Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Born	Steven Paul Jobs 24 2, 1955
Birthplace	San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died	Template:Death date and age Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Businessman, inventor, investor
Known for	Co-founding Apple Inc., co-founding Pixar, founding NeXT
Education	Reed College (dropped out)
Children	4
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom (posthumous, 2022)

Steven Paul Jobs (February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011) was an American businessman, co-inventor, and investor who co-founded Apple Inc. and shaped the trajectory of personal computing, animated filmmaking, and consumer electronics over the course of four decades. Born in San Francisco and adopted as an infant, Jobs displayed an early fascination with electronics that would carry him from a garage in Los Altos, California, to the helm of one of the most valuable companies in the world. Together with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, he founded Apple Computer Company in 1976, helping to launch the personal computer revolution of the late 1970s and 1980s. After being forced out of Apple in 1985, Jobs founded NeXT, a computer platform company, and acquired the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm, which became Pixar Animation Studios. Pixar produced Toy Story in 1995, the first fully computer-animated feature film. Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 as chief executive officer, presiding over a dramatic corporate turnaround that produced a succession of products—including the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad—that reshaped multiple industries. He was diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in 2003 and died on October 5, 2011, at the age of 56. In 2022, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Early Life

Steven Paul Jobs was born on February 24, 1955, in San Francisco, California. He was adopted shortly after birth by Paul and Clara Jobs, a working-class couple from Mountain View, California. Paul Jobs was a machinist and car mechanic, and Clara Jobs worked as an accountant. The family later moved to Los Altos, in what would become known as Silicon Valley.

Jobs grew up in a neighborhood populated by engineers working for companies such as Hewlett-Packard. He developed an early interest in electronics, in part through his adoptive father's influence. Paul Jobs set aside a portion of the family's garage workbench for his son, introducing him to the basics of mechanical and electronic tinkering. As a young teenager, Jobs was already engaging with the emerging technology culture of Silicon Valley.

While still in high school, Jobs befriended Steve Wozniak, a fellow electronics enthusiast who was several years his senior. The two shared a deep interest in technology and, according to multiple accounts, collaborated on early projects. Jobs also obtained a summer job at Hewlett-Packard, where he gained further exposure to engineering culture.

After high school, Jobs briefly worked at Atari, the pioneering video game company founded by Nolan Bushnell. According to Bushnell, Jobs was one of Atari's early hires, a period that exposed him to the intersection of technology, design, and consumer products.

In 1974, Jobs traveled to India, seeking spiritual enlightenment. He spent several months visiting Indian villages and ashrams, an experience that profoundly shaped his worldview and his later approach to design simplicity. Upon returning to the United States, Jobs began studying Zen Buddhism, a practice that remained important to him for the rest of his life. He studied under Zen master Kōbun Chino Otogawa, and his Buddhist practice influenced his emphasis on intuition, minimalism, and focused attention.

Education

In 1972, Jobs enrolled at Reed College, a private liberal arts institution in Portland, Oregon. He dropped out after only one semester, citing the financial burden his tuition placed on his working-class parents. However, he continued to attend classes informally, auditing courses that interested him, including a course in calligraphy that he later credited with inspiring the Macintosh's typography and its multiple typefaces. His time at Reed exposed him to countercultural ideas and the liberal arts tradition, both of which shaped his later insistence that technology and the humanities were not separate domains.

Career

Founding of Apple (1976–1985)

In 1976, Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne founded Apple Computer Company. Wozniak had designed the Apple I, a single-board computer, and Jobs recognized its commercial potential. The company was initially operated out of the Jobs family garage in Los Altos. Wayne sold his share of the company back to Jobs and Wozniak shortly after its founding. The Apple I was sold as an assembled circuit board, and while modestly successful, it was the Apple II, released in 1977, that established Apple as a major player in the emerging personal computer industry. The Apple II was one of the first mass-produced microcomputers and achieved significant commercial success, making both Jobs and Wozniak wealthy.

In 1979, Jobs visited Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center), where he saw a demonstration of the Xerox Alto, a computer that used a mouse-driven graphical user interface (GUI). Jobs recognized the commercial potential of the GUI concept and directed Apple's development efforts toward incorporating these ideas into Apple's own products. This visit led first to the development of the Apple Lisa, released in 1983. The Lisa was a commercial failure due to its high price, but it introduced a number of concepts that would prove influential.

