Steve Jobs, counted among the greatest American CEOs of his generation, was truly an iconic man whose quirks, too, are as famous as his products. The former Apple CEO passed away in 2011, and while you know him as the guy to thank for why you have an iPhone, here are 75 rare things you didn’t know about Steve Jobs, aka the greatest pirate of Silicon Valley:
75. He Was a Father of Four
Jobs had four children: Lisa, from his relationship with Chrisann Brennan, and three children with his wife, Laurene Powell Jobs. He shielded much of his family life from public view.
74. In 1983, He Discussed Portable Wireless Computers
At a design conference in Aspen, Jobs voiced his desire for a computer compact enough to carry like a book, with a radio connection to other computers. This came many years before the iPhone or iPad existed.
73. Woz First Pitched His Computer Design to HP
While employed at Hewlett-Packard, Wozniak came up with his early personal computer design. He presented the idea to his employer, but HP declined it, which left him and Jobs free to develop it through Apple.
72. He Was Instrumental in Bringing the Apple II to Market
Designed by Wozniak, the Apple II launched in 1977, featuring color graphics and an integrated keyboard. Before its release, Jobs and Wozniak demonstrated it at the West Coast Computer Faire.
71. He Unveiled the Plans for Apple Park
In June 2011, Jobs addressed the Cupertino City Council regarding Apple’s plans for a new campus. That campus, featuring a large circular building, would eventually be known as Apple Park.
70. Apple Released a U2 Edition iPod
In 2004, Apple collaborated with U2 on a special-edition iPod. It featured a black casing, a red scroll wheel, and the signatures of the band members engraved on it.
69. He Wanted the Macintosh to Operate Quietly
Jobs was against having a loud fan inside the original Macintosh. Instead of a fan, the computer was built to draw cooling air through its casing.
68. Pixar’s Lamp Originated in an Early Short Film
The small lamp seen in Pixar’s logo made its debut in Luxo Jr., a 1986 animated short. That film was produced in the very year Jobs helped set up Pixar as an independent company.
67. Apple Went Public at the Age of 25 for Him
On December 12, 1980, Apple started offering shares to the public. Jobs was only 25 at the time, and the company he had helped found was merely four years old.
66. The Name of the iPod Was Tied to a Film
Freelance copywriter Vinnie Chieco remarked that the white music player brought to mind the space pods from 2001: A Space Odyssey. That association is what ultimately steered him toward the name iPod.
65. He headed both Apple and Pixar simultaneously
Once he was back at Apple, Jobs went on to lead Pixar as well. For a number of years, he served as CEO of both a computer company and an animation studio.
64. He was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2022, President Joe Biden posthumously awarded Jobs the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It ranks among the highest civilian honors bestowed in the United States.
63. He stepped down only weeks before he passed away
On August 24, 2011, Jobs stepped down as Apple’s CEO, and Tim Cook assumed the position. Jobs took on the role of chairman of the board and passed away on October 5 of that year.
62. His biographer sat down with him on more than 40 occasions
Steve Jobs, the biography written by Walter Isaacson, was published in 2011. Over a two-year span, Isaacson interviewed Jobs more than 40 times and also talked with members of his family, his friends, and his colleagues.
61. He Borrowed His Famous Stanford Advice
Jobs closed out his 2005 Stanford commencement address with the words “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” He had come across them on the back cover of an issue of The Whole Earth Catalog, which he had admired when he was a young man.
60. The Lisa Computer Shared His Daughter’s Name
In 1983, Apple brought out a computer named Lisa. For years Jobs insisted it was not named for his daughter Lisa, though he eventually admitted to biographer Walter Isaacson that it was.
59. He Was a Big Bob Dylan Fan
Jobs was an admirer of Bob Dylan, and Dylan’s music even featured in an Apple presentation. To kick off the 1984 Macintosh unveiling, Jobs read aloud lines from a Dylan song.
58. He Once Wanted Apple Employees to Wear Uniforms
After observing the uniforms at Sony, Jobs requested that Issey Miyake create a vest for Apple’s staff. As his biographer recounted, the staff did not take to the idea.
