Microsoft's CEO will have to shop for his Xbox

WASHINGTON: Microsoft Corp.'s Chief Executive Steve Ballmer will have to shop around for an Xbox 360 game console this holiday season just like the rest of us -- it doesn't come with his job.

"The Ballmer children do not have their Xbox 360 yet. I'm in the same boat as many of you," Ballmer said. "Thanks to the wonders of Sarbanes-Oxley, management does not get a free Xbox 360," he quipped at a meeting of technology industry executives.

Under financial disclosure rules, Microsoft would have to classify a free game console as income for Ballmer.

The premium version of Microsoft's next-generation game machine carries a $400 price tag.

The Xbox 360 debuted in North America on Nov. 22 and Microsoft estimates that it will sell 5.5 million units worldwide by the end of next June.