CUPERTINO, Calif. — Steve Jobs, the iconic co-founder of Apple, died Wednesday at the age of 56. The San Francisco native is credited with transforming the way the world uses technology.
He is survived by his wife, Laurene, three children from their marriage and a fourth child from an earlier relationship.
Here is a timeline to his life and career, by The Wall Street Journal:
1955: Born in San Francisco on Feb. 24. His then-unmarried parents (who later wed) give him up for adoption and he is adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs of Mountain View, Calif.
1972: Jobs graduates from Homestead High School and attends Reed College in Portland, Ore., but soon drops out.
1974: In January, designs video games for Atari with friend Stephen Wozniak. Jobs uses his work savings for a brief trip to India. That fall, he returns to California.
1975: Attends Homebrew Computer Club meetings with Wozniak in Palo Alto, Calif. With money from selling Jobs’ Volkswagen, the two start building computers in Jobs’ parents’ garage.
1976: Forms Apple Computer with Wozniak on April 1. Introduces the Apple I, the first single-board ROM-based computer, for $666.
April, 1977: Introduces the Apple II, the first mass-marketed personal computer, complete with a plastic case, keyboard and color graphics, at the first West Coast Computer Faire. Makes cover of Time magazine.
1978: First daughter, Lisa, is born.
Nov., 1979: Starts working on the Macintosh personal computer, which re-introduces Xerox’s use of the mouse, setting the standard for all computer operating systems.
1980: On Dec. 12, Apple goes public with an initial public offering of 4.5 million shares priced between $14 and $17 a share.
April, 1983: Introduces the Lisa, featuring a more user-friendly and intuitive interface, along with a less expensive version of the Macintosh. Recruits former Pepsi president John Sculley as the new Apple president and CEO.
Jan, 1984: Introduces Macintosh in elaborate publicity campaign.
May, 1985: Forced by Sculley and the board of Apple to resign with $150 million, in what Sculley called “the darkest hour of my professional life.” Starts NeXT Software, while Microsoft sells its first Windows 1.0 operating system this year.
1986: Buys Pixar Animation Studios, which eventually produces the first full-length computer-animated feature film, from animator George Lucas.
Oct. 5, 1989: Meets 27-year-old Laurene Powell while at Stanford to give speech to business school.
March 18, 1991: Marries Powell at Yosemite National Park. The two have a son, Reed Paul, later that year. They later go on to have two daughters.
Oct. 12, 1995: Pixar goes public, offering six million shares at about $12 to $14 each. This year, Apple’s profits drop by 48 percent amid shrinking market shares and inability to meet consumer demand.
Dec. 20, 1996: Sells NeXT to Apple for more than $400 million. Receives $175 million in cash and stock and returns to Apple as a consultant.
July 1997: Simplifies Apple product line and helps form alliance with Microsoft, which leads to MS Office on Mac PCs. In September, he is asked to lead Apple again as “interim CEO” after CEO Gil Amelio is ousted by the board.
1998: Introduces iMac, a smoothly designed one-piece computer that would later be available in five bright colors. iMac becomes the best-selling computer in the US by the end of the year.
Sept. 1999: Releases the iBook, a laptop with attributes similar to those of the iMac, and the G4, a powerful upgraded desktop computer.
Jan. 6, 2000: Drops “interim” from Apple CEO title.
Jan. 2001: Introduces Titanium Powerbook laptops. Ten months later, he introduces iTunes, an MP3 player and converter program and later releases the iPod, a portable MP3 player.
April 22, 2002: Introduces eMac, an iMac version designed exclusively for schools and colleges.
Jan. 2003: Introduces new 30- and 43-centimeter PowerBooks with the Safari browser and the iLife package, which includes iPhoto, iMovie and iDVD. In April, launches major record song sales through the iTunes store, which sells more than a billion songs by 2006.
Oct. 2003: Is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, puts off surgery for nine months while searching for alternative medicines.
July 31, 2004: Undergoes major pancreatic surgery, then returns to work after a short recovery.
Nov. 2004: Apple stocks hit all-time highs, mostly due to explosive iPod sales.
June 2005: Addressing graduates at Stanford University, Jobs speaks of his cancer diagnosis and of finding a job he loved.
Jan. 24, 2006: Merges Pixar with Walt Disney for $7.4 billion, joins Disney’s board of directors. The same year, an investigative committee finds Apple had backdated stock options between 1997 and 2002, and recognizes a new after-tax expense of $84 million.
Jan. 9, 2007: Officially changes the name of his company to Apple Inc. Six months later, the company sells its first iPhone, a cellphone with internet, MP3 and video components, and introduces the iTouch, similar to the iPhone but without calling capabilities.
Aug. 2007: Is subpoenaed by the SEC for stock-options backdating case against Apple’s former general counsel, Nancy Heinen. Heinen and former finance chief Fred Anderson both settle their suits and pay $5.7 million combined in the next year.
Jan. 15, 2008: Introduces MacBook Air, a 1.9-centimeter-thick laptop, which receives mixed reviews due to its few ports and lack of a CD/DVD drive. Six months later, unveils the iPhone 3G, as the public and media grow concerned with his gaunt appearance.
Sept. 4, 2008: Apple settles stock-option claims in shareholder lawsuit, receives $14 million from insurance companies, pays $8.85 million to federal and state attorneys representing the shareholders, and agrees to change corporate practices. Jobs isn’t held personally responsible.
Sept. 9, 2008: Publicly refutes media reports of his imminent death. Three months later, cancels his appearance at the annual MacWorld conference. Apple says absence is not related to his health.
Jan. 9, 2009: Releases a statement in response to public talk of his sickly appearance, saying he will get treatment for a hormonal imbalance and return to good health. A week later, he says he will take a five-month medical leave for “more complex” problems. Apple stocks dip seven percent and the board says it won’t disclose any further details about his health.
June 24, 2009: Doctors say Jobs had a liver transplant in Memphis, Tenn., earlier in 2009 and is “recovering well and has an excellent prognosis.” Apple shares jump 2.2 percent that day, bringing them up 75 percent from the 52-week low hit Jan. 20. After his return to the office in late June, employees say he is actively involved in day-to-day work on the company’s newest products.
April 2010: Apple launches the iPad tablet computer, which spawns a new category of devices and goes on to sell more than 15 million units by year’s end. A month after the iPad launch, the company’s market capitalization hits $222 billion and surpasses Microsoft to become the most valuable technology company.
Jan. 2011: Jobs says he will take another medical leave of absence to deal with an undisclosed health issue, but remain Apple’s CEO. On March 2, he appears at the unveiling of the iPad 2.
August 24, 2011: Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple, handing the reins to chief operating officer Tim Cook. Jobs is elected chairman of the board, effective immediately.
Oct. 5, 2011: Apple announces Jobs has died.