Born on February 24, 1955, Steven Paul Jobs. and departing from this world on October 5, 2011, was more than just an American business magnate. Renowned as the co-founder of Apple, Jobs etched his legacy as an inventor and investor, leaving an indelible mark on the technological landscape.
His journey began in San Francisco, where he was born to a Syrian father and a Swiss-German American mother. Shortly after his birth, Jobs was adopted, setting the stage for a life that would shape the future of personal computing. While his college stint at Reed College was short-lived in 1972, Jobs embarked on a quest for enlightenment in India in 1974, delving into the realms of Zen Buddhism.
The pivotal moment arrived in 1976 when Jobs and his partner in innovation, Steve Wozniak, co-founded Apple. Their venture gained rapid fame and fortune with the Apple II, a pioneering mass-produced microcomputer. Recognizing the potential of the Xerox Alto in 1979, Jobs steered the development of the Apple Lisa in 1983, followed by the groundbreaking Macintosh in 1984, the first GUI-equipped mass-produced computer that revolutionized the desktop publishing industry.
However, the journey was not without its tribulations. In 1985, Jobs parted ways with Apple amidst power struggles. Undeterred, he founded NeXT, a company focused on computer platform development. Simultaneously, Jobs played a pivotal role in shaping the visual effects industry by funding the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm, which eventually gave rise to Pixar. This animation studio produced the iconic Toy Story in 1995 and continued to be a driving force in the industry.
The narrative took a turn in 1997 when Apple acquired NeXT, Jobs resumed his role as CEO of the company. Faced with a company teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, he orchestrated a remarkable revival. Collaborating with designer Jony Ive, Jobs spearheaded the creation of a cultural phenomenon with products like the iMac, iTunes, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. The “Think different” campaign epitomized their vision.
Amidst his triumphs, a health setback emerged in 2003 with Jobs being diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. Despite the challenges, he continued to lead Apple until his demise in 2011 at the age of 56. Tim Cook succeeded him as the CEO of Apple, and in 2022, Jobs received the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously, a fitting tribute to a visionary who reshaped the technological landscape.
Steve Jobs Early Life
Born in the vibrant city of San Francisco, California, on February 24, 1955, Steven Paul Jobs had a unique and intricate origin. His biological parents, Joanne Carole Schieble and Abdulfattah “John” Jandali, brought diverse cultural backgrounds into his lineage. Jandali, hailing from a prosperous Syrian Muslim family, pursued academic excellence at the American University of Beirut before venturing into a Ph.D. program in political science at the University of Wisconsin.
It was at this academic crossroads that Jandali crossed paths with Joanne Schieble, an American Catholic of Swiss-German descent. Despite their differences, love blossomed between them. However, the union faced staunch opposition from Schieble’s father, who harbored reservations about Jandali’s Muslim faith. When Schieble became pregnant, navigating societal norms and familial concerns, she opted for a closed adoption, journeying to San Francisco for the birth.
Schieble, aspiring for a bright future for her son, set a criterion that adoptive parents must be college graduates. Although initially chosen by a lawyer and his wife, the arrangement fell through when they learned the baby was a boy. Consequently, the pivotal role of adoptive parents fell to Paul Reinhold and Clara (née Hagopian) Jobs.
Paul Jobs, born into a dairy farming family, charted a unique course. After leaving high school, he transitioned from a mechanic to a U.S. Coast Guard member. Fate intervened when his ship was decommissioned, leading him to meet Clara Hagopian, an American of Armenian descent. Their whirlwind romance culminated in marriage in 1946. The couple embarked on a journey through Wisconsin and Indiana, where Paul worked as a machinist and later as a car salesman.
Missing the allure of San Francisco, Clara persuaded Paul to return to the city. There, Paul embraced roles as a repossession agent, while Clara assumed the mantle of a diligent bookkeeper. The couple’s yearning for a child led them to consider adoption, and in 1955, after experiencing the heartache of an ectopic pregnancy, they set their sights on expanding their family.
