In a recent detailed interview, Gabe Newell, the co-founder of Valve, reflected on his achievements, emphasizing that much of his success is tied to luck and the people he collaborated with.

“It would be great to say I’m just this absolutely wonderful person, and that I earned all of this, and that this expresses my awesomeness, but there’s an awful lot of luck that went into it,” Newell expressed.

He explained how the idea of success among billionaires often overlooks the chance factors that contribute to their rise. This belief stems partly from what he describes as survivor bias, where shared characteristics among successful individuals don’t imply direct causation.

Newell posited that being surrounded by talented individuals during pivotal moments in tech, such as the personal computing boom, significantly helped his trajectory. He pointed out that starting Valve in 1996 and creating hit games such as Half-Life and Counter-Strike allowed the company to stay private and selective in its growth.

Moreover, the launch of Steam revolutionized digital game distribution, establishing Valve as a major player in the industry. Even as Valve has encountered challenges, Newell’s philosophy is that the company’s influence on mainstream gaming cannot be underestimated.

In summary, Newell credits much of his career’s fortune to luck while also acknowledging that effective decision-making played a crucial role in his success. He emphasizes that continuing to be fortunate enough to collaborate with brilliant minds has positively affected his journey.