Three Little-Known Anecdotes About Steve Jobs

History of Steve Jobs (Full Documentary) [Video]

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Three Little-Known Anecdotes About Steve Jobs, the Founder of Apple

He founded one of the biggest tech giants, but there are still surprising facts in Steve Jobs’ biography.

They founded economic empires, often made headlines, but who are the real tech giants? To get to know them better, we came up with the idea to write this new article dedicated to Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple. Here are 3 little-known anecdotes about this leader who passed away in 2011.

1) Steve Jobs was adopted

Steve Jobs always remained very discreet on this subject, but he was an adopted child. He was born in 1955 to an American mother of Swiss origin, and a father from Syria. In the end, the future entrepreneur was adopted at birth by Paul (an auto mechanic) and Clara Jobs. When asked about this, Steve always explained that they were his parents.

We later learned that Abdulfattah John Jandali, his biological father, tried to send him several emails to establish contact. However, he never dared to directly call his son for fear that he might think he wanted to claim his personal fortune. Steve Jobs never responded to his messages.

Steve Jobs always remained very discreet on this subject, but he was an adopted child.

2) Steve Jobs dropped out of college

He’s far from being the only business leader in this situation, but Steve Jobs never completed his studies. In the 70s, he decided to drop out after a semester at Reed College in Portland. He quickly explained to his parents, who came from a modest background, that they shouldn’t waste their money on an education that wasn’t right for him.

Nevertheless, the entrepreneur didn’t lose out completely. In fact, he revealed years later that a calligraphy course he took during his time at Reed inspired the first fonts offered on Mac computers.

3) Steve Jobs founded Pixar studio

The history of Pixar studio, now under the umbrella of Disney, is quite complex. But Steve Jobs certainly played a clear role in its rise. Everything started in 1979 when George Lucas launched Industrial Light & Magic, a division responsible for creating special effects for his Star Wars films. This division was headed by Edwin Catmull.

In 1986, the filmmaker decided to sell this division, and Jobs, having just been fired from Apple, chose to buy it for 5 million dollars. He renamed the company Pixar. On this occasion, the company developed computers, notably the Pixar Image Computer, which sold for 135,000 dollars and was intended for medical imaging, as reported by BFM. Disney became interested in this machine, which greatly assisted with certain tasks in the design of its animated films.

However, faced with a lack of revenue, Steve decided to abandon the company’s hardware operations and focus on animation. A very wise decision when you consider the many gems produced by the studio since then.

Steve Jobs founded Pixar studio.

A Few Words About Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs (1955-2011), the co-founder of Apple Inc., was a visionary entrepreneur and a transformative tech icon. Born in San Francisco, he was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs. A college dropout, Jobs attended Reed College for a semester but later audited classes, a calligraphy course notably influencing Apple’s future typography.

In 1976, along with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, Jobs founded Apple. Their first product, the Apple I, was followed by the Apple II, setting the stage for personal computer revolutions. However, it was the 1984 Macintosh, introducing a graphical user interface, that solidified Apple’s legacy.

Despite early successes, Jobs faced internal conflicts at Apple, culminating in his resignation in 1985. He then founded NeXT Inc., focusing on high-end workstations. In 1986, Jobs acquired the computer graphics division from Lucasfilm, which became Pixar Animation Studios. Pixar’s partnership with Disney produced hits like “Toy Story,” ultimately leading to Pixar’s acquisition by Disney in 2006, making Jobs Disney’s largest shareholder.

In 1976, along with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, Jobs founded Apple.

In a dramatic turn of events, Apple purchased NeXT in 1996, bringing Jobs back. He assumed leadership, heralding a renaissance at Apple. Products like the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad emerged under his stewardship, reshaping industries and consumer behaviors.

Jobs’ emphasis on design, user experience, and innovative technology made Apple one of the world’s most valuable companies. His presentations, known for their “One more thing…” moments, became legendary.

In 2004, Jobs announced he had a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Despite health struggles, he continued to lead Apple until August 2011. On October 5, 2011, the tech world mourned as Jobs passed away, but his legacy as a pioneer of the digital age endures.