Apple Computer was founded on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne

The three men started the company in Steve Jobs's parents' garage in Los Altos, California. Ronald Wayne left the partnership within two weeks and sold his share back to Jobs and Wozniak for $800. Jobs and Wozniak continued as the primary founders, with Wozniak handling the engineering and Jobs managing business and design.

The company's first product was the Apple I, a single-board computer that Wozniak had designed. It sold for $666.66 and was one of the first personal computers available to consumers. The Apple I was not a complete system—it had no case, no power supply, and no keyboard—but it marked the beginning of Apple's entry into the home computer market.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple Computer was founded on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in a garage in Los Altos, California.
  • Ronald Wayne left the partnership within two weeks, leaving Jobs and Wozniak as the primary founders and operators.
  • The company's first product, the Apple I, was a single-board computer designed by Wozniak and sold for $666.66.
  • Apple incorporated as a formal business in January 1977 and released the Apple II, which became the first mass-market personal computer.

The Apple I and the early garage days

Steve Wozniak designed the Apple I in 1975 while working at Hewlett-Packard. He built it using off-the-shelf components and created a computer that was simpler and cheaper to manufacture than competitors' machines. Jobs recognized the commercial potential and convinced Wozniak to start a company to sell the design.

The Apple I was sold as a bare circuit board. Buyers had to add their own case, power supply, keyboard, and monitor. Despite these limitations, the computer found an audience among hobbyists and early adopters. The pair sold about 200 units of the Apple I before moving on to their next design.

Incorporation and the Apple II

Jobs and Wozniak formally incorporated Apple Computer Company on January 3, 1977. They brought in Mike Markkula, an early investor and business advisor, who provided crucial funding and business informed. Markkula helped the company find a line of credit and develop a formal business plan.

The Apple II, released in April 1977, was the product that transformed Apple from a garage startup into a real business. Unlike the Apple I, the Apple II came in a plastic case, included a power supply, and could connect to a monitor and keyboard. It was the first personal computer designed for non-technical users and became the first mass-market success in the personal computer industry.

Why April 1, 1976 matters

April 1, 1976, is significant because it marks the moment when Jobs and Wozniak committed to turning Wozniak's hobby project into a business. The date is sometimes dismissed as a joke—April Fools' Day—but the founding was real and deliberate. By this date, they had already sold their first Apple I computers to a local computer shop called The Byte Shop.

The founding date also marks the beginning of the personal computer era. Apple was not the first computer company, but it was among the first to focus on making computers accessible to ordinary people rather than large institutions or technical experts. This philosophy shaped the company's direction for decades.

The first years and early growth

Between 1976 and 1980, Apple grew from a two-person garage operation to a company with dozens of employees and significant revenue. The Apple II became the standard computer for schools and small businesses. By 1980, when Apple went public, the company had sold over 100,000 Apple II computers.

The early success of the Apple II established patterns that would define Apple's approach: focus on user experience, design simplicity, and making technology accessible. These principles, set in motion during those first years, remain central to the company's identity today.

How the founding compares to other early computer companies

Apple was founded later than some other computer manufacturers. IBM, for example, was founded in 1911 as a data processing company. Hewlett-Packard, where Wozniak worked, was founded in 1939. However, Apple was among the earliest companies focused specifically on personal computers for consumers rather than businesses or institutions.

Commodore, another early personal computer maker, was founded in 1954 but did not enter the personal computer market until 1977, the same year Apple released the Apple II. Atari, founded in 1972, released the Atari 2600 game console in 1977 but did not focus on general-purpose computers. Apple's combination of early entry into personal computers and focus on user-friendly design gave it a significant advantage in the emerging market.

What happened after the 1976 founding

The company's trajectory after 1976 was not always smooth. The Apple III, released in 1980, was a commercial failure due to design flaws and overheating problems. The Lisa, released in 1983, was innovative but too expensive for most buyers. However, the Macintosh, released in 1984, brought graphical user interface technology to a mass market and cemented Apple's position as a major computer manufacturer.

From the 1976 garage founding to the present day, Apple has evolved from a personal computer maker to a company that designs computers, phones, tablets, and software. The founding principles—simplicity, design focus, and making technology accessible—have remained consistent even as the products and markets have changed dramatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who actually founded Apple Computer?

Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne founded Apple on April 1, 1976. Wayne left within two weeks and sold his stake back to Jobs and Wozniak for $800. Jobs and Wozniak became the primary founders and continued running the company.

Why was the Apple I so expensive for the time?

The Apple I cost $666.66, which was expensive in 1976 dollars—roughly equivalent to $3,500 in today's money. The price reflected the cost of the components Wozniak used and the limited production volume. The Apple II, released a year later, was more affordable and included more features, making it more popular with consumers.

Did Steve Jobs actually invent the Apple I?

No. Steve Wozniak designed and built the Apple I. Jobs recognized its commercial potential and convinced Wozniak to start a company to sell it. Jobs handled business, marketing, and design direction, while Wozniak handled the engineering. Both contributions were essential to Apple's success.

What made the Apple II different from the Apple I?

The Apple II came in a plastic case, included a power supply, and was designed to work with a monitor and keyboard. The Apple I was sold as a bare circuit board that required buyers to add their own case and peripherals. The Apple II was the first personal computer designed for non-technical users and became the first mass-market success in the industry.

How much was Apple worth when it was founded?

Apple had no formal valuation when founded in 1976. The company was capitalized with minimal investment—Jobs and Wozniak used their own savings and borrowed money. When Mike Markkula joined in 1977, he invested $250,000, which gave the company its first significant funding and allowed it to scale production and hire employees.