Yet, the adoption process was not without hurdles. Schieble initially hesitated to sign the papers due to the lack of a college education on the part of Paul and Clara. She even sought legal intervention, expressing a desire to have her son placed with a different family. However, a promising commitment from Paul and Clara to fund the child’s college education led to a change of heart, setting the stage for Steven Paul Jobs’ upbringing in a household that would unknowingly nurture one of the greatest visionaries in the realm of technology.
Steve Jobs Childhood
Paul Jobs, displaying a diverse work history, tried his hand at various roles, including a stint as a machinist, followed by several other jobs, only to eventually circle “back to work as a machinist.”
The family dynamics shifted in 1957 when Paul and Clara expanded their household by adopting Jobs’s sister, Patricia. By 1959, the Jobs family had settled in the Monta Loma residential area in Mountain View, California. Here, Paul, with a keen desire to impart his love for mechanics, constructed a workbench in the garage for his son.
Paul’s craftsmanship left a lasting impression on Jobs, who admired his father’s ability to craft anything from scratch. Whether it was building a cabinet or erecting a fence, Paul involved Jobs in the process, handing him a hammer to work alongside him. While Jobs might not have been particularly drawn to fixing cars, the opportunity to spend time with his father fueled his enthusiasm. By the tender age of ten, Jobs had immersed himself in the realm of electronics, forming connections with engineers residing in the neighborhood.
Despite his growing interest in electronics, Jobs encountered challenges in making friends with children of his age. He earned a reputation among his classmates as a “loner,” highlighting the uniqueness of his childhood experiences and his early affinity for pursuits that would later shape his groundbreaking contributions to the world of technology.Steve Jobs faced challenges in a traditional classroom setting, displaying a resistance to authority figures and often misbehaving, resulting in several suspensions. His early academic years at Monta Loma Elementary School were marked by pranks and disruptive behavior, with his father, Paul, placing the blame on the school rather than reprimanding Jobs.
However, Jobs credited his fourth-grade teacher, Imogene “Teddy” Hill, for making a significant impact on him. Hill recognized Jobs’ potential and employed a unique approach to engage him, offering financial incentives to complete workbooks. This method sparked a newfound passion for learning in Jobs, who claimed to have learned more in that year than any other. Although there was a proposal to skip two grades, his parents wisely declined.
Skipping the fifth grade, Jobs entered Crittenden Middle School in Mountain View for the sixth grade, where he found himself as a “socially awkward loner” and faced bullying. In the middle of seventh grade, Jobs issued an ultimatum to his parents: either they would remove him from Crittenden, or he would drop out altogether.
Facing financial constraints, the Jobs family, through significant sacrifices, managed to move to a new home in Cupertino, California, in 1967. This move placed Steve in a more favorable school district populated by engineering families. The house, later declared a historic site as the first location of Apple Computer, was owned by Jobs’s sister, Patty, as of 2013.
At the age of 13 in 1968, Jobs took the initiative to cold-call Bill Hewlett, co-founder of Hewlett-Packard, seeking parts for an electronics project. This bold move resulted in a summer job opportunity at Hewlett-Packard, marking a crucial early experience in Jobs’ journey.
Pre-Apple
1974–1985
In February 1974, Steve Jobs returned to his parents’ home in Los Altos and embarked on a job hunt. Soon after, he secured a position as a computer technician at Atari, Inc. in Los Gatos, California. The story goes back to 1973 when Steve Wozniak designed his version of the iconic Pong video game and provided the electronics board to Jobs. Atari, it seemed, hired Jobs under the impression that he had personally constructed the board. Atari’s co-founder, Nolan Bushnell, described Jobs as “difficult but valuable,” acknowledging his exceptional intelligence.
In mid-1974, Jobs, accompanied by his friend Daniel Kottke, made a journey to India with the intention of seeking spiritual enlightenment. Their destination was the Kainchi ashram of Neem Karoli Baba, but upon arrival, they found it nearly deserted due to the guru’s passing in September 1973. Undeterred, they ventured to an ashram of Haidakhan Babaji after a long trek up a dry riverbed.
