Steve Jobs's profile picture

Steve Jobs' Milestones

Steve Jobs (1955–2011), Apple co-founder, revolutionized technology and design, leaving a lasting impact on the way we live and communicate.
1955

Birth

Steven Paul Jobs was born in San Francisco, California, to Joanne Carole Schieble and Abdulfattah Jandali, who gave him up for adoption.

Family February 24, 1955

Adoption

Adopted by Paul Reinhold Jobs, a machinist, and Clara Hagopian Jobs, an accountant, shortly after birth. They named him Steven Paul Jobs.

Family March 1, 1955
1957

Sister Patricia adopted

Paul and Clara Jobs adopted Patricia (Patti) two years after Steve.

Family January 1, 1957
1961

Moved to Mountain View

Family moved from San Francisco to a tract house in Monta Loma, Mountain View, California, when Steve was about to start elementary school.

Location August 1, 1961

Started elementary school

Attended Monta Loma Elementary School in Mountain View. He was often bored and played pranks, but a fourth-grade teacher, Imogene Hill, recognized his intelligence and motivated him.

Education September 1, 1961 - June 1, 1967
1963

Developed interest in electronics

Encouraged by his father Paul, developed an early interest in electronics and mechanics, working on projects in the family garage in Mountain View.

Other January 1, 1963
1965

Skipped 5th grade

Due to his advanced performance in 4th grade, he skipped the 5th grade and transferred directly to 6th grade at Crittenden Middle School in Mountain View.

Education September 1, 1965
1967

Moved to Los Altos

Family moved to Los Altos, California, allowing Steve to attend Cupertino Junior High and later Homestead High School. The family garage on Crist Drive would later become the first site of Apple Computer.

Location July 1, 1967
1968

Summer job at HP

At age 13, got a summer job on the assembly line at Hewlett-Packard after boldly cold-calling co-founder Bill Hewlett to ask for parts for a frequency counter.

Career June 1, 1968 - August 31, 1968
1969

Started high school

Attended Homestead High School in Cupertino, California, where he further developed his interests in electronics and counterculture.

Education September 1, 1969 - June 1, 1973
1971

Met Steve Wozniak

Met Stephen 'Steve' Wozniak, who was five years older, through mutual friend Bill Fernandez. They bonded over electronics and pranks.

Relationship January 1, 1971

Built "Blue Boxes"

With Wozniak, built and sold 'Blue Boxes', illegal devices that allowed making free long-distance phone calls, their first entrepreneurial venture.

Achievement September 1, 1971 - June 1, 1972
1973

Graduated high school

Graduated from Homestead High School.

Achievement June 15, 1973

Started Reed College

Enrolled at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, a liberal arts college known for its progressive environment.

Education September 1, 1973 - February 1, 1974
1974

Audited calligraphy class at Reed

After dropping out, audited a calligraphy class at Reed College, which he later credited with influencing the Macintosh's typography, multiple typefaces, and proportionally spaced fonts.

Education February 1, 1974 - June 1, 1974

Dropped out of Reed

Officially dropped out of Reed College after one semester due to the financial burden on his parents, but continued to audit classes that interested him for another 18 months.

Education February 1, 1974

Trip to India

Traveled to India with Reed friend Daniel Kottke in search of spiritual enlightenment at the Kainchi Dham ashram of Neem Karoli Baba; returned a Buddhist with a shaved head.

Other April 1, 1974 - September 1, 1974

Job at Atari

Worked as a technician at Atari, hired by Al Alcorn. He was tasked with creating a circuit board for the game Breakout, enlisting Wozniak's help.

Career October 1, 1974 - March 1, 1975
1975

Apple I development

Collaborated with Wozniak on developing the Apple I computer, primarily in the Jobs family garage in Los Altos. Jobs focused on the vision and marketability.

Career June 1, 1975 - March 1, 1976
1976

Founded Apple Computer

Co-founded Apple Computer Company with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Wayne sold his 10% share back to Jobs and Wozniak for $800 days later.

Career April 1, 1976

Apple I sales

Secured Apple's first major order: 50 Apple I computers from Paul Terrell's Byte Shop in Mountain View, at $500 each (they retailed for $666.66). About 200 units were produced in total.

Achievement July 1, 1976
1977

Mike Markkula investment

Secured crucial investment from Armas Clifford 'Mike' Markkula Jr., a retired Intel marketing manager, who invested $250,000 ($92,000 as an equity investment and $158,000 as a loan) and helped incorporate Apple Computer, Inc.

Career January 3, 1977

Apple II launch

Launched the Apple II computer at the West Coast Computer Faire. Its user-friendly design and color graphics made it a massive success and one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputers.

