What Does Independent Mean to Bill Gates?
But perhaps Gates has a different understanding of the word "independent" when it comes to Microsoft. According to Kara Swisher, Microsoft has been seriously considering a complete buy-out of popular social networking site Facebook. Now, Microsoft already threw a $240 investment at Facebook, blessing it with a $15 billion valuation and making Zuckerberg one of the youngest to be on the short list for top billionaires.
So if Microsoft were to buy Facebook, all the money it would be paying for the social network would only be its own fault. But if anyone were to buy Facebook, I imagine Microsoft would be first in line. There hasn't been any comments from Zuckerberg himself, but I don't think we can expect much on that end either. Facebook has enjoyed holding out on acquisitions thus far, and look at it now.