After seven months in India, Jobs returned to the United States with a changed appearance—his head shaved, dressed in traditional Indian attire. During this period, he delved into psychedelic experiences, considering them among the most significant in his life. Jobs spent time at the All One Farm, a commune in Oregon owned by Robert Friedland.
Both Jobs and his then-girlfriend Chrisann Brennan adopted Zen Buddhism under the guidance of Zen master Kōbun Chino Otogawa. Jobs delved into meditation retreats at the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, the oldest Sōtō Zen monastery in the U.S. His fascination with Zen led him to consider monastic life at Eihei-ji in Japan, and he retained a lasting affinity for Zen, Japanese cuisine, and artists such as Hasui Kawase throughout his life.
Returning to Atari in early 1975, Jobs collaborated with Wozniak on a project assigned by Bushnell—to create a circuit board for the Breakout arcade game using as few chips as possible. Wozniak, during his nights at Atari, refined the circuit design drawn during his day job at HP. Jobs struck a deal with Wozniak to split the fee for each eliminated TTL chip. Wozniak’s ingenuity reduced the count to 45 within four days, astonishing Atari engineers. Although Jobs later claimed they were paid only $750 instead of $5,000, Wozniak didn’t learn the truth until a decade later.
Jobs and Wozniak’s collaboration extended to the Homebrew Computer Club in 1975, a pivotal step toward the development and eventual marketing of the first Apple computer.
In a document released by the Department of Defense circa 1975, Jobs recounted an arrest in Eugene, Oregon. Allegedly questioned for being a minor in possession of alcohol, Jobs claimed he had none. However, the police discovered an outstanding arrest warrant for an unpaid speeding ticket, leading to a $50 fine, which Jobs promptly paid. The incident supposedly occurred behind a store.
Apple (1976–1985)
By March 1976, Steve Wozniak had finalized the fundamental design of the Apple I computer and presented it to Steve Jobs, who proposed the idea of selling it. Initially hesitant, Wozniak eventually agreed to the suggestion. In April of the same year, Jobs, Wozniak, and administrative overseer Ronald Wayne officially established Apple Computer Company, now known as “Apple Inc.,” as a business partnership. The historic moment took place in Jobs’s parents’ home on Crist Drive, marking the beginning of Apple on April 1, 1976. The operation initially operated out of Jobs’s bedroom before relocating to the garage.
Ronald Wayne played a brief role, but he soon departed, leaving Jobs and Wozniak as the primary and active co-founders of the company. The name “Apple” was chosen after Jobs shared his experience at the All One Farm commune in Oregon, particularly his time in the farm’s apple orchard.
Jobs initially envisioned producing bare printed circuit boards of the Apple I, intending to sell them to computer enthusiasts for $50 each. To finance the initial batch, Wozniak sold his HP scientific calculator, and Jobs parted with his Volkswagen van. In a strategic move later that year, computer retailer Paul Terrell acquired 50 fully assembled Apple I units at a price of $500 each. This marked the beginning of Apple’s commercial journey, and a total of around 200 Apple I computers were eventually produced.Living on Crist Drive, Jobs left a distinct impression on his neighbors, with one recalling him as an eccentric figure, greeting clients with his “underwear hanging out, barefoot and hippie-like.” Larry Waterland, a neighbor and recent PhD graduate in chemical engineering from Stanford, initially dismissed Jobs’s nascent business. Waterland compared it to the established realm of giant mainframe computers reliant on punch cards, stating,”Steve brought me to the garage. There was a circuit board with a chip, a DuMont television set, a Panasonic cassette tape deck, and a keyboard. He stated, ‘This is an Apple computer.’ I responded, ‘You must be kidding.’ I completely rejected the entire concept.”
According to Daniel Kottke, a friend from Reed College and Jobs’s companion in India, who became an early Apple employee, Jobs didn’t actively participate in the hands-on work in the garage. Kottke mentioned that he was often the sole person working there, with Wozniak making periodic visits to share his latest code. Kottke noted that much of the early efforts actually unfolded in Jobs’s kitchen, where he tirelessly spent hours on the phone seeking investors for the burgeoning company.
