Steve Jobs

Early Life

Family

Steve Jobs was born in San Francisco to Joanne Carole Schieble and Abdulfattah Jandali. Jandali was born to a wealthy Syrian family and later pursued a PhD at the University of Wisconsin, where he met Schieble, an American Catholic of Swiss-German descent. Their relationship faced opposition due to cultural differences, and when Schieble became pregnant, they opted for closed adoption.

Jobs was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs. Paul Jobs, originally from a dairy-farming family, had a diverse career path, including working as a machinist and serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. He met and married Clara Hagopian, an American of Armenian descent, who later worked as a bookkeeper. The Jobs family eventually moved to San Francisco, where Steve was raised.

Infancy

As a child, Jobs attended a Lutheran church. His mother Clara once admitted to Jobs’ girlfriend that she was initially afraid to bond with him due to fear of losing him. Nonetheless, Jobs felt deeply loved and regarded Paul and Clara as his true parents. He often dismissed his biological parents, referring to them as "my sperm and egg bank."

Childhood

“I always thought of myself as a humanities person as a kid, but I liked electronics.”
—Steve Jobs

Growing up, Steve Jobs struggled with traditional schooling, clashing with authority figures and often playing pranks. His father Paul encouraged his mechanical interests by building a workbench in their garage. Jobs admired his father’s ability to build anything, developing a keen sense of craftsmanship.

Steven Paul Jobs (February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011) was an American entrepreneur, inventor, and investor renowned for co-founding Apple Inc. Jobs was also the founder of NeXT and the chairman of Pixar. A visionary, he was a pivotal figure in the personal computer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, alongside his Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak.

Jobs, born in San Francisco in 1955 and adopted shortly afterward, briefly attended Reed College before withdrawing in 1972. In 1974, he journeyed to India seeking enlightenment and later studied Zen Buddhism. His entrepreneurial journey with Wozniak began in 1976 when they co-founded Apple to market Wozniak’s Apple I personal computer. A year later, they launched the Apple II, one of the first successful mass-produced microcomputers.

Jobs was inspired by the Xerox Alto in 1979, a computer featuring a graphical user interface (GUI) and a mouse. This led to the creation of the Apple Lisa in 1983 and subsequently the groundbreaking Macintosh in 1984, which became the first mass-produced computer with a GUI. The Macintosh spearheaded the desktop publishing industry, especially after integrating the Apple LaserWriter, the first laser printer to support vector graphics and PostScript.

In 1985, Jobs left Apple after a power struggle with then-CEO John Sculley and the board. That same year, he founded NeXT, a company focused on developing computer platforms for higher education and businesses. In 1986, he played a significant role in the visual effects industry by financing the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm, which later became Pixar. Pixar’s success peaked with the release of Toy Story in 1995, the first fully 3D animated feature film, establishing it as a leading animation studio.

Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 after Apple acquired NeXT. As CEO, he was instrumental in revitalizing Apple, which was near bankruptcy. Working with designer Jony Ive, he helped launch products that transformed technology and culture. From the iMac to iTunes, Mac OS X, Apple Store, iPod, iTunes Store, iPhone, App Store, and iPad, Jobs spearheaded innovations that revolutionized the industry. He was also a board member at Gap Inc. from 1999 to 2002. Diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in 2003, Jobs passed away in 2011. In 2022, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Since his death, he has been awarded 141 patents, with a total of over 450 to his name.

The family home in Los Altos, California, became the original site of Apple Computer, later designated a historic site in 2013.

Homestead High School

Jobs attended Homestead High School in Cupertino, known for its ties to Silicon Valley. There, he met Bill Fernandez, who introduced him to Steve Wozniak. This connection sparked Jobs’ interest in electronics, although he also developed a passion for literature and humanities.

In his senior year, Jobs’ eclectic interests in electronics and literature became evident as he bonded with Wozniak and his first girlfriend, Chrisann Brennan. In 1971, Jobs took a summer job at Hewlett-Packard, beginning his remarkable journey toward becoming one of the most iconic figures in technology.

1974–1985

"I was lucky to get into computers when it was a very young and idealistic industry. There weren't many degrees offered in computer science, so people in computers were brilliant people from mathematics, physics, music, zoology, whatever. They loved it, and no one was really in it for the money [...] There are people around here who start companies just to make money, but the great companies, well, that's not what they're about."

