Internal sources allege Bill Gates pressured Steve Ballmer to accelerate his retirement amid proxy fight and declining performance

The passage provides specific names (Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, Reed Hastings) and a timeline for Ballmer's departure, suggesting a possible board‑level power struggle. However, it lacks concrete evid Ballmer’s exit was reportedly accelerated by the board, including Bill Gates, after a proxy fight an Gates did not publicly thank Ballmer in the retirement announcement, fueling rumors of a rift. Ree