Mike Markkula, a semi-retired Intel product marketing manager and engineer at the time, provided funding for Apple. Scott McNealy, the co-founder of Sun Microsystems, acknowledged Jobs’s groundbreaking achievement in Silicon Valley for establishing a highly successful company at a remarkably young age. Markkula’s involvement caught the attention of Arthur Rock, and a $60,000 investment, sparked by the bustling Apple’s display at the Home Brew Computer Show booth fueled Apple’s continued growth. However, Jobs expressed dissatisfaction when, in February 1977, Markkula recruited Mike Scott from National Semiconductor to assume the role of Apple’s first president and CEO.After Chrisann Brennan returned from her own journey to India, she and Steve Jobs rekindled their love. Brennan noticed changes in Jobs, attributing them to Kobun, whom she continued to follow. During this period, Jobs showcased a prototype of the Apple II computer for Brennan and his parents in their living room. The dynamic in Jobs’s life shifted, with Apple Inc. and Kobun becoming the two primary influences on him.
In April 1977, Jobs and Wozniak unveiled the Apple II at the West Coast Computer Faire event, marking the first consumer product sold by Apple Computer. While Wozniak primarily designed the computer, Jobs oversaw the development of its distinctive case, and Rod Holt worked on the unique power supply. During the design phase, Jobs and Wozniak had a heated argument about the number of expansion slots the Apple II should have. Jobs advocated for two, while Wozniak insisted on eight. After the disagreement, Wozniak threatened Jobs, saying he should “go get himself another computer.” Eventually, they compromised on eight slots. The Apple II became one of the earliest highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products globally.
As Jobs achieved more success with Apple, his relationship with Brennan grew more complicated. In 1977, Brennan, Daniel Kottke, and Jobs relocated to a residence close to the Apple office in Cupertino. with Brennan taking a position in the shipping department at Apple. However, as Jobs’s role at Apple expanded, strain developed in his relationship with Brennan, leading her to contemplate ending it.
In October 1977, Brennan faced a crucial decision when Rod Holt offered her a paid apprenticeship designing blueprints for Apple. Despite Holt and Jobs believing it was an excellent opportunity for her artistic abilities, Brennan turned down the internship after realizing she was pregnant with Jobs’s child. Jobs, upon hearing the news, reacted negatively, stating, “I never wanted to ask that you get an abortion. I just didn’t want to do that,” and refused to discuss the pregnancy further.
Brennan decided to leave Apple and later gave birth to a daughter, Lisa Brennan, on May 17, 1978. Jobs, after being contacted by Robert Friedland, attended the birth, and the two worked together to choose a name for the baby, settling on “Lisa.” Jobs, however, publicly denied paternity and worked on a computer project named Apple Lisa, claiming it stood for “Local Integrated Software Architecture.” Decades later, he admitted that the computer was indeed named after his daughter.
When a DNA test confirmed Jobs as Lisa’s father, he was required to pay Brennan monthly support, totaling $385. As Apple went public, Jobs’s wealth increased, and he paid Brennan $500 monthly. In 1982, at age 25, Jobs’s net worth reached an estimated $250 million.
In 1983, Jobs persuaded John Sculley to join Apple as CEO, posing the question, “Do you aspire to dedicate your life to selling sweetened beverages, or do you seek an opportunity to make a difference in the world?
In 1984, Jobs purchased the Jackling House and estate, where he resided for a decade. He later obtained permission to demolish the house in 2011, a few months before his death.
In 1981, Steve Jobs assumed control of the Macintosh project from Jef Raskin, an early Apple employee who had conceived the endeavor. Both Steve Wozniak and Raskin had played significant roles in shaping the project during its early stages. Wozniak, however, was on leave at the time as a result of an earlier plane crash year, making it more seamless for Jobs to take over.