57. His Black Turtlenecks Came From a Fashion Designer
The black top Jobs habitually wore was the work of Japanese designer Issey Miyake. Combined with jeans and sneakers, it turned into a look that people could spot from far away.
56. The Concept for the iPad Predated the iPhone
Even though the iPhone made it to store shelves first, Jobs noted that Apple had been developing a tablet concept before shifting its focus to a phone. That tablet endeavor ultimately evolved into the iPad.
55. The First iPhone Demo Was Meticulously Rehearsed
The prototype Jobs demonstrated onstage in 2007 was nowhere near complete. Team members later recounted a precisely scripted series of actions that kept the demo running without a hitch.
54. The Original iPhone Shipped Without an App Store
Anyone who purchased the original iPhone in 2007 had no way to download apps from an App Store. Apple only launched the store in 2008, a full year after the phone’s introduction.
53. Apple Removed the Word Computer From Its Name
The same day Jobs unveiled the iPhone in 2007, he revealed that Apple Computer, Inc. would be renamed Apple Inc. By that point, the company’s business extended well beyond computers.
52. He Unveiled the iPhone as Three Products in One
During Macworld 2007, Jobs unveiled the iPhone as a single device combining an iPod, a phone, and an internet communicator. This reveal happened several months before the first iPhone hit store shelves.
51. At one point, iTunes sold songs for 99 cents apiece
In 2003, Apple introduced the iTunes Music Store, stocked with over 200,000 songs. People could purchase single tracks at 99 cents each, with no subscription required.
50. The Original iPod Was Priced at $399
When Jobs unveiled the iPod in 2001, it came with a 5 GB hard drive and was said to hold as many as 1,000 songs. At the time of launch, a Mac was also required to use it.
49. Apple Launched Its First Stores in 2001
On May 19, 2001, the first two Apple retail locations opened their doors, one in Virginia and one in California. Over 7,700 people came through them in their first two days of operation.
48. Jobs and Wozniak Earned a National Medal
In 1985, President Ronald Reagan presented Jobs and Wozniak with the National Medal of Technology in recognition of their contributions to personal computers. Both men received the honor the same year Jobs departed from Apple.
47. Pixar’s Stock Debut Came Right After Toy Story
Pixar started trading on the stock market only a week after Toy Story hit theaters. The shares opened at $22 and ended their first day of trading at $39.
46. Toy Story Broke New Ground
In 1995, while Jobs was at the helm of the company, Pixar released Toy Story. The first feature film created entirely through computer animation featured Woody and Buzz in the lead roles.
45. Pixar Earned an Oscar Before Toy Story
In 1989, Pixar’s short film Tin Toy took home the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. It became the first computer-animated film ever to win an Oscar.
44. Pixar Used to Sell Computers
Animated feature films weren’t always what Pixar was known for. During its early years with Jobs at the helm, the company sold a device called the Pixar Image Computer and produced animated shorts as well.
43. The First iMac Shipped Without a Floppy Drive
The brightly colored iMac that Jobs unveiled in 1998 omitted a feature computer users had come to expect: a floppy drive. The debut model was offered in a translucent color known as Bondi Blue.
42. He Struck a Deal With Microsoft
In 1997, Jobs revealed that Apple had reached an agreement with Microsoft, its rival of long standing. Under the deal, Microsoft put $150 million into Apple and pledged to keep developing Office for the Mac.
41. At one point, he gave himself the title of iCEO.
Jobs came back to Apple at first in the role of interim CEO. In 2000, when he shed the interim label, he remarked that he would continue to go by the nickname “iCEO.”
40. At Apple, He Accepted a $1 Salary
For years following his return, Jobs took an annual salary of only $1 from Apple. On top of that, he received valuable compensation in other forms, such as stock options.
39. NeXT Software Eventually Reached the Mac
In 1997, Apple acquired NeXT, which brought Jobs back to the company. The software from NeXT later served as the basis for Mac OS X, the operating system that grew into macOS.
38. A NeXT Computer Hosted the First Website
While developing the World Wide Web at CERN, Tim Berners-Lee worked on a NeXT computer. By the close of 1990, that machine was running the first web server and browser.
