accusing Android (and Linux) using companies of having "stolen" intellectual property.

      His double standard is mind-boggling and it's nice to see it documented by someone who was right there with Gates in the very beginning.

  3. Re:I would never have guessed! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Who could have ever pegged Bill Freaking Gates as a ruthless opportunist? Who exactly thinks this is news?

    It's news because of who is saying it.

  4. Re:I would never have guessed! by JayRott · · Score: 2

    Fair enough, but you have to expect a bit of animosity between Allen and Gates honestly. From what I understand those two didn't see eye to eye much.

  5. But but he said his stuff was always cheaper by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Bill Gates always claimed that his stuff was cheaper than everyone elses, and he barely made any money at all. Thats why he has made the Forbes greediest list for such a long time, his priest-like oath to poverty. I heard the story about how Allen would be pale, vomiting, and shivering over a console, while Gates tells Ballmer, that if he doesn't put in a full 60 hours a week, and get the project done on time, he forfeits 80% of his stock. Gates didn't contribute any code, not much for ideas, but he did have the company. Oh, and he had more greed than any of the others. Some also described him as a sonofabitch. But you never heard that from me.

    1. Re:But but he said his stuff was always cheaper by KonoWatakushi · · Score: 2

      You are comparing Bill Gates' accomplishments to the science behind splitting the atom, really? Nuclear energy was one of the crowning achievements of the last century, and that it failed to live up to its promise is a tragedy caused by politics, nothing more. In perspective, it is still the safest and cleanest source of energy we have, and that doesn't even consider all of the deaths due to wars motivated by oil.

      It might surprise you to know that the inventor of those "exploding nuclear reactors" was actually opposed to their being used for commercial power production. Dr. Alvin Weinberg was pursuing a far better alternative, which could not explode, could not melt down, burned the nuclear fuel completely, and produced very little (and short-lived) waste. It also didn't produce Plutonium for the weapons program, which was likely the deciding factor. Unfortunately, questioning the safety and direction of the nuclear program lost him his job as director of ORNL, and here we are today, left to wonder, "what if?"

      It isn't too late though; the idea is sound, and indeed they did operate a liquid floride reactor for five years without incident. All we need is public awareness of this tragically wasted opportunity, so we can pick up where they left off, and fulfill the promise of nuclear. Unlimited safe, cheap, and clean power--along with an end of the use of fossil fuels and associated pollution and conflict.

  6. Re:He understood? by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I wonder why...

    He's clearly still bitter about being pushed out of MS around the time he had the cancer...

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  7. Paul's the Good Guy? by mpapet · · Score: 3, Informative

    Is Paul the good guy in this scenario? Nope. Not even close.

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    1. Re:Paul's the Good Guy? by AVryhof · · Score: 2

      Maybe he's saying these things more out of respect than dislike.

      --
      Make America grate again!
  8. Paul Allen "rips" Bill Gates? by RR · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Calling Bill Gates ruthless and greedy, this is controversial? It seems rather a compliment compared with what other labels you could legitimately attach to him.

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  9. patented! by molecule1 · · Score: 2

    Paul Allen Awarded Patent: Ripping Bill Gates, Via Autobiographical Publication

  10. tiniest violin by rritterson · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yep, you got so screwed that you only became a billionaire instead of the richest person on earth. If only we could all be so fortunate.

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  11. Re:That's how you sell Slashdot. by by+(1706743) · · Score: 5, Funny

    So when is Taco going to do an autobiography?

    "I wanted to be the poll option, but CowboyNeal sought the position, and I acquiesced every time..."

  12. Re:Oh poor Paul by Daengbo · · Score: 5, Informative

    He has been involved with philanthropy in the U.S. Pacific Northwest for 20 years, largely through his Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, handing out more than $1 billion in grants and funding for local projects.[1]

    Last year he pledged his remaining wealth (USD13.5B) to charity.

    Allen has been a philanthropist since Gates was at the height of his douchebaggery. You ... you're just an ass.

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  13. Re:Uh, well, it's TRUE... by Scott+Scott · · Score: 2

    Correction: his first smart business decision was to partner with Gates. His second was to deride him publicly in a book about it.

  14. Robber Baron Guilt by wombatmobile · · Score: 3, Interesting

    His recent change is just Robber Baron Guilt playing itself out like it always does.

    Robber baron's don't get guilt. Their "charity" is a sneaky form of hubris.

    1. Re:Robber Baron Guilt by Daengbo · · Score: 2

      "Guilt" is what I call it, but it's really a form of egotism, just as you say, They realize their mortality and want to continue to live on through foundations and buildings, changing their image in the process.

      --
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    2. Re:Robber Baron Guilt by lucm · · Score: 3, Interesting

      > Their "charity" is a sneaky form of hubris.

      I agree on this one but I would say this is something recent.

      A good friend of mine is working for some AIDS-related NGO in Africa and she told me that the Gates foundation is using the same nasty methods than made Microsoft what is is today, crushing the "competition" and using their big bucks to do some arm-twisting and whatnot so things are done their way. Knowing that Warren Buffet pledged to give billions to that charity (while refusing to put his own children in his will) is not good news for her.

      However some insanely rich people did some good in the past. Think about Rockefeller, who had cut-throat business practices but also gave billions for science and education. The research centers he built and financed were responsible for eliminating a lot of diseases in the south of the USA (such as the ringworm). Also his money was crucial for the development of the University of Chicago. The Rockefeller foundation was created in a way that prevented interference from Rockefeller business and it was managed by consensus, so one single guy could not run the show. It is still active today.

