Steve Jobs

Who Was Steve Jobs?

Steve Jobs was a prominent American inventor, designer, and entrepreneur, renowned as the co-founder, chief executive, and chairman of Apple Inc. Born in 1955 to two graduate students at the University of Wisconsin, he was placed for adoption shortly after his birth. Jobs displayed remarkable intelligence but lacked direction in his early years, leading him to drop out of college and explore various interests. In 1976, he co-founded Apple with Steve Wozniak, marking the beginning of a technological revolution.

Jobs departed from Apple in 1985, subsequently founding Pixar Animation Studios, which gained acclaim for its innovative animated films. His return to Apple over a decade later heralded a new era for the company, during which he spearheaded the development of groundbreaking products such as the iPhone, iPad, and iPod. These innovations have significantly influenced the trajectory of modern technology. Steve Jobs passed away in 2011 after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the tech industry.

Steve Jobs’ Parents and Adoption

Steve Jobs was born on February 24, 1955, in San Francisco to Joanne Schieble (later known as Joanne Simpson) and Abdulfattah “John” Jandali, both of whom were graduate students at the University of Wisconsin. Due to their circumstances, the couple made the difficult decision to give their son up for adoption. Jobs was subsequently adopted by Clara and Paul Jobs, who named him Steven Paul Jobs. Clara worked as an accountant, while Paul was a Coast Guard veteran and machinist.

Jobs’ biological father, Abdulfattah Jandali, was a Syrian political science professor, and his biological mother, Joanne Schieble, was a speech therapist. Shortly after Jobs was placed for adoption, his biological parents married and welcomed another child, Mona Simpson. It wasn’t until Jobs was 27 years old that he discovered the identities of his biological parents and learned more about his heritage.

Early Life and Education

Steve Jobs was raised by his adoptive family in Mountain View, California, an area that would eventually evolve into Silicon Valley. From a young age, he exhibited a profound curiosity, which sometimes led to hazardous situations. According to the BBC’s Science Focus magazine, Jobs required emergency medical attention twice as a toddler—once after inserting a pin into an electrical socket and burning his hand, and another time after accidentally ingesting poison. His mother, Clara, nurtured his intellect by teaching him to read before he even began kindergarten.

As a child, Jobs collaborated with his father on electronics projects in the family garage. Paul Jobs introduced him to the intricacies of disassembling and reassembling electronic devices, a pastime that fostered in young Jobs a sense of confidence, persistence, and mechanical skill. Despite his natural intelligence and innovative mindset, Jobs often struggled with the constraints of formal education. In elementary school, his boredom manifested as mischievous behavior, prompting his fourth-grade teacher to bribe him to engage in his studies. His exceptional testing scores, however, led school administrators to suggest he skip ahead to high school, a proposal his parents ultimately declined.

During his time at Homestead High School, Jobs became a member of the Explorer’s Club at Hewlett-Packard (HP), where he encountered a computer for the first time. This experience ignited his passion for technology, and he secured a summer job at HP after contacting co-founder Bill Hewlett to request parts for a frequency counter he was building. It was in this environment that Jobs met Steve Wozniak, who would later become his partner and co-founder of Apple Computer, while attending the University of California, Berkeley.

Following his high school graduation, Jobs enrolled at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. However, feeling aimless, he withdrew after six months and spent the next year and a half exploring various creative courses at the institution. Jobs later credited a calligraphy class with sparking his appreciation for typography.

In 1974, Jobs joined Atari as a video game designer. After several months, he left the company in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment in India, during which time he also experimented with psychedelic substances.

Founding and Departure from Apple Computer Inc.

In 1976, at the age of 21, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak established Apple Computer Inc. in the garage of the Jobs family home. To finance their entrepreneurial endeavor, Jobs sold his Volkswagen bus while Wozniak parted with his cherished scientific calculator. Through their innovative efforts, the duo is credited with transforming the computer industry by making technology more accessible, compact, and user-friendly for the average consumer.

Wozniak designed a series of intuitive personal computers, and with Jobs spearheading the marketing efforts, Apple launched its first product, the Apple I, priced at $666.66. This initial venture generated approximately $774,000 in revenue. The subsequent release of the Apple II three years later propelled the company’s sales to unprecedented heights, reaching $139 million.

