Steve Jobs Headshot Steve Jobs

Loading quote...

Biography

Steven Paul Jobs (February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011) was an American businessman, inventor, and investor best known for co-founding the technology company Apple Inc. Jobs was also the founder of NeXT and chairman and majority shareholder of Pixar. He was a pioneer of the personal computer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, along with his early business partner and fellow Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

Education

  • High School: Homestead High School, Cupertino, California (Graduated in 1972).
  • College: Reed College, Portland, Oregon (Attended in 1972, dropped out after one semester).
  • Further Learning: Continued auditing classes at Reed College, with a deep focus on calligraphy, which later influenced Apple’s typography and design ethos.

Work Experience

Computer Technician - Atari, Inc. (1974)

  • Worked as a computer technician in 1974.
  • Designed circuits and assisted in developing the arcade game "Breakout."
  • Collaborated with Steve Wozniak, laying the groundwork for their future partnership.

Co-founder and CEO - Apple Inc. (1976–1985, 1997–2011)

  • Co-founded Apple with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in his parents’ garage.
  • Introduced iconic products: Macintosh (1984), iPod (2001), iPhone (2007), and iPad (2010).
  • Revived Apple from financial ruin upon his return in 1997, making it a global tech leader.

Founder and CEO - Pixar Animation Studios (1986–2006)

  • Acquired Pixar from Lucasfilm in 1986 and served as CEO.
  • Oversaw the production of groundbreaking animated films like "Toy Story" and "Finding Nemo."
  • Won 7 Academy Awards under his leadership; sold Pixar to Disney in 2006 for $7.4 billion.

Portfolio

  • Apple I (1976): The first Apple computer, hand-built with Wozniak, kickstarting the personal computing revolution.
  • Macintosh (1984): Introduced a graphical user interface, setting a new standard for PCs.
  • Toy Story (1995): The world’s first feature-length computer-animated film, a landmark in cinema.
  • iPhone (2007): Combined a phone, iPod, and internet device into one touchscreen marvel.

Hobbies & Interests

  1. Meditation: Practiced Zen Buddhism, which sharpened his focus and inspired minimalist design.
  2. Design: Passionate about aesthetics, influencing Apple’s sleek, user-friendly products.
  3. Music: A lifelong Beatles fan, his love for music drove the creation of the iPod and iTunes.
  4. Homebrew Computer Club: Early member (1975), where he connected with tech enthusiasts and co-developed Apple I.