Back To 1995 - Chapter 959

  For Omidyar, who just turned 30 this year, the word retirement should not have appeared on him.

  In the past few years, the Internet and Silicon Valley have been in turmoil. Big figures such as Netscape founder Jim Clark, former Yahoo president Coorg, and AOL Time Warner’s Case have indeed retreated into the arena and started to live in apartments.

  However, most of these people had to go back to seclusion due to various reasons. If it was possible, believe it or not, this group of people would not leave for another 30 years!

But Omidyar is in his prime, even if he is not as glorious as Song Yang, Mark Anderson, Yang Zhiyuan and others back then, he has become the leader of the Internet arena, relying on eBay, he is definitely the leader of the younger generation of the arena up.

  Of course, it can only be a leader. After all, Song Yang is still there. It is estimated that for a long time, no one will be able to take away the title of the chief rudder of the Internet from Song Yang, even if Song Yang doesn’t want to…

Omidyar heard what Song Yang said, and looked at Pam, who took Omidyar’s hand, “I have discussed this matter with Pam a long time ago, this is our joint decision , maybe just a few years ahead of schedule!”

In the arena of Silicon Valley, Omidyar is somewhat “alternative”. He can be called a representative of beauty rather than country. Even on the day of eBay’s listing, Omidyar did not participate in ringing the bell, but chose to marry Pam that day. It can be said that I have been influenced by French culture to the bone.

In fact, Omidyar is going to retire, and there are already signs of it. His fame and fortune are not so heavy, and he is not a workaholic. Since eBay was acquired by Song Yang, Omidyar has lived a semi-retired life. Life, the fight for power and profit, does not exist in Omidyar at all, and he is a good fisherman.

Including listings, road shows, negotiations with Wall Street institutions, etc., Omidyar let Whitman handle everything. After the listing, he didn’t return to ebay to handle official business. After ebay’s listing, there was still some time ago. When Wall Street was short and eBay’s stock price skyrocketed, Omidyar cashed out a lot of equity successively. He had already realized the freedom of wealth, bought a luxury house in his hometown of France in advance, and lived a retirement life.

   This time when I came to see Song Yang, I was even more straightforward, announcing that I would leave eBay completely and start to really live the life of retirement.

Looking at Omidyar and Pam in front of him, Song Yang raised a glass of wine to them. It’s hard to say whether Omidyar’s decision is good or bad, but he can leave fame and wealth behind and retreat bravely, looking at the entire Silicon Valley and Wall Street , and how many people can do it.

   “I heard that Omidyar and you are going to do journalism and charity. The Bruno family is willing to donate 10 million dollars to your charity foundation, and jointly donate 100 million dollars to the International Association of Investigative Journalists!”

  Omidyar and Pam are very interested in the news industry, but what they care about is the concocted news that is difficult to distinguish between true and false.

  For this reason, Omidyar has donated a lot of dollars to the International Association of Investigative Journalists and other organizations in recent years, claiming that it is to combat those fake news.

This time, Song Yang also used Omidyar’s name to donate a large sum of money to the International Journalists Association, forming a good relationship, not to mention letting this organization show mercy when it comes to Song Yang’s news, It is enough to turn the direction of the wind a little bit, and the result will be completely different!

   Just like Wikipedia, it does not show mountains or dews on weekdays, but it can play a huge role at critical moments. With the help of the knife of the International Journalists Association, it can really kill people at critical moments.

Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes, and reporters are also people, just like every year rich people in America and all over the world donate generously to Wikipedia. The International Association of Investigative Journalists donated US dollars, and those journalists, more or less, had to care about the feelings of the big donors. They are human beings, and they all need to eat well. No one wants to starve themselves to death.

   “Of course, I can’t think of anyone who would refuse this proposal!”

Hearing that Song Yang wanted to make a joint donation with him, Omidyar said with excitement that this donation is under his banner, and will make Omidyar’s name famous throughout America and Europe. Naturally, he is so happy .

   “Omidyar this guy…”

Looking at Omidyar over there, who was drinking with Gallo and others, Whitman couldn’t help showing some envy. Omidyar realized the freedom of wealth, and immediately patted his **** and left. , For many people, it is indeed a little envious.

Of course, it’s just envy. Just ask the presidents of big companies in Silicon Valley and big Wall Street investment banks. They have already realized the freedom of wealth. Would they be willing to give up the power in their hands? Who would dare to ask them to leave? Just be impatient with anyone!

Envy and doing it are two completely different things. Everyone will yell, envy Tao Yuanming’s days of “picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence, and seeing Nanshan leisurely”, but if Tao Yuanming, Wang Xizhi, Xie Lingyun and others have a smooth career, who would I have nothing to do to write poetry and calligraphy every day, but I really can’t get along with my official career, so I have to go back to the mountains and forests.