      In the case of Rockefeller it was possibly a religious thing; for many baptists it is a virtue and a lifestyle to make a lot of money, to save every cent, and to share a large part of this money with the needy. As for Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, seeing how they gave nothing until very recently, one could wonder if they are not simply trying to buy themselves a good name or a good conscience.

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    3. Re:Robber Baron Guilt by maxume · · Score: 2

      When you give $1 to charity, you get a tax benefit of less than $1.

      It is probably possible to establish a foundation and then pay yourself to run it (and maybe some other people you like), but even that only avoids taxes on the money that stays inside the foundation.

      --
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    4. Re:Robber Baron Guilt by dunezone · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Knowing that Warren Buffet pledged to give billions to that charity (while refusing to put his own children in his will) is not good news for her..

      Thats because Warren Buffet doesn't like the idea of transferring wealth from one generation to the next. Warren Buffet wants his children to be independent from him and make it on their own. Ever hear of those stories where the children of the highly succesful tend to be screw ups? Because they were handed everything and never understood the idea of making it on their own. Additionally, they weren't written out of his will, they just wont receive a large amount of wealth, same thing is happening with Bill Gates children.

  15. Yep - He did it to Steve Jobs by Readycharged · · Score: 2

    Really, does anyone get to where Bill Gates is right now without screwing a couple people in the process?

    Legend has it Steve Jobs asked Bill Gates to write GUI software for the Mac. In a nutshell, Bill Gates thought, "Sod that" and stole the idea and subsequently Windows was birthed. Could be the reason why Apple are so anally secretive to this day....

    1. Re:Yep - He did it to Steve Jobs by DrXym · · Score: 2

      Apple lift their ideas from all over the place so they're not angels by any measure whatsoever.

    2. Re:Yep - He did it to Steve Jobs by saleenS281 · · Score: 2, Informative

      You mean right after Jobs lifted his GUI and mouse from Xerox?

    3. Re:Yep - He did it to Steve Jobs by UnknowingFool · · Score: 5, Informative

      My understanding of the history goes like this:

      • Apple got permission from Xerox corporate for a private meeting with PARC engineers.
      • Apple paid for two meetings and use of Xerox ideas with $1M of Apple stock.
      • PARC engineers didn't like the idea but complied.
      • Apple engineers were shown the Star and got to ask detailed questions about how it worked and concepts.
      • Apple would take the ideas and later build the Mac on it.

        The Mac was not an exact copy of the Star. The Xerox Star system however was far from complete. It didn't have drag-and-drop, windows could not overlap, etc. Apple did use the idea of menus, using a mouse as a pointer, etc.

      • Apple did not steal the source code from Xerox.

        Part of the deal worked out with Xerox was that Apple was shown Smalltalk. However, Xerox built the Star using another own language called Mesa. Even if Apple got the source code and an emulator, it would be useless as the Mac OS was written in assembly.

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  16. Stock Dilution: Remedies? by Compaqt · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Is there any defense to stock dilution? I think this is a pertinent question, because a good number of /.'ers might be working for startups with stock as part of the package.

    Are there standard contracts which prevent this, or should everyone have to hire a lawyer to pound out custom contract$.

    If everybody's share is getting diluted at the same time, I guess that might be OK if the value is increasing.

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    1. Re:Stock Dilution: Remedies? by johncandale · · Score: 2

      You should always have a independent lawyer look over such a contract. I learned this in like 10th grade. It's not terribly pricey

  17. What about DONKEY.BAS? by psychonaut · · Score: 2

    Gates didn't contribute any code

    This is so not true.

    1. Re:What about DONKEY.BAS? by eples · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yeah, that, and the BASIC interpreter itself. Not a small thing.

      --
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    2. Re:What about DONKEY.BAS? by hitmark · · Score: 2

      Supposedly he wrote some code for excel. This showed up in a story from a programmer talking about how it was to work inside Microsoft (apparently Gates would verbally rip you a new one if he thought your stuff was poor workmanship, not unlike some claims about Jobs or for that matter the various mailing list quotes from Torvalds). It showed up because the programmer had found and fixed a old bug in the code, and when presenting the finding at a meeting, Gates present, he learned that the piece of code he fixed was Gates handiwork. Apparently other programmers had known about the bug but avoided fixing it to not tempt the wrath of Gates.

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  18. Re:Say it ain't so! by mldi · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Considering that he's willingly giving up half his wealth to charity, I'd say he's not bad. I don't know about his business ethics but I don't believe he's a bad person.

    Steve Ballmer, on the other hand, watches you poop.

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  19. Re:Say it ain't so! by TheSeventh · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I heard about this originally a couple of years ago (maybe in a Paul Allen interview?), but while they were working on MS-DOS, he overheard Bill Gates discussing how to get back Paul Allen's company shares if he should die from his disease (Hodgkins), so that Paul's family doesn't have any control of the company.

    One of the co-founders has a potentially deadly disease, but is still hard at work for the company, and Gates is trying to figure out how to screw him and his family over if he dies.

    Yeah, Gates is not a bad person at all. Paul then mentioned that after this, he kept a close eye on Gates and what was going on, and planned on getting out as soon as he could, albeit with his Billions of dollars . . .

    --
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  20. Re:Say it ain't so! by TheWanderingHermit · · Score: 2

    He was originally VERY opposed to creating the charity and it was his Father and wife who convinced him to do it.

    His kids are also not going to inherit much. Both he and his Father are quite active in insisting on high inheritance taxes because they believe the next generation should not inherit much wealth.

    Considering how much he has, he really won't notice it at all in his lifestyle if he gave away 3/4 of his wealth.