Jobs then led the team developing the Macintosh, which launched in January 1984. The Macintosh was the first mass-produced personal computer to feature a graphical user interface and a mouse, and it is considered a landmark product in the history of computing. The Macintosh's introduction was accompanied by a now-famous television advertisement directed by Ridley Scott, aired during Super Bowl XVIII. Jobs introduced the product at a company event where he played Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin'" as the audience gathered.

The Macintosh also helped launch the desktop publishing industry. In 1985, the combination of the Macintosh, the Apple LaserWriter—the first laser printer to feature vector graphics and PostScript—and Aldus PageMaker software created a new market for producing professional-quality printed materials on personal computers.

Despite these achievements, Jobs became involved in an internal power struggle at Apple. The conflict pitted him against John Sculley, whom Jobs himself had recruited as CEO in 1983. In 1985, after the Apple board sided with Sculley, Jobs resigned from the company he had co-founded.

NeXT (1985–1997)

After leaving Apple, Jobs founded NeXT Inc. in 1985, taking several Apple employees with him. NeXT developed and manufactured computer workstations intended for the higher education and business markets. The NeXT Computer, released in 1988, was notable for its advanced object-oriented operating system, NeXTSTEP, which featured innovations in software development tools, networking, and user interface design.

While the NeXT hardware was not commercially successful due to its high price, the company's software had lasting influence. Notably, Tim Berners-Lee used a NeXT Computer at CERN to develop the World Wide Web, creating both the first web browser and the first web server on the platform. The NeXTSTEP operating system later formed the foundation for Mac OS X after Apple's acquisition of NeXT in 1997.

Pixar (1986–2006)

In 1986, Jobs purchased the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm for $10 million. The division was incorporated as an independent company named Pixar, with Jobs serving as chairman and majority shareholder. Initially, Pixar focused on selling high-end graphics hardware and software, but under Jobs's direction, the company increasingly turned its attention to computer animation.

Pixar's breakthrough came in 1995 with the release of Toy Story, the first entirely computer-animated feature film. Produced in partnership with The Walt Disney Company, Toy Story was a critical and commercial success that demonstrated the viability of computer animation as a feature filmmaking medium. Pixar went on to produce a series of commercially and critically successful animated films, establishing the company as a leading animation studio.

The relationship between Pixar and Disney was at times contentious. Under Disney CEO Michael Eisner, negotiations over the terms of the partnership became strained, and Jobs publicly criticized Eisner's management of Disney. In 2006, after Eisner's departure, Disney acquired Pixar in a deal valued at approximately $7.4 billion in an all-stock transaction. The acquisition made Jobs Disney's largest individual shareholder, with a stake of approximately 7.7 percent in the company.

Return to Apple (1997–2011)

By the mid-1990s, Apple was in severe financial difficulty. The company's market share had eroded, and it was struggling to develop a modern operating system. In December 1996, Apple announced the acquisition of NeXT for $429 million, bringing Jobs back into the company as an adviser. By 1997, he had been appointed interim CEO, and in 2000, he became permanent CEO.

Jobs immediately undertook a sweeping reorganization of Apple's product line, reducing the number of products the company offered and focusing resources on a small number of core products. He articulated his management philosophy in terms of hiring exceptional people and giving them the autonomy to do their best work. As Jobs stated, the approach was to hire people who were genuinely talented rather than relying on conventional "professional management," a philosophy he maintained throughout his tenure.

One of Jobs's earliest moves upon returning was the launch of the "Think different" advertising campaign, which reestablished Apple's brand identity. He also drew on marketing lessons from other companies; in a 1997 town hall meeting with Apple employees, Jobs referenced Nike's approach to brand marketing as an example of how companies could communicate values rather than simply product specifications.

Jobs worked closely with British-born industrial designer Jony Ive to create a new generation of Apple products. The iMac, introduced in 1998, was notable for its colorful translucent design and its emphasis on internet connectivity, and it became Apple's first major commercial success in years. The product line revitalization continued with the Power Mac G4 and the iBook.

In 2001, Apple introduced two products that marked the beginning of the company's expansion beyond personal computers. iTunes, a digital media application, and the iPod, a portable digital music player, together transformed the music industry. The iPod became the dominant portable music device, and the iTunes Store, launched in 2003, created a legal digital music marketplace that reshaped how music was distributed and consumed.

Apple's most significant product introduction under Jobs was arguably the iPhone, announced in January 2007. The iPhone combined a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod, and an internet communications device into a single product with a multi-touch interface. Before its public announcement, Jobs shared the device with a small number of people outside Apple. California Governor Gavin Newsom later recounted in his memoir that Jobs gave him and Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin an early preview of the first iPhone, describing the experience as being shown "something akin to a state secret." The iPhone redefined the smartphone market and became one of the best-selling consumer electronics products in history.

