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A mere twenty-one years of age when he cofounded Apple Computer with Stephen Wozniak in 1976, Steve Jobs has matured over the past quarter century into a seasoned businessman. In 1985, Jobs left Apple, going on to found a new company, Next, Inc., which focused on educational applications. The company was later sold to Apple in 1996, when Jobs returned to guide Apple back to profitability. A series of three hedcuts reflect the evolution of the entrepreneur's style—shorter hairstyles, the addition of glasses, and more casual clothing.

One of the founders of Apple Computer and an architect of the company's revolutionary Macintosh personal computer, marketed in 1984, Steve Jobs did not follow a conventional path to success. After becoming interested in computers in high school, Jobs dropped out of Reed College after one semester (although he continued to study informally at Reed for another year). He then immersed himself in a quest for spiritual clarity through eastern religion and travels in India. In the fall of 1974, Jobs reconnected with his friend Stephen Wozniak and with him designed and built the prototype for what would become the Apple I computer. Apple Computer was launched April 1, 1976, and the Apple I was released the same year and sold for $666. It was soon followed by the Apple II, which introduced built-in monitors. By designing computers for non-specialists, Apple revolutionized the computer industry by democratizing it. In 1983, Apple launched Lisa, which included the hand-held "mouse," a tool now standard for computer interfaces. The year 1984 brought the Macintosh, which proved tremendously popular for both business and personal applications. However, despite the financial and technical successes of Apple, disputes with management caused Jobs to leave the company in 1985, returning just over a decade later.