• givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    19 days ago

    Not sure, apparently the 25% figure is really new, Wikipedia is sourcing something from 2017 that says he has 50+.

    This is the most up to date I can find that attributes a source

    https://www.guru3d.com/story/microsoft-reportedly-readies-billion-bid-to-acquire-valve-steam/

    Insights from Dior, a prominent figure in the Counter-Strike community, reveal that Gabe Newell owns less than 25% of Valve. This suggests that a significant portion of Newell’s wealth is tied to his equity in the company. The decision to sell Valve wouldn’t rest solely with Newell; numerous employees who likely hold stock options could also have a say through a voting process if an offer were made.

    So it sounds like a lot was given to employees from the beginning, which track with Gabe.

    Then he may have cashed out a couple times, but I doubt that when he could just do the billionaire thing where he borrows against his stock counting on the value increasing enough to pay off the last with a new?

    But then again Gabe is different and might not do that out of principle.

    It’s not publicly traded, so I guess we don’t really know unless Valve discloses who owns what. Which I just realized is pretty concerning on its own.

    • eerongal@ttrpg.network
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      19 days ago

      AFAIK, most of valve’s stock is held by employees, not private investors. It’s usually a pretty hard sell of “make the company you work at shittier to make more money”, especially since most of the employees probably know gabe personally (valve has less than 400 employees) and likely approve of his leadership.

      • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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        19 days ago

        It’s usually a pretty hard sell of “make the company you work at shittier to make more money”, especially since most of the employees probably know gabe personally (valve has less than 400 employees) and likely approve of his leadership.

        And most of the ones with the high percent have been there since the beginning, probably close to Gabe’s age, looking towards retirement. They make good money, but retirement is expensive.

        I mean. That link from this year said Microsoft was thinking 16 billion. 1% of that is 160 million.

        Or they may die and their kids see dollar signs when a vote comes up

        Steam is great now, it’s not debatable. But its naive to expect it indefinitely. 10 years, 20 years from now? It wouldn’t be surprising if Valve was a lot shittier than it is today

        It won’t last forever