37. He Went On to Launch Another Computer Company
Once he had left Apple, Jobs went on to establish NeXT. The company built computers intended partly for universities, among them a striking black model unveiled in 1988.
36. A Power Struggle Led Him to Leave Apple
Jobs did not simply get fired from Apple in 1985. Following a clash with Sculley that cost him his leadership position in the Macintosh division, he stepped down from the very company he had helped found.
35. He Brought a Pepsi Executive Onboard to Lead Apple
Jobs convinced John Sculley to leave Pepsi and take on the role of Apple’s CEO in 1983. Their relationship eventually deteriorated, and the two found themselves on opposing sides in a power struggle.
34. The First Macintosh Introduced Itself
When Jobs unveiled the Macintosh in 1984, the computer introduced itself to the audience using a synthesized voice. It was a pretty effective way to demonstrate what the new machine was capable of.
33. A Renowned Film Director Created the Mac Ad
The Macintosh made its debut alongside a Super Bowl commercial titled “1984,” which was directed by Ridley Scott. The ad aired in January 1984, just two days before Jobs presented the computer onstage.
32. The Macintosh Team Put Their Signatures on Their Work
If you open up an early Macintosh case, you’ll discover signatures molded into its interior. Before the case went into production, Jobs and members of the Mac team signed their names.
31. At Xerox, he caught a glimpse of what the future held
In 1979, Jobs and Apple engineers paid a visit to Xerox PARC, where they encountered a computer interface featuring windows and a mouse. The visit strengthened concepts Apple was already pursuing for its own machines.
30. Jobs Was Not the One Who Named the Macintosh
Apple employee Jef Raskin launched the Macintosh project and named it after the McIntosh, his favorite variety of apple. Jobs later took charge of the project and helped bring the computer to market.
29. The Bite in the Apple Served a Practical Purpose
In 1977, designer Rob Janoff created the rainbow Apple logo. According to him, he added the bite so people would recognize the shape as an apple rather than a smaller fruit such as a cherry.
28. Isaac Newton Appeared in the First Apple Logo
Long before the familiar bitten apple, the company’s logo depicted Isaac Newton seated beneath an apple tree. Ronald Wayne drew the intricate design, though it didn’t remain in use for long.
27. An Orchard Inspired the Apple Name
Jobs came up with the name Apple after spending time at an orchard in Oregon. Compared with many computer company names of the era, it felt far more approachable.
26. The Apple I Was Sold Without a Screen
When you think of the Apple I, don’t imagine a full desktop computer. It was sold as a circuit board, and buyers had to supply their own keyboard and display.
25. The First Apple Computer Carried an Unusual Price Tag
The Apple I was priced at $666.66. Nothing eerie lay behind that figure: Wozniak picked it simply because he liked repeated digits.
24. A Computer Store Placed Apple’s First Major Order
The Byte Shop placed an order for 50 Apple I computers, paying $500 apiece. Fulfilling that order marked a major step for Jobs and Wozniak, who first had to figure out how to fund the parts.
23. Apple Actually Had Three Founders
When Apple got its start in 1976, Jobs and Wozniak were not on their own. Ronald Wayne was the third founder, yet within less than two weeks of the company’s formation, he sold his 10 percent stake for $800.
22. He Sold His Van to Help Launch Apple
Getting a computer company off the ground required money that the two Steves simply did not have. Jobs parted with his Volkswagen bus, and Wozniak sold his treasured Hewlett-Packard calculator, so they could help cover the cost of parts.
21. Their First Business Was Selling Blue Boxes
Prior to selling computers, Jobs and Wozniak built and sold electronic gadgets known as blue boxes. These devices were able to imitate telephone tones, allowing users to place long-distance calls without being charged.
20. Woz Assisted Him With an Arcade Game
While at Atari, Jobs enlisted Wozniak’s help with the circuit design for the arcade game Breakout. It was yet another early endeavor that united the two friends before Apple’s rise.
19. He Took a Job at Atari
Prior to Apple, Jobs found work at Atari, the video game company. He came aboard as a technician in 1974, back when the arcade industry was still in its early days.
18. He Gathered Bottles to Pay for Food
While at Reed, Jobs crashed on friends’ floors and brought back empty Coke bottles to collect the five-cent deposit. On Sundays, he would also walk across town to get a meal at a Hare Krishna temple.