— Steve Jobs

Pre-Apple

In February 1974, Steve Jobs returned to his parents' home in Los Altos and began searching for work. Soon after, he was hired by Atari, Inc., located in Los Gatos, California, as a computer technician. At this time, Jobs’ future co-founder, Steve Wozniak, had already designed his own version of the popular arcade game Pong and had given the electronics board to Jobs. According to Wozniak, Atari hired Jobs because they believed he had built the game himself.

Nolan Bushnell, co-founder of Atari, described Jobs as "difficult but valuable," acknowledging his intelligence and bold personality. Jobs’ time at Atari, though brief, would play a key role in his future endeavors.

In mid-1974, Jobs traveled to India in search of spiritual enlightenment, visiting various ashrams, including the Neem Karoli Baba ashram. His spiritual journey influenced many of his personal beliefs and later business philosophies. During his time in India, Jobs shaved his head and wore traditional Indian clothing, marking a significant transformation in his appearance and mindset.

Jobs spent time experimenting with psychedelics, which he later described as some of the most important experiences of his life. He also delved deeply into Zen Buddhism, practicing meditation and considering monastic life in Japan. His experiences during this period were instrumental in shaping his approach to business, creativity, and innovation.

After returning from India, Jobs rejoined Atari in early 1975. That summer, Atari assigned him the task of creating a circuit board for the arcade game Breakout, using as few chips as possible. Jobs recruited Wozniak for help, and together they significantly reduced the number of chips in the design. Wozniak’s work on the circuit board impressed Atari engineers, though the company later re-engineered the design to make it easier to test.

Jobs and Wozniak also attended meetings of the Homebrew Computer Club, a pivotal organization for early computer enthusiasts and innovators. These meetings served as a springboard for the development of the first Apple computer. Additionally, it was during this period that Jobs faced a minor legal incident in Eugene, Oregon, when he was arrested for being in possession of alcohol as a minor. The charge was later cleared up after a small fine was paid.

Apple (1976–1985)

“Steve Wozniak and I invented Apple because we wanted a personal computer. Not only couldn't we afford the computers on the market, but they were also impractical for us to use. We needed a Volkswagen. The Volkswagen isn’t as fast or comfortable as other modes of travel, but VW owners have control — they can go wherever they want, whenever they want, with whomever they want.”

—Steve Jobs

By March 1976, Steve Wozniak had completed the basic design of the Apple I computer and showed it to Steve Jobs. Although initially skeptical, Jobs persuaded Wozniak to sell it. In April of that year, Jobs, Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne founded Apple Computer Company in Jobs's parents' home in Cupertino, California. The operation began in Jobs’s bedroom and later moved to the garage. Wayne briefly joined the venture before leaving, leaving Jobs and Wozniak as the primary cofounders.

The two decided on the name “Apple” after Jobs returned from the All One Farm commune in Oregon, where he had spent time in the farm's apple orchard. Jobs envisioned a product that was affordable and accessible, much like a Volkswagen, for individuals who wanted personal control over their computers. To fund the initial production, Wozniak sold his HP scientific calculator, and Jobs sold his Volkswagen van.

Later that year, computer retailer Paul Terrell purchased 50 fully assembled Apple I units. In total, about 200 Apple I computers were produced. Jobs and Wozniak’s shared vision for creating accessible and personal computing solutions paved the way for Apple’s groundbreaking success.

In the early days of Apple, neighbors recalled Steve Jobs’s unconventional approach to business. Jobs would greet clients in a casual, almost eccentric manner, often barefoot and in his underwear. Despite the initial skepticism, the Apple team made significant strides in the development of personal computers. Jobs and Wozniak were not just building computers; they were creating a movement, a mission to bring powerful computing to everyday people.

Jobs was able to secure early funding from Mike Markkula, a former Intel product marketing manager. This investment helped propel Apple to greater heights. Jobs’s vision and unique leadership style also attracted attention from industry leaders, making Apple one of the most talked-about startups in Silicon Valley.

“What characterizes Apple is that its scientific staff always acted and performed like artists. In a field filled with dry personalities, Apple’s engineers had passion and believed they were doing something important and fun. This attitude came from Steve Jobs.”

