Steve Jobs – Biography, Net Worth, Death, and Legacy

Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc., remains one of the most influential figures in modern technology. From the early days of the personal computer to the smartphone revolution, his career shaped how billions interact with devices. This article covers the essential facts about his life, his death, his net worth, his family, and the books and films that explore his legacy.

Born on February 24, 1955, in San Francisco, Jobs was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs. He dropped out of Reed College after one semester but continued auditing classes. In 1976, together with Steve Wozniak, he co-founded Apple in a garage, setting the stage for a career that would redefine multiple industries.

Jobs died on October 5, 2011, at the age of 56, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. His impact, however, endures through the products he helped create and the culture of innovation he inspired. Below is a fast-reference guide to the most frequently asked questions about his life.

Steve Jobs facts

Steve Jobs at a glance

Key insights

• Steve Jobs co-founded Apple in 1976 with Steve Wozniak, revolutionizing personal computing.
• He was ousted from Apple in 1985, founded NeXT and acquired Pixar, then returned to save Apple in 1997.
• Jobs introduced the iPhone in 2007, transforming the mobile industry.
• He died of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in 2011 at age 56.
• His net worth at death was approximately $10–11 billion, mostly from Disney stock after Pixar acquisition.
• Jobs had four children: Reed, Erin, Eve, and Lisa (from a previous relationship).
• Despite rumors, his IQ was never officially documented; estimates vary widely.
• The official biography “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson is a definitive resource.

Quick fact table

Steve Jobs death

Jobs passed away on October 5, 2011, in Palo Alto, California. The cause of death was complications related to a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, a rare form of pancreatic cancer. He had been battling the disease since his diagnosis in 2004.

Age at death

Jobs was 56 years old when he died. He was born on February 24, 1955, and his death occurred just over two months after he resigned as CEO of Apple on August 24, 2011.

Circumstances of his final years

After his initial diagnosis, Jobs underwent surgery in 2004 and appeared to recover. However, the cancer returned. In 2009 he received a liver transplant and took medical leave. He continued to work sporadically until his resignation in August 2011.

Steve Jobs net worth

Peak net worth

Sources disagree on the exact figure of Jobs’ wealth at the time of his death. According to Biography.com, his net worth peaked at $8.3 billion. Other estimates, cited by Celebrity Net Worth, place it as high as $10.2 billion. The variation stems largely from the fluctuating value of his Disney stock, which he acquired after selling Pixar to Disney in 2006.

Sources of his wealth

Jobs’ wealth came primarily from his holdings in Apple and Disney. He owned about 5.5 million shares of Apple stock and was the largest individual shareholder of Disney, with roughly 7.7% of the company’s shares after the Pixar acquisition. Wikipedia notes that at age 25 his net worth was estimated at $250 million in today’s dollars, adjusted for inflation.

Steve Jobs book

The definitive biography by Walter Isaacson

The most authoritative biography is Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, published in 2011. Isaacson conducted more than forty interviews with Jobs, as well as interviews with family members, friends, and colleagues. The book covers his entire life and career in detail.

Movies about Steve Jobs

Jobs has been portrayed in several biographical films. While the exact titles were not named in the available research, the most well-known film is the 2015 movie “Steve Jobs” directed by Danny Boyle, with Michael Fassbender playing Jobs. An earlier 2013 film “Jobs” starred Ashton Kutcher. The search results do not provide a direct link to a specific movie page.

Steve Jobs – Apple

A timeline of his career at Apple and beyond

1. 1955 – Born in San Francisco, adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs.
2. 1972 – Enters Reed College, drops out after one semester.
3. 1974 – Works at Atari, travels to India.
4. 1976 – Founds Apple Computer with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne.
5. 1977 – Launches Apple II, first successful mass-market computer.
6. 1984 – Introduces the Macintosh with the iconic “1984” Super Bowl ad.
7. 1985 – Ousted from Apple after power struggle with John Sculley.
8. 1985 – Founds NeXT Inc., develops NeXTSTEP operating system.
9. 1986 – Acquires Pixar from Lucasfilm for $10 million.
10. 1997 – Apple acquires NeXT, Jobs returns as interim CEO.
11. 1998 – Launch of iMac, begins Apple’s turnaround.
12. 2001 – Launch of iPod and iTunes.
13. 2004 – Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, undergoes surgery.
14. 2007 – Launch of iPhone, revolutionizes mobile phones.
15. 2009 – Takes medical leave for liver transplant.
16. 2010 – Launch of iPad.
17. 2011 – Resigns as CEO; dies on October 5.

Separating fact from speculation

Some aspects of Steve Jobs’ life are well established, while others remain unclear or are based on anecdotal reports.

Established information

• His birth and death dates are verified via public records.
• He co-founded Apple, NeXT, and Pixar.
• He had four children: Lisa, Reed, Erin, and Eve.
• Cause of death: complications from pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.

Information that remains unclear

• Exact net worth at death varies by source (range $10.2–$11 billion).
• His IQ is not documented; any numbers are speculative.
• Some details about his early life (e.g., exact reasons for dropping out) are based on anecdotal accounts.
• Rumor about “next Steve Jobs” is subjective – no clear successor.

What does “next Steve Jobs” mean?

The phrase “next Steve Jobs” is often used in media to describe a visionary leader who combines technical insight with design sensibility and the ability to create new markets. Figures like Elon Musk and Tim Cook are frequently compared to Jobs, but no single person perfectly mirrors his unique combination of traits. Jobs’ leadership style was demanding and his “reality distortion field” was legendary, making the search for a successor more of a cultural question than a factual one.

Steve Jobs’ most famous speeches and quotes

“Stay hungry, stay foolish.”

Steve Jobs, Stanford commencement speech (2005)

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”

Apple ‘Think Different’ campaign (1997)

“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”

Stanford commencement speech (2005)

The full transcript of Jobs’ 2005 Stanford address is available through Stanford News.

What is Steve Jobs’ lasting legacy?

Jobs’ impact on technology, design, and business is difficult to overstate. He pioneered the personal computer with the Mac, transformed the music industry with the iPod and iTunes, redefined the smartphone with the iPhone, and created the tablet market with the iPad. His insistence on simplicity and end-to-end control over hardware and software set a standard that continues to influence products today. For a closer look at how his company continues to evolve, see iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 – Key Differences and Which to Buy.

Frequently Asked Questions