[jiggy2011]

Not really, no wonder companies have problems hiring if they are after some mythical person who does not represent the top 1% of programmers, more like the top 0.001% (even Linus Torvalds or Bill Gates don't tick all the boxes here).

In fact I would be surprised if someone with that level of accomplishment so young would even consider taking any job with any company, more likely they are already putting together an MVP of the thing that will replace google.

[sanxiyn]

You may be surprised, but it is possible to be very talented in programming without much entrepreneurial ambition. Well, the original article mentioned "started two companies" so probably Norman is not looking for jobs.

But I do know a person who's been programming since ~12, wrote a 3D game in C++ at ~16 (multiplayer one, thousands of players), and wrote his own OS, and happily employed.

[jiggy2011]

Out of curiosity what were the game and OS?

[sanxiyn]

Try Lesia Online. (Most information is in Korean since he is Korean.)

[jiggy2011]

This One? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdgzKHOfUI8

Shame all I can find is that youtube video and no download links etc, that game looks utterly insane and quite fun.

Technically it's only really a 2D game though , still very impressive for a 16 year old.