Steve Jobs changed the world with his incredible technology. However, his personal habits were often stranger than fiction. For instance, he once tried to pay for everything with $2 bills. Furthermore, he refused to put license plates on his silver Mercedes. Consequently, his eccentricities defined him as much as his genius. Therefore, exploring his life reveals a complex, fascinating character. You will see the Apple founder differently.
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs was adopted as an infant. Consequently, he grew up with Paul and Clara Jobs in California. They were his only real parents in his eyes.
His biological father was actually a Syrian migrant. However, Jobs never built a relationship with him. They unknowingly met once at a restaurant.
Surprisingly, his biological sister is famous author Mona Simpson. In fact, he only discovered this sibling relationship as an adult. They became very close friends.
He dropped out of Reed College after one semester. However, he stayed on campus to take creative classes. Specifically, he loved calligraphy.
The first Apple computer sold for a specific price. Interestingly, the price tag was exactly $666.66. Co-founder Steve Wozniak simply liked repeating digits.
He named the company Apple because of his diet. At the time, he was a fruitarian and ate only fruit. He thought the name sounded spirited.
Steve Jobs often walked around barefoot in the office. Because of his poor hygiene, Atari moved him to the night shift. He rarely showered during that period.
He famously drove a silver Mercedes without license plates. He found a loophole that allowed new cars to drive without plates for six months. Thus, he leased a new one twice a year.
He wore a distinct uniform every single day. Specifically, he wore a black Issey Miyake turtleneck, jeans, and sneakers. This saved him time in the morning.
Apple fired him from his own company in 1985. Consequently, he founded a new computer company called NeXT. He returned to Apple years later.
He bought the company that became Pixar. Therefore, he helped produce the first Toy Story movie. It made him a billionaire.
For many years, his annual salary was just $1. Although he owned millions in stock, he took a tiny cash salary. He wanted to show his dedication.
He initially denied paternity of his daughter Lisa. However, he named an early Apple computer the “Lisa.” Eventually, he reconciled with her.
Steve Jobs was a practicing Zen Buddhist. In fact, he traveled to India in his youth to find spiritual enlightenment. This influenced his minimalist designs.
Finally, his last words were very mysterious. As he looked at his family, he simply said, “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”