In 1980, Apple Computer went public, achieving a market valuation of $1.2 billion by the end of its inaugural trading day. However, the following product launches were marred by significant design flaws, leading to recalls and widespread consumer dissatisfaction. Consequently, IBM overtook Apple in sales, forcing the company to contend with a market dominated by IBM-compatible PCs. In 1983, Jobs recruited John Sculley, a marketing expert from Pepsi-Cola, to assume the role of CEO at Apple. The subsequent year saw the launch of the Macintosh, marketed as a symbol of counterculture that embodied creativity, youth, and romance. Despite its innovative features and superior performance compared to IBM PCs, the Macintosh was not compatible with the dominant IBM systems.

As tensions rose, Sculley and Apple’s executive team began to view Jobs as a liability to the company’s success. Lacking an official title in the organization he co-founded, Jobs was gradually marginalized and ultimately left Apple in 1985.

Creating NeXT

After departing from Apple in 1985, Steve Jobs made a personal investment of $12 million to establish a new hardware and software company, NeXT Inc. The company’s inaugural computer was launched in 1988, designed with the aim of catering to universities and research institutions. However, the base price of $6,500 placed it beyond the financial reach of many potential customers.

NeXT’s operating system, NeXTSTEP, found more success, serving as a platform for programmers to develop influential video games, including Quake and Doom. Notably, Tim Berners-Lee utilized a NeXT computer to create the first web browser. Despite these achievements, NeXT struggled to gain traction within mainstream America, leading to its acquisition by Apple in 1996 for $429 million.

Steve Jobs and Pixar

In 1986, Steve Jobs acquired an animation company from George Lucas, which would later be rebranded as Pixar Animation Studios. Recognizing the company’s potential, Jobs initially invested $50 million of his own funds into its development.

Under his leadership, Pixar produced a series of immensely successful films, including Toy Story (1995), Finding Nemo (2003), The Incredibles (2004), Cars (2006), and Up (2009). In 2006, Pixar merged with Disney, positioning Jobs as the largest shareholder of the entertainment giant. As of June 2022, Pixar films had achieved a remarkable cumulative gross of $14.7 billion at the global box office.

Returning to and Reinventing Apple

In 1997, Steve Jobs returned to Apple as CEO, a pivotal moment that marked the beginning of a transformative era for the company. Just as he had propelled Apple to success in the 1970s, Jobs is credited with revitalizing the organization in the late 1990s.

Upon his return, Jobs implemented significant changes, including the formation of a new management team, adjustments to stock options, and a symbolic annual salary of just $1. These moves set the stage for a remarkable turnaround. Under his leadership, Apple reintroduced innovative products such as the iMac, which captured consumer interest with its effective branding and stylish design. This revival continued with the launch of groundbreaking devices like the MacBook Air, iPod, and iPhone, each of which influenced the trajectory of technology. Following the release of new products, competitors were quick to adapt and develop similar technologies, highlighting Apple’s industry leadership. In 2007, to reflect its expanding product line, the company officially rebranded itself as Apple Inc.

The impact of these changes was evident in Apple’s financial performance. In 2007, the company reported record-breaking quarterly results, with stock prices reaching $199.99 per share and a remarkable profit of $1.58 billion. Additionally, Apple boasted an $18 billion surplus and zero debt, solidifying its financial health.

By 2008, propelled by the success of iTunes and iPod sales, Apple had ascended to become the second-largest music retailer in America, following Walmart. The company also garnered recognition as the top entity on Fortune’s list of America’s Most Admired Companies and ranked first among Fortune 500 companies for shareholder returns.

Since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007, Apple has launched numerous iterations of the device, demonstrating its sustained innovation in the market. Notably, in February 2023, a first-generation iPhone was auctioned for over $63,000, underscoring its enduring value and collectability.

Net Worth

Steve Jobs’ net worth peaked at $8.3 billion shortly before his death in 2011, with some estimates suggesting it reached as high as $10.2 billion. In January 2022, Apple achieved a market capitalization of $3 trillion, indicating that Jobs’ initial stake in the company from 1980 would have been valued at approximately $330 billion—potentially making him the richest individual in the world, surpassing even Tesla founder Elon Musk, had he still been alive. However, reports indicate that Jobs sold off nearly all his Apple shares upon his departure from the company in 1985, retaining only one share.

