After dropping out of
Harvard University Newell spent thirteen years working for
Microsoft Corporation, ultimately becoming a "Microsoft Millionaire." Newell has described himself as "producer on the first three releases of Windows".
Inspired by
Michael Abrash, who left Microsoft to work on the computer game
Quake at
id Software, Newell and another Microsoft employee,
Mike Harrington, left Microsoft to found Valve in 1996.
He and Harrington used their money to fund Valve through the development of
Half-Life.