—Jeffrey S. Young, 1987

In 1977, Apple introduced the Apple II at the West Coast Computer Faire, marking its first consumer product. Designed primarily by Wozniak, with Jobs overseeing its case design, the Apple II became one of the first highly successful mass-produced personal computers. Jobs’s role in the development of the Apple II helped position him as a key figure in the burgeoning personal computing revolution.

By the late 1970s, Jobs’s success at Apple had also impacted his personal life. As the company grew, his relationship with Chrisann Brennan, who was pregnant with his child, became more complex. Despite Jobs initially denying paternity, a DNA test confirmed him as the father of Lisa Brennan, born in 1978. This revelation, combined with his growing professional success, marked a turning point in Jobs’s personal and professional journey.

In 1980, Apple went public, making Jobs a millionaire at the age of 25. By 1982, his net worth had soared to $250 million, establishing him as one of the youngest billionaires in the world. At the same time, Apple’s innovation continued, with Jobs leading the development of the Macintosh.

As Apple entered the 1980s, Jobs's ambitious vision for computing took shape with the development of the Macintosh. Jobs took over this project in 1981, following the departure of Jef Raskin, the original designer. Under Jobs’s leadership, the Macintosh became a game-changer, providing a graphical user interface (GUI) that was user-friendly and innovative. The debut of the Macintosh in 1984, famously introduced during the Super Bowl, would solidify Jobs's reputation as one of the most influential tech pioneers of the time.

Jobs’s leadership at Apple would continue to shape the tech landscape throughout the 1980s, but not without personal challenges. In 1983, he brought PepsiCo’s John Sculley to Apple to serve as CEO, with a now-famous challenge: “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want a chance to change the world?”

By the mid-1980s, Steve Jobs had already transformed the tech industry, and his drive for innovation would push Apple into new realms of computing, design, and user experience. His leadership, vision, and relentless pursuit of excellence would continue to define Apple in the decades to come.

1985–1997

NeXT Computer

After resigning from Apple in 1985, Steve Jobs founded NeXT Inc. with a $7 million investment. However, by 1986, the company faced financial challenges, prompting Jobs to seek venture capital despite having no product ready. Eventually, he gained the attention of billionaire Ross Perot, who heavily invested in NeXT.

The NeXT computer was unveiled at a grand gala in 1988, marking Jobs's return to the spotlight. Held at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, the event was a multimedia extravaganza. Jobs’s former Apple colleague, Steve Wozniak, commented in 2013 that during his time at NeXT, Jobs had "really gotten his head together."

NeXT workstations were launched in 1990, priced at $9,999 (around $23,000 in today's money). Despite their technological innovations, such as an object-oriented software development system, the NeXT workstations were deemed too expensive, particularly for the education sector. Jobs marketed NeXT products to scientific, academic, and financial sectors, showcasing groundbreaking technologies like the Mach kernel, digital signal processors, and built-in Ethernet ports.

In a pivotal moment for the internet, Tim Berners-Lee, using a NeXT computer, developed the World Wide Web at CERN in 1990. In 1993, after selling only 50,000 machines, NeXT pivoted to software development, launching NeXTSTEP. In 1994, NeXT reported its first profit, earning $1.03 million. The company’s WebObjects framework became crucial for developing web applications, including powering the Apple Store, MobileMe services, and the iTunes Store after NeXT’s acquisition by Apple in 1997.

Pixar and Disney

In 1986, Jobs acquired The Graphics Group from Lucasfilm’s computer graphics division for $10 million, founding Pixar. This investment eventually paid off, with Pixar’s first film, Toy Story (1995), earning critical acclaim and financial success. Over the years, Pixar, under the leadership of John Lasseter, produced major hits such as A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Cars, among others.

In 2003, as Pixar’s contract with Disney was nearing its end, Jobs and Disney’s then CEO Michael Eisner struggled to negotiate a renewal. However, in 2006, after Eisner’s replacement by Bob Iger, Jobs and Disney agreed on a deal where Disney acquired Pixar for $7.4 billion in stock. This deal made Jobs Disney's largest individual shareholder, with about 7% of the company’s stock.

