The Untold Story of Apple's Overlooked Third Founder
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Chapter 1: The Early Life of Ronald Wayne
Ronald Wayne, an engineer originally from Cleveland, Ohio, grew up during the 1930s and 1940s. After relocating to California, he attempted to start his own business in the slot machine industry. Unfortunately, this venture was not successful, and Wayne attributed the failure to his limited business skills. He returned to his engineering roots and found employment at Atari, a burgeoning tech company.
At Atari, Wayne crossed paths with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. In 1976, they approached him with an idea to establish a personal computer company, inspired by the Beatles' record label. Although significantly older than the two Steves, Wayne was seen as the mature voice in the group. They sought his expertise and needed a tie-breaking vote for critical decisions. While Jobs and Wozniak each took a 45% stake in the company, Wayne was allocated a 10% share. Together, they formalized their partnership, and on April 1, 1976, Apple Computer was officially launched.
Section 1.1: The Birth of Apple
Wayne was tasked with drafting the user manual for the inaugural Apple computer and designing the first logo, which looked nothing like the iconic symbol used today. However, Wayne soon grew apprehensive about the risks involved in this new business venture. The failure of his previous company haunted him, making him wary of potential losses.
Just twelve days after joining Apple, Wayne decided to exit the company, despite Jobs' attempts to persuade him otherwise. Ultimately, Jobs and Wozniak bought out Wayne's shares for a mere $800. He continued working at Atari until 1978, after which he started his own venture, Wayne's Philatelics, trading in rare stamps and coins.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Aftermath of Leaving Apple
After experiencing a robbery, Wayne relocated his stamp business from California to Nevada, where he resides to this day. Meanwhile, Apple Computer flourished into a global phenomenon, a journey that did not benefit Wayne financially.
Section 1.2: A Missed Fortune
In the 1990s, Wayne sold the original partnership agreement signed in 1976 for $500. Remarkably, two decades later, that same document fetched $1.6 million at auction, a profit Wayne did not enjoy. For many years, he did not own any Apple products until he received a complimentary iPad at a business conference. His personal website lists his roles as an engineer, historian, and poet while also promoting merchandise featuring his original Apple logo from the 1970s.
As of now, Ronald Wayne is in his late 80s and resides in a trailer park in Pahrump, Nevada.
Chapter 2: The Legacy of Ronald Wayne
The first video titled "The Sad Story of Apple's Third Co-Founder" delves into the lesser-known narrative of Ronald Wayne and his role in Apple's inception.
The second video, "Meet Ronald Wayne, The Forgotten Third Co-Founder Of Apple," highlights Wayne's unique contributions and the circumstances that led to his departure from the company.
Dan is the author of over a dozen novels, with his latest being "Tight Five." He publishes "The Peculiar Truth" every Tuesday. If you appreciate this content, consider contributing $1 to the tip jar below (look for the green button). Thank you!