   “Todd, I knew you could do it. When you return to Phoenix, I will personally hold a celebration banquet for you!”

  At the Microsoft headquarters meeting, when Ballmer received a call from Todd and heard that Microsoft would reach a settlement with the state of Texas, he couldn’t help but waved his fist and said excitedly.

   “It’s Bruno Song?!”

   “Microsoft’s board of directors will remember everything he did today, and you should settle the settlement between the seven western states and Microsoft as soon as possible!”

   Ballmer’s eyes flickered when he heard that it was Song Yang who pulled Microsoft, but looked at the Microsoft directors and executives in the conference room, and restrained his expression again.

“Everyone, you must have heard that this should be the best gift Microsoft received before Christmas this year. It is expected that before Christmas, Microsoft will be able to reach a settlement agreement with more than half of the states in America. Next year, Microsoft is expected to completely Get rid of the antitrust suit!”

  In the meeting room, applause burst out immediately, and many directors breathed a sigh of relief. The antitrust case was really overwhelming for Microsoft, and now it is expected to be resolved in the hands of Ballmer. Naturally, he praised him.

  Bill Gates, who was sitting below, also had a smile on his face, but the complexion behind the glasses was not so good. Bill Gates and Ballmer’s eyes collided, and there was an inexplicable meaning in their eyes.

Both Ballmer and Bill Gates have strong personalities and are unwilling to be inferior to others. In the past, Ballmer had no chance, but now that he is the president of Microsoft, he definitely does not want anyone to meddle in Microsoft’s management affairs. When it comes to important decisions, he always fights against himself, but Bill Gates’ character is not easy to let go.

  ”In addition to the anti-monopoly lawsuit, Microsoft should also focus on the most important battlefield. It can no longer win the anti-monopoly lawsuit, but lose the operating system market!

  I propose that Microsoft develop a new generation of Vista system! “

  Bill Gates suddenly raised his voice, making the conference room quiet for a while, and a group of Microsoft executives and directors looked at Ballmer and Bill Gates from time to time.

Bill Gates gave up the position of president, but he still manages Microsoft’s technology. He led the development of an upgraded version of XP’s Vista system, just to take the opportunity to regain Microsoft’s power. , To gain a firm foothold in Microsoft, don’t have to worry about the end that Jobs was swept out of the house.

Ballmer hesitated. On the one hand, the current relationship with Bill Gates is very delicate. He does not want to give up the dominance of the system development for nothing. On the other hand, he has the intention to shift the focus to the mobile phone operating system. Compared with the mobile phone browser, Microsoft is in the mobile phone industry, and it has been beaten by Saipan. It can’t hold its head up. Ballmer feels that if we don’t rescue it, Microsoft will really stop in terms of mobile phone systems. up.

But looking at Bill Gates’ determined look, and the silent attitude of all the directors and executives, and thinking of the relationship with Bill Gates who has been an old friend for more than ten years, if he turns his face at this time, the entire Microsoft will probably be really upset. It’s falling apart.

   “I agree, Bill Gates, the director, will be responsible for the development of the Vista system!” Ballmer said slowly, and then passed it unanimously at the Microsoft board meeting.

   “39 million dollars, Microsoft and Texas reached a settlement agreement!”

The next day, Silicon Valley and the major technology media reported overwhelmingly that Microsoft had stepped up from the abyss. Microsoft paid a large fine to the state of Texas, and in addition to the people of Texas , Issuing a huge coupon of more than 10 million US dollars, it is almost like being able to prostitute a paid software under Microsoft for nothing.

  This settlement almost means that Microsoft no longer has to worry about suddenly falling into the abyss.

And related to this news, there are also reports from some tabloid media. It is rumored that Bruno Song has been a lobbyist for Microsoft and lobbied Texas Governor Adrian to let Microsoft get through. Dirk The state of Texas didn’t give Microsoft a hard time either.

It’s hard to say whether the news is true or not, but various tabloid media are spreading the rumors. The rumor that Song Yang saved Microsoft’s life has been widely spread on the Internet. It will be talked about by people, even if many people don’t know the twists and turns inside, anyway, this matter will be passed on.

   After a few years, when Wikipedia includes this entry again, it is even more ironclad evidence. Microsoft has spent billions of dollars on public relations, which is no match for Song Yang’s mouth…

  In contrast, the news of the retirement of eBay founder Omidyar seemed calm, and even the stock price did not fluctuate much. After all, if Whitman, the real leader of eBay, did not leave, there would be no chaos.