Steve Jobs

FIRED FROM HIS OWN COMPANY. CAME BACK AND ATE THE WORLD

Co-founded Apple, got fired from it in 1985, came back in 1997 and built the empire that defined the machine age. The exile decade built NeXT and turned Pixar into a powerhouse — he returned with the playbook and shipped the iPod, then the iPhone. He died in 2011, leaving Tim Cook the company.

1. Apr 1, 1976

   PERSONAL COMPUTING'S FUTURE STARTS HERE

   Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne founded Apple on April 1, 1976, beginning the company that would later define personal computing and mobile hardware.

   SOURCES: Applefirst-party

2. 1985

   THE FOUNDER GETS PUSHED OUT

   Jobs left Apple in 1985 after losing a power struggle inside the company and went on to found NeXT.

   SOURCES: Britannicareported

3. 1997

   THE EXILE COMES BACK

   Jobs returned to Apple after the company acquired NeXT and soon resumed leadership of the company he had co-founded.

   SOURCES: Britannicareported

4. Oct 23, 2001

   ONE THOUSAND SONGS IN YOUR POCKET

   Apple introduced the iPod under Jobs, combining hardware, software and a tightly controlled user experience in a pattern Apple would repeat at much larger scale.

   SOURCES: Applefirst-party

5. Jan 9, 2007

   APPLE REINVENTS THE PHONE

   Jobs introduced the iPhone as a phone, widescreen iPod and internet communicator in one device, creating the platform that would reshape Apple and mobile computing.

   SOURCES: Applefirst-party

6. Aug 24, 2011

   JOBS HANDS THE CEO JOB TO TIM COOK

   Jobs resigned as Apple CEO in August 2011 and recommended Tim Cook as his successor, remaining chairman of the board.

   SOURCES: Applefirst-party

7. Oct 5, 2011

   THE FOUNDER'S ERA ENDS

   Jobs died on October 5, 2011. Apple’s board described his vision and leadership as central to the company’s identity.

   SOURCES: Applefirst-party