JOURNAL ARTICLE

Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne sold his 10% stake for $800 in 1976—today it'd be worth up to $400 billion.

  • Published In: Fortune.com, 2026. P. N.PAG 1 of 3

  • Database: Business Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Fore, Preston 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on Ronald Wayne, the lesser-known third cofounder of Apple Inc., who initially held a 10% stake in the company but sold it for $800 just 12 days after its founding. As Apple celebrates its 50th anniversary, Wayne's stake, had he retained it, could now be worth between $75 billion and $360 billion due to the company's significant growth. Wayne's decision to cash out was influenced by his concerns about financial risk and his belief that he would not thrive in the company alongside younger cofounders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Despite his financial choices, Wayne has expressed that he has lived comfortably, relying on rental income and Social Security. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Fortune.com. 2026/01, pN.PAG
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Computer Science
  • Publication Date:2026
  • Accession Number:191107119
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