On January 22, 1984, Apple broadcast a groundbreaking Super Bowl commercial titled “1984,” concluding with the statement: On January 24th, Apple Computer is set to unveil Macintosh. Witness why 1984 will differ from the past.Two days later, on January 24, an emotional Jobs presented the Macintosh to an exuberant audience at Apple’s annual shareholders meeting in the Flint Auditorium at De Anza College. The scene was described by Macintosh engineer Andy Hertzfeld as “pandemonium.”
The Macintosh drew inspiration from the Lisa, which, in turn, had been influenced by Xerox PARC’s mouse-driven graphical user interface. The Macintosh received widespread acclaim from the media and enjoyed strong initial sales. However, its performance limitations and a restricted range of available software contributed to a rapid decline in sales in the latter half of 1984.
Next Computer
Following his departure from Apple in 1985, Steve Jobs founded NeXT, a company focused on developing workstation computers. The NeXT Computer was officially introduced in 1988 during an elaborate launch event. Notably, Tim Berners-Lee, using the NeXT Computer, created the world’s first web browser, known as the WorldWideWeb.
The operating system of the NeXT Computer, named NeXTSTEP, had a lasting impact. It served as the foundation for Darwin, which, in turn, became the core of various Apple operating systems, including macOS for Macintosh computers and iOS for iPhones. Jobs’s work at NeXT laid essential groundwork for the evolution of Apple’s software platforms.
iMac
The Apple iMac G3, introduced in 1998, marked a significant milestone influenced by Steve Jobs’s return to Apple. The innovative design of the iMac G3 was a testament to Apple’s commitment to aesthetics, proudly declaring, “the back of our computer looks better than the front of anyone else’s.” The initial iMac, adorned in Bondi Blue plastic, had a distinctive and unconventional appearance, described as “cartoonlike” and unlike any personal computer that had come before.
In 1999, Apple expanded the iMac lineup with the introduction of the Graphite gray model. Over the years, Apple continued to experiment with the design, varying the shape, color, and size while maintaining the iconic all-in-one concept. The design choices were carefully crafted to establish a connection with users, featuring elements like a handle for portability and a “breathing” light effect when the computer entered sleep mode.
Priced at $1,299 during its release, the iMac G3 brought about forward-thinking changes. Notably, it abandoned the floppy disk drive, a move considered bold at the time, and embraced USB as the exclusive connector for peripherals. This decision not only streamlined the design but also played a role in popularizing USB among third-party peripheral makers. The iMac’s success led to a trend where early USB peripherals were often made with translucent plastic, mirroring the distinctive design of the iMac itself. The iMac G3, with its innovative design and strategic choices, played a crucial role in shaping the future of personal computing.
iTunes
iTunes, developed by Apple, is a versatile application encompassing a media player, media library, online radio broadcaster, and mobile device management tool. It serves the purpose of playing, downloading, and organizing digital audio and video content, along with various other types of media available on the iTunes Store. iTunes is compatible with personal computers running the macOS and Microsoft Windows operating systems.
The iTunes Store, an integral component of iTunes, extends its reach to Apple’s mobile devices such as the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad. Through the iTunes Store, users have the capability to purchase and download a wide array of media content, including music, music videos, television shows, audiobooks, podcasts, movies, and movie rentals (available in select countries). Additionally, users can obtain ringtones for their iPhones and iPod Touch devices (fourth generation onward) through the iTunes Store.
The App Store is seamlessly integrated into iTunes, enabling users to download application software for their iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch devices. This centralized platform has played a pivotal role in simplifying media consumption and digital content management for Apple users.
iPod
The inaugural generation of the iPod was launched on October 23, 2001, marking a significant moment in the evolution of portable music players. The groundbreaking feature of the iPod was its compact size, achieved by incorporating a 1.8″ hard drive, in contrast to the 2.5″ drives commonly used in players of that era. The first-generation iPod had a storage capacity ranging from 5 GB to 10 GB.
Priced at $399, the iPod made an immediate impact, with over 100,000 units sold before the end of 2001. Its success not only established Apple as a major player in the music industry but also paved the way for subsequent innovations such as the iTunes music store and the revolutionary iPhone.
