Steven Ballmer Gets $1.7 Billion Payday On His Microsoft Stock

Steven Ballmer may no longer work for Microsoft Corp. , but he's having a great day, and a super month, with the software giant's stock. Ballmer owned 333,254,734 shares, or a 4.2% stake in Microsoft as of Sept. 30, according to FactSet, which made him the third-largest shareholder. With the stock up $4.96, or 10%, in midday trade Friday after bullish fiscal first-quarter results, Ballmer is making $1.65 billion in one day on his Microsoft stake. With the stock up $8.73 since Sept. 30, Ballmer could be making $2.91 billion this month. The stock is on track for the second-biggest one-day price gain in its history, and biggest since Oct. 19, 2000. If the month-to-date price gains hold, it would be the fourth-biggest ever monthly gain, and biggest since January 2001.