Following Jobs's death, his shares in Disney were transferred to the Steven P. Jobs Trust, managed by his widow, Laurene Jobs. Pixar’s tribute to Jobs in Brave (2012), Pixar’s first film after his passing, honored his monumental influence on the studio.

1997–2011

Return to Apple

In 1996, Apple, struggling to stay afloat, reached out to NeXT and purchased its technology for $400 million. This acquisition brought Jobs back to Apple in 1997, where he initially served as de facto CEO after the ousting of Gil Amelio. By 2000, Jobs officially dropped the "interim" title and became Apple’s permanent CEO, heralding a new era of innovation.

Under Jobs’s leadership, Apple experienced a revival, driven by new products such as the iMac and the iPod. The company also entered the music industry with iTunes and the iTunes Store. The introduction of the iPhone in 2007 revolutionized the mobile phone industry, combining a cell phone, iPod, and mobile browser into one sleek device. Jobs often emphasized the importance of shipping products, saying "real artists ship."

Jobs’s public feud with Dell’s CEO Michael Dell, which began in 1987, came to a head in 1997 when Dell suggested Apple should be shut down. However, by 2006, when Apple’s market value exceeded Dell’s, Jobs sent an email to Apple employees celebrating the company's success.

Jobs was renowned for his persuasive communication style, often referred to as the "reality distortion field." His keynote speeches, known as "Stevenotes," became legendary for their ability to captivate and motivate.

In terms of personal style, Jobs was known for his signature black mock turtleneck, Levi’s jeans, and New Balance sneakers, a simple yet iconic look that became a part of his public persona.

Health problems

In October 2003, Steve Jobs was diagnosed with cancer. In mid-2004, he informed his employees that he had a cancerous tumor in his pancreas. The prognosis for pancreatic cancer is generally poor, but Jobs stated he had a rare, less aggressive type, known as islet cell neuroendocrine tumor.

Despite the severity of his diagnosis, Jobs initially resisted his doctors' recommendations for medical intervention, opting instead for alternative medicine. Other experts agreed that Jobs's diet was inadequate to address his illness. Some have speculated that his choice to explore alternative treatments may have modestly decreased his chances of survival, though it's difficult to know the full impact. Notably, cancer specialist Barrie R. Cassileth suggested that Jobs's belief in alternative medicine may have cost him his life, as his cancer was one of the few treatable forms of pancreatic cancer.

According to Jobs’s biographer, Walter Isaacson, Jobs’s refusal to undergo surgery for nine months was a decision he later regretted. Instead, he pursued various alternative therapies, including a vegan diet, acupuncture, herbal remedies, and even consulted a psychic. Eventually, in July 2004, Jobs had surgery to remove the tumor, undergoing a pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure), which appeared to be successful. Jobs, however, did not undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy. During this time, Tim Cook, Apple's head of worldwide sales and operations, stepped in to manage the company.

By January 2006, Jobs’s cancer had returned, though only a few people, including his wife, doctors, and Disney CEO Bob Iger, knew about it. In August 2006, Jobs’s appearance during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) caused concern, with many noticing his thin, gaunt appearance. However, attendees at the event reported that he looked fine in person, and Apple continued to assure the public that his health was robust.

Despite persistent rumors about his health, Jobs continued to be a significant figure in Apple's operations. In 2008, after his appearance at WWDC, there was speculation that his illness might be related to the Whipple procedure. Jobs, however, dismissed such rumors and insisted he was merely suffering from a common bug.

On August 28, 2008, a mistaken obituary was published by Bloomberg, intensifying public speculation about Jobs's health. In response, Jobs famously paraphrased Mark Twain: "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated," at a September keynote.

On December 16, 2008, Apple announced that marketing vice president Phil Schiller would deliver the company's keynote at the Macworld Conference & Expo in 2009, raising further questions about Jobs's health. In January 2009, Jobs admitted that he was dealing with a complex hormone imbalance, which had been affecting his health for several months.

Jobs later took a six-month medical leave of absence in January 2009 to focus on his health, and during this time, Tim Cook once again took on the role of acting CEO. Jobs remained involved in major strategic decisions.

In 2009, Cook offered to donate a portion of his liver to Jobs, but Jobs declined the offer. Jobs underwent a liver transplant in April 2009, and his prognosis was described as "excellent."