In 2008, Apple launched the App Store, which created a platform for third-party software developers to sell applications directly to iPhone users. In 2010, Jobs introduced the iPad, a tablet computer that created a new product category. Under Jobs's leadership, Apple became one of the most valuable companies in the world. In August 2011, Apple briefly surpassed ExxonMobil to become the most valuable publicly traded company by market capitalization.

Jobs was known for his attention to detail in product design and his emphasis on the integration of hardware and software. He insisted on controlling the entire user experience, from the design of the hardware to the retail environment in which products were sold. Apple Stores, which began opening in 2001, reflected this philosophy, featuring minimalist design and an emphasis on customer experience.

Management Style

Jobs's management approach was characterized by demanding standards, intense focus on product quality, and a preference for small, talented teams. He described his hiring philosophy as a "no bozos" policy, seeking to surround himself with people of exceptional ability. He believed that talented employees should be trusted to direct the organization rather than being micromanaged by layers of conventional management.

His product presentations, particularly Apple's keynote events, became notable cultural events. Jobs's ability to communicate the significance of new technology to a broad audience was a distinguishing aspect of his career. His approach to design and innovation emphasized simplicity, drawing on principles he had absorbed from his study of Zen Buddhism and his early exposure to calligraphy at Reed College.

Personal Life

Jobs had a relationship with Chrisann Brennan from approximately 1972 to 1977. Their daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs, was born in 1978. Jobs initially denied paternity, though he later acknowledged Lisa and developed a closer relationship with her.

Jobs married Laurene Powell in 1991. The couple had three children together: Reed, Erin, and Eve. The family lived in Palo Alto, California.

Jobs maintained his interest in Zen Buddhism throughout his life. His wedding ceremony was conducted by Kōbun Chino Otogawa, his longtime Zen teacher.

In 2003, Jobs was diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, a relatively rare form of pancreatic cancer. He underwent surgery in 2004 and a liver transplant in 2009. Jobs took medical leaves of absence from Apple in 2004, 2009, and 2011. On August 24, 2011, he resigned as CEO of Apple, recommending Tim Cook as his successor. Jobs died on October 5, 2011, at his home in Palo Alto, California, of respiratory arrest related to his tumor. He was 56 years old. He was buried at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto.

Recognition

In 2022, Jobs was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.

Jobs's keynote presentations at Apple events earned him the nickname "the master of the reveal" among technology journalists. His 2005 commencement address at Stanford University, in which he reflected on his adoption, his departure from Apple, and his cancer diagnosis, became one of the most viewed commencement speeches in history.

Numerous books have been written about Jobs, including the authorized biography Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, published shortly after his death in 2011. The Steve Jobs Archive, established in his memory, continues to publish materials related to creativity and innovation. In 2026, the Archive released new books featuring advice from notable creative figures, including Jony Ive and Tim Cook, reflecting on what they learned from Jobs and offering guidance to aspiring creators. Tim Cook, in a letter published by the Archive, reflected on his decision to join Apple in 1998 and the lessons he absorbed from working alongside Jobs.

Legacy

Jobs's influence extends across multiple industries. In personal computing, his insistence on graphical user interfaces and integrated hardware-software design helped establish paradigms that remain standard. The Macintosh popularized the GUI for a mass audience, and the NeXTSTEP operating system provided the technological foundation for Mac OS X, which in turn served as the basis for iOS.

In the music industry, the iPod and iTunes Store restructured how music was distributed and purchased, hastening the transition from physical media to digital distribution. The iPhone catalyzed the smartphone revolution, fundamentally changing how people communicate, access information, and interact with digital services. The App Store created an entirely new software economy.

Through Pixar, Jobs played a central role in establishing computer animation as the dominant form of animated filmmaking. Pixar's films demonstrated that computer-generated imagery could convey the emotional depth and storytelling sophistication previously associated with hand-drawn animation.

More than a decade after his death, Jobs continues to be referenced in discussions about technology, design, and corporate leadership. His management philosophy, product vision, and presentation style remain subjects of study in business schools and technology circles worldwide. Apple, which was near bankruptcy when he returned in 1997, grew under his leadership into one of the most valuable and influential companies in the world.

Wozniak, Jobs's co-founder, noted that while Jobs did not write code himself, his contributions lay in understanding the commercial and design dimensions of technology products—recognizing what consumers would want before they knew it themselves.