Achievement April 16, 1977
1978

Began Lisa project

Began work on the Apple Lisa project, envisioned as a powerful personal computer with a graphical user interface. Named after his daughter, though he publicly denied this at the time.

Career January 1, 1978 - September 1, 1980

Daughter Lisa born

Daughter Lisa Nicole Brennan (later Brennan-Jobs) born to his former girlfriend Chrisann Brennan. Jobs initially denied paternity for several years, though a DNA test confirmed it.

Family May 17, 1978
1979

Xerox PARC visit

Arranged two visits to Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), where he and other Apple engineers saw demonstrations of the Alto computer's graphical user interface (GUI), inspiring features for Lisa and Macintosh.

Other December 1, 1979
1980

Removed from Lisa project

Removed from the Lisa project by Apple President Michael Scott due to his difficult management style. He then shifted his focus to the smaller Macintosh project.

Career September 1, 1980

Apple goes public

Apple Computer went public (AAPL), offering 4.6 million shares at $22 per share. It was the largest IPO since Ford Motor Company in 1956, making Jobs a multimillionaire.

Achievement December 12, 1980
1981

Took over Macintosh project

Took over the Macintosh project from Jef Raskin, redirecting it to create a revolutionary, more affordable personal computer with a GUI.

Career January 1, 1981 - January 24, 1984
1983

Lisa computer released

Apple Lisa computer released. Technologically advanced but commercially unsuccessful due to its high price ($9,995) and slow performance.

Achievement January 19, 1983
1984

Macintosh launch

Launched the original Macintosh computer with the iconic '1984' Super Bowl commercial directed by Ridley Scott. It popularized the GUI.

Achievement January 24, 1984
1985

Power struggle at Apple

Lost a boardroom power struggle with CEO John Sculley, whom Jobs had recruited. The board sided with Sculley, stripping Jobs of most of his operational responsibilities.

Career May 24, 1985

Founded NeXT

Founded NeXT Inc. with $7 million of his own money and several former Apple employees, aiming to build powerful workstation computers for the higher education and business markets.

Career September 1, 1985

Resigned from Apple

Formally resigned as Chairman of Apple Computer after being sidelined. He sold all but one of his Apple shares.

Career September 17, 1985
1986

Purchased Pixar

Bought The Graphics Group (later renamed Pixar) from Lucasfilm's computer graphics division for $5 million, investing an additional $5 million as capital. Initially a high-end graphics hardware company.

Career February 3, 1986
1988

NeXT Computer unveiled

Unveiled the NeXT Computer (the 'Cube') at a lavish launch event at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco. It was technologically advanced but expensive ($6,500).

Achievement October 12, 1988
1989

Met Laurene Powell

Met his future wife Laurene Powell when he gave a lecture at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was a student.

Relationship October 1, 1989
1990

Engagement to Laurene

Proposed to Laurene Powell on New Year's Day 1990.

Relationship January 1, 1990

NeXTstation released

NeXT released the NeXTstation, a lower-cost 'slab' version of the NeXT computer, still aimed at academic and business markets.

Achievement September 18, 1990
1991

Married Laurene Powell

Married Laurene Powell in a Buddhist ceremony officiated by Kōbun Chino Otogawa at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park.

Relationship March 18, 1991

Son Reed born

First child with Laurene, son Reed Paul Jobs, born.

Family September 22, 1991
1993

NeXT hardware discontinued

NeXT announced it would stop manufacturing hardware and focus on its innovative NeXTSTEP operating system software.

Career February 10, 1993

Father Paul died

His adoptive father, Paul Jobs, died.

Family March 5, 1993
1995

Daughter Erin born

Second child with Laurene, daughter Erin Siena Jobs, born.

Family August 19, 1995

Toy Story released

Pixar's first full-length feature film, Toy Story, was released. It was a massive critical and commercial success, revolutionizing animated filmmaking and making Jobs a billionaire after the IPO.

Achievement November 22, 1995

Pixar IPO

Pixar (PIXR) went public one week after Toy Story's release. The IPO was hugely successful, valuing Jobs' stake at over $1 billion.

Achievement November 29, 1995
1996

Apple acquired NeXT

Apple announced it would acquire NeXT for $429 million in cash and 1.5 million Apple shares. The deal, finalized on Feb 7, 1997, brought Jobs back to Apple as an advisor, and NeXTSTEP became the foundation for Mac OS X.

Career December 20, 1996 - February 7, 1997
1997

Became Apple interim CEO

Named interim CEO (iCEO) of Apple after CEO Gil Amelio was ousted in July. Jobs initially stated he would not stay permanently.

