Las Vegas Weekly

Steve vs. Sasha: Comparing this week’s big keynote speakers

Illustration: Ryan Olbrysh

STEVE BALLMER

CES Keynote Address: January 6, 6:30 p.m.

Occupation: CEO, Microsoft

Conventional sign of success: Ranked the 43rd richest person in the world, with an estimated wealth of $11 billion.

Breakthrough moment: June 11, 1980, when he became Microsoft’s 24th employee.

Awards: He’s got $11 billion; who needs awards?

Education: Magna cum laude from Harvard University with a B.A. in mathematics and economics.

Videos: “Steve Ballmer going crazy,” YouTube

Played by: John DiMaggio in Pirates of Silicon Valley

Representative quote: “I’ve got my kids brainwashed: You don’t use Google, and you don’t use an iPod.”

SASHA GREY

AVN Keynote Address: January 9, 1:30 p.m.

Occupation: Pornographic actress

Conventional sign of success: Esquire called her performance in Steven Soderbergh’s mainstream film The Girlfriend Experience “unrefined but totally captivating.”

Breakthrough moment: Orgy scene with Rocco Siffredi in The Fashionistas 2

Awards: “Female Performer of the Year,” “Best Oral Sex Scene”

Education: Junior college

Videos: Take your pick: Gray’s filmography is up to 182.

Nickname: Sasha Grey (Sasha from Sascha Konietzko of the band KMFDM and “Grey” from Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray). Her real name is Marina Ann Hantzis.

Signature quote: “If you look at me and you think ‘Here’s a woman who’s intelligent, cognizant and making her own choices,’ and you still tell me that what I’m doing is wrong, screw you, because that should end the debate.”