The majority of Jobs’ wealth originated from an approximately 8 percent stake in Disney, which he acquired when he sold Pixar in 2006. Based on Disney’s valuation in 2022, this share—passed on to his wife—would be worth an estimated $22 billion.

Family Life

Steve Jobs married Laurene Powell on March 18, 1991. The couple first met in the early 1990s while attending Stanford Business School, where Powell was pursuing her MBA. Together, they raised three children in Palo Alto: Reed, born on September 22, 1991; Erin, born on August 19, 1995; and Eve, born on July 9, 1998.

Additionally, Jobs had a daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs, from a previous relationship with Chrisann Brennan. Born on May 17, 1978, Lisa’s paternity was initially denied by Jobs in court documents, where he claimed he was sterile. However, in her memoir, Small Fry, Lisa revealed that DNA tests confirmed their biological relationship in 1980, prompting Jobs to begin making paternity payments to her mother. Despite his earlier denial, Jobs did not establish a relationship with Lisa until she was seven, and she eventually lived with him during her teenage years. In 2011, Jobs reflected on his past decisions, acknowledging the difficulties surrounding his relationship with Lisa.

Health Challenges

In 2003, Jobs was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer known as a neuroendocrine tumor. Opting for dietary changes and exploring Eastern medicine, he delayed surgery for nine months, raising concerns among Apple’s board of directors about potential impacts on the company’s stock. Ultimately, Jobs prioritized his privacy over shareholder disclosures, undergoing successful surgery to remove the tumor in 2004.

In early 2009, rumors about Jobs’ declining health circulated, particularly regarding his significant weight loss and the necessity of a liver transplant. Responding to these concerns, he cited a hormone imbalance and later took a six-month medical leave of absence. During this time, he named Tim Cook, Apple’s then-Chief Operating Officer, as responsible for day-to-day operations.

After nearly a year away from public life, Jobs made a highly anticipated return at an Apple event on September 9, 2009, and continued to play a prominent role in the company, including the launch of the iPad in 2010. In January 2011, he announced another medical leave, ultimately resigning as CEO in August, handing leadership to Cook.

Final Days and Legacy

Jobs passed away at the age of 56 on October 5, 2011, in his Palo Alto home. His death was attributed to respiratory arrest stemming from his long battle with pancreatic cancer.

In the weeks leading up to his death, Jobs’ health deteriorated significantly, making it difficult for him to navigate his home. Despite this, he managed to bid farewell to several long-time colleagues, including Disney CEO Bob Iger, converse with his biographer, and advise Apple executives about the upcoming launch of the iPhone 4S.

In her eulogy, Jobs’ sister Mona Simpson recounted his final moments, noting that he gazed at his family before uttering his last words: “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.” Following a private gathering for close family and friends, Jobs’ funeral was held on October 16 at Stanford University, attended by notable figures such as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and singer Joan Baez.

Jobs is interred in an unmarked grave at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto. After the release of the 2015 film Steve Jobs, fans flocked to the cemetery, leaving messages for him in a memorial book, as the cemetery does not disclose grave locations.

Movies and Books About Steve Jobs

Before his passing, Steve Jobs authorized author and journalist Walter Isaacson to write his official biography. Jobs participated in over 40 interviews with Isaacson, who also conducted conversations with more than 100 of Jobs’ family members, friends, and colleagues. Originally scheduled for release in November 2011, Steve Jobs was published on October 24, just 19 days after Jobs’ death.

Jobs’ life has inspired two significant films. The first, titled Jobs, was released in 2013 and featured Ashton Kutcher as Jobs and Josh Gad as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Wozniak, however, expressed his dissatisfaction with the film’s script, stating to The Verge that he could not participate because he found the screenplay “crap.” While he acknowledged the casting, he criticized the film for misrepresenting the personalities of both himself and Jobs.

In contrast, Wozniak collaborated with Sony Pictures on the second film, Steve Jobs, which was adapted from Isaacson’s biography and released in 2015. This film starred Michael Fassbender as Jobs and Seth Rogen as Wozniak. Fassbender received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, while co-star Kate Winslet was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Joanna Hoffman, a marketing executive at Apple and NeXT.

Additionally, in 2015, filmmaker Alex Gibney explored Jobs’ life and legacy in the documentary Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine. This documentary provides an in-depth examination of Jobs’ impact on technology and culture.