Career September 16, 1997

Launched 'Think Different' campaign

Spearheaded the 'Think Different' advertising campaign, featuring iconic 20th-century figures, which helped to revitalize Apple's brand image and signal a new era for the company.

Achievement September 28, 1997
1998

Daughter Eve born

Third child with Laurene, daughter Eve Jobs, born.

Family May 1, 1998

iMac launched

Unveiled the iMac, a colorful, all-in-one translucent computer. It was a huge commercial success, revitalized Apple, and marked its comeback. Shipped August 15.

Achievement May 6, 1998 - August 15, 1998
2000

Became permanent CEO

Dropped the 'interim' title and officially became permanent CEO of Apple during his keynote at Macworld Expo.

Career January 5, 2000
2001

Opened first Apple Retail Stores

Oversaw the opening of the first two Apple retail stores in Tysons Corner, Virginia, and Glendale, California, a risky but ultimately highly successful venture that redefined tech retail.

Achievement May 19, 2001

iPod launched

Unveiled the iPod, a portable digital music player that could hold '1,000 songs in your pocket.' It revolutionized the music industry and Apple's business.

Achievement October 23, 2001
2003

iTunes Store launched

Launched the iTunes Music Store, a legal online music marketplace offering 99-cent song downloads, which quickly became the dominant online music retailer.

Achievement April 28, 2003

Cancer diagnosis

Diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer (pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, or PNET) during an abdominal scan. Initially resisted conventional medical treatment, opting for alternative therapies for nine months.

Health October 1, 2003
2004

Cancer surgery

Underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) at Stanford University Medical Center to remove the tumor. Publicly announced his illness in August.

Health July 31, 2004
2005

Announced Mac transition to Intel

Announced at WWDC that Apple would begin transitioning its Macintosh computers from IBM PowerPC processors to Intel processors, a major strategic shift.

Achievement June 6, 2005

Stanford commencement speech

Delivered a widely acclaimed commencement address at Stanford University, sharing life lessons and urging graduates to 'Stay hungry. Stay foolish.'

Achievement June 12, 2005
2006

Disney acquired Pixar

The Walt Disney Company announced it would acquire Pixar Animation Studios in an all-stock transaction valued at $7.4 billion. The deal, completed May 5, made Jobs Disney's largest individual shareholder and a member of its board.

Achievement January 24, 2006 - May 5, 2006

Apple stock option investigation

Apple became embroiled in a stock option backdating scandal. An internal investigation and the SEC later cleared Jobs of misconduct, though it found he was aware of some favorable grant dates. The company had to restate earnings.

Other October 1, 2006 - April 1, 2007
2007

iPhone launched

Unveiled the iPhone at Macworld Conference & Expo, a revolutionary touchscreen smartphone that combined an iPod, mobile phone, and internet communicator. 'Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone.'

Achievement January 9, 2007

iPhone released

The iPhone went on sale in the US, transforming the mobile phone industry and becoming one of Apple's most successful products.

Achievement June 29, 2007
2009

Medical leave for hormone imbalance

Announced a medical leave of absence due to a 'hormone imbalance' that was 'more complex' than originally thought. Tim Cook took over daily operations.

Health January 14, 2009 - June 29, 2009

Liver transplant

Received a liver transplant in Memphis, Tennessee, during his medical leave. Details were kept private until after his return to Apple in June 2009.

Health April 1, 2009
2010

iPad launched

Unveiled the iPad, a tablet computer that defined a new category of device between a smartphone and a laptop.

Achievement January 27, 2010

iPad released

The iPad went on sale, selling over 300,000 units on its first day and millions within months, creating a new market for tablet computers.

Achievement April 3, 2010

Addressed 'Antennagate'

Held a press conference to address antenna performance issues with the newly released iPhone 4 ('Antennagate'), acknowledging the problem and offering free bumper cases to affected customers.

Other July 16, 2010
2011

Third medical leave

Announced a third medical leave of absence to 'focus on his health.' Tim Cook again stepped in as acting CEO.

Health January 17, 2011

Resigned as CEO

Resigned as CEO of Apple, stating he could 'no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO.' He strongly recommended Tim Cook as his successor.

Career August 24, 2011

Named Chairman of Apple

Became Chairman of Apple's board of directors immediately following his resignation as CEO.

Career August 24, 2011 - October 5, 2011

Death

Died at his home in Palo Alto, California, at age 56, from complications related to the relapse of his pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. Apple announced his death with the statement: 'Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being.'

Family October 5, 2011