Who Founded Apple
Apple was co-founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in 1976, with the primary goal of selling personal computers. Steve Jobs handled vision and marketing, Steve Wozniak engineered the early hardware, and Ronald Wayne briefly held a 10% stake before selling his shares early. The company was formally incorporated in California on January 3, 1977, and later became one of the most valuable public companies in the world according to Forbes.
The founding story centers on Jobs's garage in Los Altos, California, where the first Apple I was assembled and sold as a bare circuit board. Wozniak designed the machine, while Jobs focused on securing orders and raising initial capital. Wayne's early departure meant the three founders never remained together long term, but Jobs and Wozniak are still widely recognized as the core founders of Apple.
Apple's Early Products and Milestones
The Apple II, launched in 1977, became one of the first mass-produced personal computers and helped establish Apple as a major player in the emerging PC industry. The company later introduced the Macintosh in 1984, which popularized the graphical user interface and mouse for mainstream consumers per Apple's official newsroom.
After a period of decline in the 1990s, Apple revived itself with the iMac in 1998, followed by the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, and iPad, which reshaped multiple consumer electronics markets. These products transformed Apple from a niche computer maker into a global consumer brand with a loyal ecosystem of hardware, software, and services.
Apple's Current Business and Financial Standing
Today, Apple operates across hardware, software, and services, with flagship products including the iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods, plus services such as Apple Music, iCloud, and Apple TV+. The company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker AAPL and remains one of the most valuable companies by market capitalization per SEC filings.
Apple's revenue is driven primarily by iPhone sales, followed by Services, Mac, iPad, and Wearables, Home, and Accessories segments. The company continues to expand its ecosystem, invest in artificial intelligence and silicon development, and maintain a strong balance sheet with significant cash reserves and share buyback programs.