Steven P. Jobs
Steve Jobs
AP
Apple Computer. Los Gatos, Calif. 27. Single, no children. College dropout who sold telephone “blue boxes,” saw potential in fellow computer freak’s home-built personal computer. With partner started production 1976 in family garage on $1,300 from sale of calculator and VW microbus. Went public 1980. Overcame Apple III stumble (manufacturing bugs) 1981. His 13.6% of shares worth around $100 million.
From the Forbes 400 1982 Issue
Computers. Woodside, Calif. 31. Single, 1 daughter. Left college to travel, brief stint with Atari. Returned U.S. 1974, looked up friend Steve Wozniak, designer Apple I. Woz and Jobs designed Apple II for consumers, formed Apple Computer 1976. Macintosh 1984 aimed at displacing IBM PC. Bringing in John Scully from PepsiCo as CEO led to fight for control, Jobs’ departure 1985. Has formed Next, Inc., designing “scholar’s workstation” geared toward universities; aiming to release first product 1987. Jobs also heads Pixar Computers (high-quality graphics capability for films). With Apple holdings, proceeds from sales of stocks, Jobs worth around $185 million.
From the Forbes 400 1986 Issue
$470 million. Software, computers. Palo Alto, Calif. 41. Married, 3 children. Ever the showman, linked Silicon Valley with Hollywood: bought movie animation software maker Pixar from George Lucas for $10 million 1986, took public last year after huge box-office debut of Toy Story, Pixar-animated Disney flick. Stake soared over $1 billion before investors cooled; great technology, but Disney gets lion’s share of profits until at least 1999. Started Next Software, to make high-end PCs, got financing from Ross Perot. Next’s computers bombed; hoping for better results with Internet software. First appeared on list 1982.
From the Forbes 400 1996 Issue
$1 billion. Software, computers. Palo Alto, Calif. 43. Married, 4 children. Volatile but brilliant, now again running his creation Apple Computer. New iMac unveiled Aug. 15; already creating a buzz. At $1,299 fairly cheap—and sexy. Egg-shaped computer encased in translucent aqua-blue plastic, allowing owner to see inside. PowerBook G3 laptop computer gets rave reviews. After beating quarterly earnings estimates in July, Apple’s stock finally emerging from 3-year coma. Brought back as interim CEO last July; still part-time job. He owns just one share of Apple stock, having sold shares before resuming helm. Splits time between Apple and Pixar Animation Studios. Pixar’s next film, A Bug’s Life, set to open Thanksgiving weekend. Member since 1982.
From the Forbes 400 1998 Issue
$1.2 billion. Computers, software. Palo Alto, Calif. 45. Married, 4 children. Apple Computer cofounder ousted in 1985, returned as “interim” chief executive 1996, never left. Credited for breathing life back into Apple with new colorful iMac PCs, sleek iBook laptops, now pushing the PowerMac G4—the company’s most powerful processor, crammed into an 8-inch cube. Brilliant, famously tempestuous leader sometimes described as a mere marketer, but Jobs isn’t just buffing up Apple’s exterior—company now more efficient with inventories trimmed, manufacturing outsourced. Revenue rose just 3% last year, but earnings doubled. Became full-time CEO in January. Also accepted options on 10 million shares and use of Gulfstream V. He doesn’t need the jet to get to his other chief exec post at nearby Pixar.
From the Forbes 400 2000 Issue
$2.6 billion. Apple Computer. Palo Alto, Calif. 49. Married, 4 children. Gates is far richer, but Jobs is way cooler with the kids. For that he can thank two decades of innovative design and catchy marketing. And now iPod, portable music player (3 million units sold since 2001), helped make Apple iTunes Music Store the dominant site for downloading music: 125 million downloads, accounting for 70% of all (legal) Internet music sales. Result: Apple stock up 70% so far this year, but formidable rivalry looms from Wal-Mart’s and Microsoft’s separate competing services and the Mac struggles to retain minor market share. Luckily for Jobs, much of his wealth lies elsewhere, in digital animation shop Pixar. The hot studio still hasn’t found a new home after severing its relationship with Disney earlier this year, culminating in a feud between Jobs and alpha-mouse Michael Eisner.
From the Forbes 400 2004 Issue