Steven Paul Jobs, commonly known as Steve Jobs, was a prominent American businessman, inventor, and investor, best known as the co-founder of Apple Inc. Born on February 24, 1955, in San Francisco, Jobs was adopted shortly after birth. He briefly attended Reed College in 1972 before dropping out the same year.
In 1976, Jobs co-founded Apple with Steve Wozniak, initially to develop and sell the Apple I personal computer. The subsequent release of the Apple II in 1977 marked one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputers. In 1984, Jobs introduced the Macintosh, the first mass-produced computer with a graphical user interface (GUI).
After a power struggle in 1985, Jobs left Apple and founded NeXT, a company focused on computer platform development. During this period, he also played a crucial role in the development of Pixar, which produced the first 3D computer-animated feature film, "Toy Story," in 1995.
Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 as CEO after Apple acquired NeXT, leading the company from near bankruptcy to become one of the world's most valuable companies. Under his leadership, Apple launched groundbreaking products such as the iMac, iTunes, Mac OS X, Apple Store, iPod, iPhone, App Store, and iPad.
Jobs was diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in 2003 and passed away on October 5, 2011, due to tumor-related respiratory arrest. His visionary leadership and perfectionism significantly influenced the technology industry, and he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022.
Steve Jobs's impact extended beyond technology; he was known for his unique marketing skills and design aesthetic, influenced by Zen Buddhism. He held over 450 patents, primarily related to design, and his legacy continues to inspire innovation and creativity in the tech industry.
