Microsoft's Highly Profitable Layoffs

In July Microsoft announced intentions to layoff 14% of it's global workforce.  This equates to 18,000 employee pink slips.

Since then:

1. The company increased shareholder dividend payments by 11% 
2. Wall street has boosted it's total stock market value by 7%  
3. Steve Ballmer* and Bill Gates equity holdings gained $2,019,000,000

"I Knew I'd Make That $2 Billion Back Somehow",
Steve Ballmer thought to himself

The software giant has accomplished all this just halfway through the layoff binge.  Just imagine how profitable it will be when thousands more of their people are shown the door.


*Ballmer bought the NBA franchise Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion this summer.  Since he purchased the team, the value of his stock in Microsoft increased $1 billion.