Resignation from Apple

On January 17, 2011, Jobs took another leave of absence, citing his health as the reason. Tim Cook took over the day-to-day operations of Apple, but Jobs continued to influence major decisions. Jobs made public appearances at the iPad 2 launch event, the WWDC keynote introducing iCloud, and a meeting with the Cupertino City Council in June 2011.

On August 24, 2011, Jobs resigned as CEO of Apple, naming Tim Cook as his successor. Jobs remained chairman of the board and continued to work with Apple until the day before his death in October 2011.

Steve Jobs's Death

Steve Jobs passed away at his home in Palo Alto, California, on October 5, 2011, at around 3 p.m. PDT, due to complications from a relapse of his pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, which led to respiratory arrest. He was surrounded by his wife, children, and sisters. His sister, Mona Simpson, described his final moments, recounting that Jobs's last words were "Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow," before he lost consciousness.

Apple and Pixar both issued announcements of his death, and the company held a private memorial on October 19, 2011, for employees at its Cupertino campus. California Governor Jerry Brown declared October 16, 2011, "Steve Jobs Day," and an invitation-only memorial service was held at Stanford University, with performances by Bono, Yo-Yo Ma, and Joan Baez.

Personal Life

Steve Jobs’s residence in Palo Alto, California, was a symbol of both his personal and professional journey. The home, surrounded by fruit trees, reflected his minimalist approach to life, which was evident in his professional ethos as well.

Marriage

In 1989, Steve Jobs met Laurene Powell when he delivered a lecture at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was a student. Jobs was immediately struck by her, recalling that he couldn’t take his eyes off her. After the lecture, he invited her to dinner, and the couple quickly became inseparable. Their connection grew stronger over time, leading to their marriage on March 18, 1991, in a Buddhist ceremony at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park. Fifty guests attended, including Jobs's father, Paul, and his sister, Mona. The ceremony was officiated by Jobs's spiritual mentor, Kobun Chino Otogawa.

The wedding was followed by a unique vegan wedding cake shaped like Yosemite's iconic Half Dome, and the ceremony ended with a hike and a snowball fight initiated by Laurene’s brothers. Jobs remarked to his sister, Mona, that Laurene was descended from legendary football player Joe Namath, while their family lineage was connected to renowned naturalist John Muir.

Jobs and Powell had three children: Reed, born in 1991; Erin, born in 1995; and Eve, born in 1998, who later became a fashion model. Despite being a billionaire, Jobs decided that most of his fortune would not be passed on to his children, similar to fellow tech mogul Bill Gates.

Family

After being ousted from Apple, Jobs made amends with Chrisann Brennan, the mother of his first daughter, Lisa. Jobs had previously failed to take responsibility for his actions, but over time, he expressed regret and sought to build a better relationship with both Brennan and Lisa. Jobs even had Lisa's name changed on her birth certificate to reflect his last name.

Jobs's relationship with his birth family was also complex. After his adoptive mother Clara’s death in 1986, Jobs sought out his biological mother, Joanne Schieble, and eventually discovered he had a sister, Mona Simpson. Their first meeting was emotional, with Jobs forging a strong bond with his sister.

Although Jobs later learned about his biological father, Abdulfattah Jandali, who worked in the restaurant industry, he never sought to establish a relationship with him, feeling betrayed by his father's earlier abandonment.

"I grew up as an only child, with a single mother... For decades, I'd thought that man would be my father. When I was 25, I met that man, and he was my brother."

— Mona Simpson

Philanthropy

Jobs’s views on philanthropy were often enigmatic. Despite being a billionaire, he maintained a low profile regarding charitable giving. He never publicly embraced traditional philanthropy, opting instead to contribute through his company’s products, which he believed made a greater impact on society. In 1985, Jobs stated, "You know, my main reaction to this money thing is that it's humorous, all the attention to it, because it's hardly the most insightful or valuable thing that's happened to me."

Though Jobs’s charitable actions remained private, some have speculated that he may have made significant anonymous donations. He did contribute $50 million to Stanford Hospital and supported AIDS and HIV relief programs in Africa, inspiring other companies to follow suit.

Honors and Awards

In 1985, Steve Jobs received the prestigious National Medal of Technology from President Ronald Reagan, a recognition shared with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. This award underscored his groundbreaking contributions to technology and innovation.