Gabe Newell

Early Years at Microsoft

Gabe Newell spent 13 years working at Microsoft running program management on the Windows OS. Specifically, Newell held several positions in the Systems, Applications and Advanced Technology divisions that worked on the first two releases of Windows and was a driving force in the introduction of Windows NT and server edition.

Founding Valve

In 1996 Newell and co-worker Mike Harrington left Microsoft as "Microsoft Millionaires" with fortunes from the success of the OS. Together they founded Valve Corporation. Two years later they released their first game, a sci-fi FPS called Half-Life. Newell's role at Valve is Managing Director of Game Development with an emphasis on technology rather than game design. Newell was particularly involved with the creation of Steam, a digital game distributor initially released in 2003 and supplying hundreds of games to over 15 million accounts.

Personal Life

Newell lives with his wife and two sons in Long Beach, Washington along the Pacific Ocean, a ways West from the Valve Corporation headquarters in Bellevue, Washington outside of Seattle. Besides making Computer- and Videogames Gabe also has a weakness for collecting knives. His collection includes round about 600 knives.