Biographical timeline of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc. and visionary entrepreneur of personal computing, digital animation, and mobile technology, covering key milestones from his birth in 1955 to his death in 2011.
Steven Paul Jobs is born in San Francisco, California, to Joanne Schieble and Abdulfattah Jandali. He is adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs. #biography #tech
Jobs enrolls at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, but drops out after one semester. He continues auditing classes, including calligraphy, which later influences Apple's typography. #education #design
Jobs takes a job at Atari, Inc., where he works on the arcade game Breakout. He later travels to India seeking spiritual enlightenment. #gaming #tech
Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne found Apple Computer Company in Jobs's garage in Cupertino, California. They introduce the Apple I computer. #startup #computing
The Apple II, a mass-market personal computer with color graphics and an open architecture, is launched at the West Coast Computer Faire. It becomes a huge success. #computing #innovation
Apple Computer's initial public offering (IPO) sells 4.6 million shares at $22 per share, generating more capital than any IPO since Ford in 1956. Jobs becomes a multimillionaire. #finance #business
Jobs convinces John Sculley, then CEO of PepsiCo, to join Apple as CEO by asking, "Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life, or do you want to come with me and change the world?" #leadership #business
Apple introduces the Macintosh, the first successful mass-market personal computer with a graphical user interface, during a famous Super Bowl commercial directed by Ridley Scott. #computing #design
After a power struggle with CEO John Sculley, Jobs resigns from Apple. He sells all but one of his shares and later expresses regret over leaving. #career #entrepreneurship
Jobs founds NeXT Inc. to build high-end workstations for education and business. The NeXT Computer is released in 1988, featuring an object-oriented operating system. #computing #startup
Jobs buys the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm for $10 million and renames it Pixar. He invests heavily in the company, which later produces groundbreaking animated films. #animation #business
The NeXT Computer, featuring a 25 MHz Motorola 68030 processor and NeXTSTEP operating system, is introduced at a gala event. It pioneers object-oriented programming tools. #computing #innovation
Steve Jobs marries Laurene Powell at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park. The couple has three children: Reed, Erin, and Eve. #personal #family
NeXT discontinues hardware production and focuses on the NeXTSTEP operating system and OpenStep API, laying groundwork for future Apple software. #software #business
Pixar's first feature film, Toy Story, is released. It is the first entirely computer-animated film and becomes a critical and commercial success, establishing Pixar as a major studio. #animation #movies
Apple announces the acquisition of NeXT for $429 million, bringing Jobs back to Apple as an advisor. NeXTSTEP technology becomes the foundation of Mac OS X. #acquisition #computing
Jobs returns to Apple as interim CEO after Gilbert Amelio's ouster. He restructures the company and ends Mac licensing. #leadership #business
Apple launches the iMac, an all-in-one desktop with a translucent Bondi Blue design. It revives Apple's fortunes and sells over 800,000 units in its first year. #design #computing
Jobs drops the "interim" tag and becomes permanent CEO of Apple Inc. He unveils Mac OS X, a new operating system based on NeXTSTEP. #leadership #software
Apple opens its first two retail stores in Tysons Corner, Virginia, and Glendale, California. The stores become a huge success, redefining retail electronics. #retail #business
Apple introduces the iPod, a portable digital music player with a 5 GB hard drive that holds 1,000 songs. It revolutionizes the music industry. #music #technology
Apple launches the iTunes Store, offering 200,000 songs at 99 cents each. It becomes the world's largest music retailer within years. #music #business
Jobs undergoes surgery for a rare form of pancreatic cancer (pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor). He takes a leave of absence from Apple. #health #personal
Jobs delivers the famous "Stay hungry, stay foolish" commencement speech at Stanford University, sharing personal stories about his life. #inspiration #leadership
Apple unveils the iPod Nano, a slim replacement for the iPod Mini, featuring flash memory and a color screen. It becomes the best-selling music player. #music #innovation
Apple and Motorola release the ROKR E1, an iTunes phone. Additionally, the fifth-generation iPod with video playback is launched. #music #mobile
Disney acquires Pixar for $7.4 billion in an all-stock deal. Jobs becomes Disney's largest individual shareholder and joins the board. #animation #business
Apple announces Boot Camp, allowing Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP, expanding Mac compatibility. #software #computing )
Jobs unveils the iPhone at Macworld, combining a mobile phone, iPod, and internet communicator. It revolutionizes the smartphone industry with a multi-touch interface. #mobile #technology
The first iPhone goes on sale to the public, with thousands lining up at Apple stores. It sells 6.1 million units in its first year. #mobile #retail
Apple launches the App Store with 500 apps. It creates a new app economy and transforms mobile software distribution. #software #business )
Apple updates the iPod Touch and introduces new iPod Classic and Nano models, along with iTunes 8 with Genius playlists. #music #hardware
Jobs announces a six-month medical leave due to his health, and hands daily operations to Tim Cook. He later undergoes a liver transplant. #health #leadership
Jobs returns to work after his liver transplant, appearing at an Apple media event to announce new iPod models. #health #comeback
Jobs unveils the iPad, a tablet computer with a 9.7-inch multi-touch screen. It creates a new category of mobile devices and sells 15 million units in its first year. #tablet #technology
The first-generation iPad goes on sale in the U.S., with customers lining up at Apple stores. It becomes the best-selling new device in history. #tablet #retail
Jobs introduces the iPhone 4 with a Retina display, front-facing camera for FaceTime, and a new design. Antenna issues arise ("Antennagate"). #mobile #technology
Jobs announces a second medical leave of absence, citing his health. Tim Cook again takes over daily operations. #health #leadership
Despite his medical leave, Jobs appears at the iPad 2 launch event, showing the thinner, faster tablet with cameras. #tablet #comeback
Jobs delivers his last keynote at WWDC, unveiling iCloud, a cloud storage and synchronization service, and Mac OS X Lion. #cloud #software
Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple, becoming chairman. Tim Cook is named CEO. Jobs's letter states he can no longer meet his duties. #leadership #career
Steve Jobs dies at his home in Palo Alto, California, at age 56 due to respiratory arrest related to his pancreatic cancer. His legacy endures. #tribute #legacy