As the iPod evolved, Apple introduced various iterations to cater to different preferences. These included the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Mini, the slim iPod Nano, and the minimalist screenless iPod Shuffle in the following years. The iPod series played a crucial role in transforming the way people consume and carry their music, leaving a lasting imprint on the portable music player market.
iPhone
Apple embarked on the development of the first iPhone in 2005, and the inaugural iPhone was officially released on June 29, 2007. The introduction of the iPhone created a sensation, with a survey indicating that six out of ten Americans were aware of its release. Time magazine recognized it as the Named “Invention of the Year” for 2007, it was also featured in the All-TIME 100 Gadgets list in 2010. specifically in the Communication category.
The initial iPhone showcased multimedia functionalities and served as a quad-band touchscreen smartphone. One year later, in July 2008, Apple introduced the iPhone 3G, integrating three significant features: GPS support, 3G data capabilities, and tri-band UMTS/HSDPA. Subsequently, in June 2009, the iPhone 3GS was unveiled, incorporating improvements like voice control, an upgraded camera, and a faster processor, as detailed by Phil Schiller.
The iPhone 4, released later, showcased a thinner design than its predecessors, a five-megapixel camera equipped with the ability to capture video in 720p HD, and the addition of a secondary front-facing camera for video calls. In October 2011, the iPhone 4S was unveiled, featuring a notable innovation—Siri, a virtual assistant equipped with voice recognition capabilities. Siri marked a significant advancement in user interaction with smartphones, demonstrating Apple’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology.
iPad
The iPad, a line of tablet computers based on iOS, is a product designed and marketed by Apple. The first iPad was introduced on April 3, 2010. The user interface is centered around the device’s multi-touch screen, incorporating features such as a virtual keyboard. Notably, the iPad includes built-in Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity in select models, providing users with diverse options for staying connected.
The popularity of the iPad has been substantial, with over 250 million units sold as of April 2015. This success underscores the widespread adoption and impact of the iPad in the tablet market, solidifying its position as a leading product in Apple’s lineup.
Steve Jobs Personal life
In 1989, Steve Jobs encountered his future wife, Laurene Powell, during a lecture at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was a student. Jobs, captivated by her presence in the front row, later shared, “I couldn’t take my eyes off of her … kept losing my train of thought, and started feeling a little giddy.” Following the lecture, he approached her in the parking lot and invited her to dinner. This marked the beginning of their relationship, with only a few minor exceptions, lasting for the rest of Jobs’s life.
On New Year’s Day in 1990, Jobs proposed to Laurene with “a handful of freshly gathered wildflowers.” They exchanged vows on March 18, 1991, in a Buddhist ritual at the Ahwahnee Hotel within Yosemite National Park, attended by fifty individuals, including Jobs’s father, Paul, and his sister Mona. The ceremony was presided over by Jobs’s guru, Kobun Chino Otogawa, and featured a vegan wedding cake shaped like Yosemite’s Half Dome. The celebration concluded with a hike and a snowball fight involving Laurene’s brothers. In a playful manner, Jobs remarked to Mona, “You see, Mona […], Laurene is descended from Joe Namath, and we’re descended from John Muir.”
In 1991, Jobs and Powell welcomed their first child, a son named Reed. Tragically, Jobs’s father, Paul, passed away Eighteen months Subsequently, on March 5, 1993, Jobs and Powell… expanded their family with two daughters, Erin (born in 1995) and Eve Jobs (born in 1998), who later pursued a career as a fashion model. The Jobs family resided in Palo Alto, California.
Despite his billionaire status, Jobs, similar to Bill Gates, made it clear that the majority of his wealth would not be bequeathed to his children. Both Jobs and Gates limited their children’s access, age-appropriate, to social media, computer games, and the Internet.
Steve Jobs Awards
1985: Awarded the National Medal of Technology (with Steve Wozniak) by U.S. President Ronald Reagan, the country’s highest honor for technological achievements.
1987: Received the Jefferson Award for Public Service.
1989: Named Entrepreneur of the Decade by Inc. magazine.
