Who Founded Apple and When
Apple Inc. was founded on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in Cupertino, California. The company was formally incorporated on January 3, 1977, and has since grown into one of the most valuable public companies in the world. This article summarizes the founders, the founding timeline, and the early milestones that shaped Apple's history.
The founding story is widely documented in official filings, biographies, and corporate histories. The three co-founders each played a distinct role: Wozniak designed the hardware, Jobs drove product vision and marketing, and Wayne drafted the original partnership agreement and created the first logo. Wayne left the company just 12 days after co-founding it, selling his 10% stake for $800. For more background on the partnership and early corporate structure, see the SEC filings and historical summaries available on the Apple Investor Relations page and the SEC EDGAR system.
Founders and Early History
Steve Jobs, born in 1955, became the public face of Apple and later returned as CEO in 1997 after the company acquired NeXT. Steve Wozniak, born in 1950, engineered the Apple I and Apple II computers that launched the company. Ronald Wayne, born in 1954, co-drafted the original partnership agreement but exited early, forfeiting what later became a multi-billion-dollar stake. Their combined efforts in a garage in Los Altos, California, marked the start of the personal computing revolution.
The Apple I was sold as a bare circuit board in 1976, targeting hobbyists and small businesses. The Apple II, introduced in 1977, became one of the first mass-produced personal computers with color graphics and an open architecture. Apple went public on December 12, 1980, at $22 per share, generating more instant paper wealth than any IPO before it. Detailed financial and corporate history can be explored through Apple's official investor relations site and the SEC EDGAR system for filings and annual reports.
Founding Date, Location, and Corporate Timeline
The founding date of April 1, 1976, is recorded in Apple's corporate history and multiple reliable sources. The company was initially registered as Apple Computer Company and later renamed Apple Inc. after dropping "Computer" in 2007 to reflect its expanded focus on consumer electronics, software, and services. The headquarters moved from Jobs' childhood home to the current Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California.
Apple's corporate timeline includes key milestones such as the launch of the Macintosh in 1984, the return of Steve Jobs in 1997, the introduction of the iPod in 2001, the iPhone in 2007, and the iPad in 2010. The company is consistently ranked among the largest public companies by market capitalization and revenue. For current financial data and corporate filings, refer to Apple's official investor relations page and the SEC EDGAR system.