Ronald Wayne: The Forgotten Founder of Apple Turns 50

Original: As Apple turns 50, remembering how Ronald Wayne became the ‘forgotten founder’

The Indian Express•Apr 1, 20266 min

In a Nutshell

As Apple Inc. celebrates its 50th anniversary, the story of Ronald Wayne, the company's 'forgotten founder,' highlights his brief yet significant role. Wayne, who co-founded the company with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, left shortly after its inception, but his contributions, including the first logo, remain noteworthy.

Key Points

01Ronald Wayne co-founded Apple Inc. in 1976 alongside Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.
02Wayne contributed to Apple's first logo and served as a mentor to the younger founders.
03He left Apple just two weeks after its founding due to financial concerns and personal ambitions.
04Wayne's original 10% stake in Apple could be worth between $350-400 billion today.
05Despite his early exit, Wayne has no regrets about his time at Apple.

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Full Summary

Ronald Wayne, born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1934, played a crucial yet often overlooked role in the founding of Apple Inc. on April 1, 1976. While Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak are celebrated as the primary founders, Wayne, who had significant experience in the tech industry, joined the duo as a mentor and advisor. He contributed to the company's first logo and helped formalize the partnership agreement. However, just two weeks after the company was established, Wayne decided to leave due to concerns over financial risks and his ambition to create products of his own. Despite his exit, his original 10% stake in Apple could now be valued at approximately $350-400 billion. Wayne has since worked at various companies, including the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and currently resides near the Nevada-California border. Although he has expressed no ill feelings towards Apple, he regrets selling his original partnership agreement, which later fetched $1.6 million at auction.

Key Figures