1991: Honored with the Howard Vollum Award from Reed College.
2004–2010: Listed among the Time 100 Most Influential People in the World on five separate occasions.
2007: Named the most powerful person in business by Fortune magazine.
2007: Inducted into the California Hall of Fame, located at The California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts.
2012: Received the Grammy Trustees Award, an award for those who have influenced the music industry in areas unrelated to performance.
2012: Posthumously honored with an Edison Achievement Award for his commitment to innovation throughout his career.
2013: Posthumously inducted as a Disney Legend.
2017: The Steve Jobs Theater opens at Apple Park.
2022: Posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Joe Biden, the country’s highest civilian honor.
Steve Jobs Net Worth And Income
At the time of his passing in 2011, Steve Jobs, the American inventor and business magnate, had an estimated net worth of $10.2 billion. Renowned as the co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc., Jobs was instrumental in shaping the landscape of the technology industry. Beyond his role at Apple, he also held the position of chief executive at Pixar Animation Studios, making significant contributions to its success before it was eventually acquired by Disney.
Jobs’s financial trajectory was remarkable. In 1978, at the age of 23, he was already worth over $1 million, and by the time Apple went public in December 1980, his net worth had surged to $250 million. Interestingly, at the time of his death in 2011, the majority of Jobs’s net worth did not come from Apple stock but rather from Disney stock. This financial diversification reflected his involvement with Pixar, which he played a crucial role in selling to Disney, contributing significantly to his wealth.
In 1985, following a tumultuous boardroom conflict, Steve Jobs resigned from Apple. Shortly after his resignation, he sold 99.999% of his 20% stake in the company, resulting in a substantial financial gain of around $100 million. Interestingly, Jobs purportedly retained a single share of Apple stock, allowing him to continue receiving annual reports and granting him the option to attend shareholder meetings if he so desired. This strategic move demonstrated Jobs’s ongoing interest and connection to the company he co-founded, even after his departure.Steve Jobs’ return to Apple in 1996 marked a significant chapter in the company’s history. After the acquisition of his company NeXT, Jobs returned to Apple, eventually becoming CEO in 1997. As part of his return, the Apple board enticed him with a generous stock options package, leading him to own 5.5 million shares of Apple. Over the years, through stock splits, this stake grew to 154 million shares by August 2020, valued at $20 billion. These shares generate approximately $160 million in dividends annually for Steve’s widow, Laurene Powell Jobs.
At the time of Steve Jobs’ death in 2011, his Apple stake was worth $2 billion. In addition to his Apple holdings, Jobs also held a Disney stake, valued at a little over $8 billion. This stake resulted from the sale of Pixar to Disney in 2007, making Jobs the largest individual shareholder in Disney. In 2017, Laurene Powell Jobs sold approximately half of her Disney stake – 64 million shares – for $7 billion.
Had Steve Jobs retained his 20% stake in Apple without selling, those shares alone would be worth an estimated $400 billion today, showcasing the remarkable financial trajectory of the company he co-founded.
Steve Jobs Age
Born on February 24, 1955, Steven Paul Jobs. embarked on his illustrious tech career in 1976 alongside his business partner and namesake, Steve Wozniak. Together, they founded the now two trillion dollar company, Apple. Jobs emerged as a formidable figure In the realm of the tech industry, he left an enduring imprint with his. inventions, designs, and strategic investments. His visionary leadership played a pivotal role in steering Apple to success, even during challenging times when the company faced the brink of bankruptcy.
Jobs’s brilliance extended beyond mere entrepreneurship; he was a true visionary who dared to venture into the future, revolutionizing the use of computers and shaping the trajectory of technology. His contributions to the industry deserve immense credit, and it is fitting to celebrate his special day in recognition of his enduring impact on the world of technology and innovation.
Quick Facts
Full Name: Steven Paul Jobs
Nickname: Steve
Birth date: February 24, 1955
Death date: October 5, 2011 (age 56)
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Height: 6′ 2″
Net Worth: $10.2 billion
