Photo: Official GDC / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Gabe Newell is an entrepreneur, programmer and computer scientist, born on November 3, 1962 in Aspen, Colorado, United States. That puts Gabe Newell at 64 years old in 2026. Schooling on record includes Davis Senior High School and Harvard University. Recorded honors include D.I.C.E. Awards (2013) and BAFTA Fellowship (2013). Notable works include Valve Corporation, Half-Life and Steam.
My Take
What fascinates me about Gabe Newell is that his greatest creation isn't a game at all — it's the plumbing. Half-Life rewired how shooters tell stories, but Steam rewired how an entire industry gets paid, and history tends to reward whoever controls distribution. The remarkable part is that he pulled this off without becoming a villain to players; he still reads, convincingly, as the biggest gamer in the room. The Harvard man who left Microsoft to bet on his own studio became the rare mogul whose company actually ships beloved things. My only grievance, shared with millions, involves a certain number three.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Gabe Newell
- Name (Japanese)
- ゲイブ・ニューウェル
- Reading
- げいぶ・にゅーうぇる
- Born
- November 3, 1962 (age 64)
- Origin
- Aspen, Colorado, United States
- Occupation
- game designer / entrepreneur / programmer / computer scientist / video game designer
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Scorpio / Tiger
2. Background
- High school
- Davis Senior High School
- University
- Harvard University
Awards & achievements
- 2013 D.I.C.E. Awards
- 2013 BAFTA Fellowship
3. Works & records
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title |
|---|---|
| Notable work | Valve Corporation |
| Notable work | Half-Life |
| Notable work | Steam |
| Notable work | Heart Of Racing Team |
4. Links
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Only publicly available facts are listed; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Base data was compiled from Wikidata from June 2026 onward; ages are recalculated daily and deaths are checked against Wikidata on an ongoing basis. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Gabe Newell born?
Gabe Newell was born on November 3, 1962 and is 64 years old.
Where is Gabe Newell from?
Gabe Newell is from Aspen, Colorado, United States.
What does Gabe Newell do?
Gabe Newell works as game designer, entrepreneur, programmer, computer scientist, video game designer.
Where did Gabe Newell study?
Gabe Newell attended Harvard University.
What is Gabe Newell known for?
Gabe Newell's notable works include Valve Corporation, Half-Life, Steam.
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