Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs was an American entrepreneur and co-founder of Apple Inc., whose products, including the Macintosh, iPhone, and iPad, transformed personal computing, mobile technology, and digital media.
Forced out of the very company he co-founded, Jobs spent over a decade building elsewhere before an unlikely acquisition brought him back to lead one of the most dramatic turnarounds in business history.
Founded in a Garage
Jobs co-founded Apple in 1976 alongside engineer Steve Wozniak, famously working out of the garage of Jobs's family home in California. The company's early success came from popularizing personal computing with accessible products like the Apple II.
Ousted from His Own Company
Following internal power struggles, Jobs was forced out of Apple in 1985. He went on to found NeXT, a computer company, and acquired a small computer graphics division from Lucasfilm that he renamed Pixar, which became a hugely successful animation studio under his ownership.
A Triumphant Return
Jobs returned to a struggling Apple in 1997 after the company acquired NeXT, and he soon reclaimed the CEO role, leading a dramatic turnaround that transformed Apple into one of the most valuable companies in the world.
Redefining Entire Industries
Under his renewed leadership, Apple launched a series of category-defining products, including the iMac, iPod in 2001, iPhone in 2007, and iPad in 2010 — each reshaping its respective industry and cementing Apple's reputation for design-driven innovation.
A Lasting Legacy
Jobs died in 2011 from complications of pancreatic cancer, just months after the launch of his final product presentation. He is remembered as one of the most influential figures in the history of technology and consumer product design.