17. A Calligraphy Course Shaped the Mac
Calligraphy was one of those courses. Years afterward, Jobs noted that the lessons he absorbed about typefaces and spacing helped shape the typography designed into the first Macintosh.
16. He Didn’t Depart Reed Immediately
Quitting school didn’t stop Jobs from attending classes. He remained at Reed for roughly another year and a half, dropping in on courses that caught his interest.
15. A Mutual Friend Introduced Him to Woz
Jobs was introduced to Steve Wozniak by Bill Fernandez, a friend they both shared. The two Steves bonded over a shared interest in electronics, and that friendship ultimately gave rise to Apple.
14. He Called Bill Hewlett for Parts
At around age 12, Jobs needed parts for an electronics project, so he phoned Bill Hewlett, the co-founder of Hewlett-Packard. Hewlett supplied the parts and also gave him a summer job at the company.
13. His Father Gave Him a Workbench
Paul Jobs, a machinist by trade, showed his son how to disassemble things and then reassemble them. He even reserved a space at his workbench for young Steve to use.
12. His Biological Sister Is a Novelist
Jobs had a biological sister named Mona Simpson, who went on to become a novelist. The two did not meet until they were adults in the 1980s, after which they built a close relationship.
11. He Was Adopted
Born in San Francisco in 1955, Jobs was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs. His biological mother made his adoptive parents promise that he would attend college, and they honored that promise when he enrolled at Reed.
10. Steve Jobs’ Father
His biological father, Abdulfattah Jandali, was a Syrian Muslim. So, Steve Jobs had Syrian ancestry, though he practiced Buddhism. His father, Jandali, was a vice president at Boomtown Hotel Casino and was once a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno.
9. His Total Worth
Forbes estimated Steve Jobs’ net worth at $7 billion in September 2011, shortly before his death. He was number #39 on the Forbes list of the Richest People in America in 2011.
Much of his fortune came from his Disney shares, which he received when Disney bought Pixar.
8. He Was a Buddhist
He was such a hardcore Zen Buddhist that he almost thought about joining a monastery and becoming a monk. He was married in a Buddhist tradition by a Zen monk who was his guru.
7. He Enjoyed LSD
After dropping out of college, Jobs traveled to India. He also became a Buddhist and experimented with the psychedelic drug LSD.
Steve described his LSD experiences as one of the two or three most important things he had done in his life.
6. He Didn’t Eat Meat
He followed a mostly vegetarian diet for much of his life and sometimes ate fish. At other times, he followed more restrictive diets, including periods when he ate mainly fruit.
5. He Was a Player
Before marrying his wife, Laurene Powell, in 1991. Steve dated Diane and Joan. He also fathered a child with a woman named Chrisann Brennan, but denied paternity, claiming he was sterile.
He later acknowledged being the baby daddy.
4. Apple’s Father
After more than 10 years away from Apple, he returned in 1997 to a company that was struggling in the late ’90s. But as soon as he returned, Steve Jobs started doing his magic all over again at Apple.
A few years later, in 2001, he introduced the iPod and never looked back.
3. A Great Innovator
Jobs had his name listed as an inventor or co-inventor on hundreds of US patents and patent applications related to a range of technologies from actual computers and portable devices to user interfaces (including touch-based), speakers, keyboards, power adapters, staircases, clasps, sleeves, lanyards, and packages.
2. He Co-Founded Pixar
Jobs was so attached to Apple that most people don’t know that in 1986, Steve Jobs purchased Lucasfilm’s computer graphics division and helped establish Pixar, paying $5 million for the division and investing an additional $5 million in the company.
Jobs was also one of the people responsible for the sale of Pixar to Disney nearly 20 years later.
1. A College Drop-Out
So, like Mark Zuckerberg, who dropped out of Harvard to create Facebook, Steve Jobs, too, had some better things to do than going to school. He attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon, but dropped out after 6 months.
Three years later, he co-founded Apple.
Do you know any interesting facts about Steve Jobs that we missed? Share with us in the comments below!
Title Image Courtesy: Flickr/Dunk