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Steve Wozniak

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Steve Wozniak
Born
Stephan Gary Wozniak

(1950-08-11) August 11, 1950 (age 76)
San Jose, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Innovator, electrical engineer, programmer, inventor
Years active1971–present
Known forCo-founder of Apple Computer, designer of Apple I and Apple II

Stephen Gary Wozniak (; born August 11, 1950), often referred to as Woz, is an American innovator, electrical engineer, programmer, and inventor. In 1976, he co-established Apple Computer alongside Steve Jobs. Wozniak is widely acknowledged as a foundational figure in the personal computing revolution due to his contributions at Apple during the late 1970s and 1980s.

In 1975, Wozniak created the Apple I, which marked Apple's market entry when he and Jobs began selling it in 1976. He was the principal architect behind the Apple II, launched in 1977, which became one of the earliest microcomputers to achieve significant commercial success. Meanwhile, Jobs oversaw its casing design, and early Apple engineer Rod Holt developed its innovative switching power supply.

Together with human–computer interface specialist Jef Raskin, Wozniak contributed to the early development of the original Macintosh concepts between 1979 and 1981. His involvement ceased temporarily after an airplane accident, after which Jobs assumed leadership of the project. Following his permanent departure from Apple in 1985, Wozniak founded CL 9 and introduced the first programmable universal remote control in 1987. Subsequently, he concentrated on technology-driven educational programs for K–12 students.

As of June 2024, Wozniak holds a ceremonial position at Apple since his official exit in 1985. More recently, he has invested in startups spanning GPS technology, telecommunications, flash memory, technology conferences, technical education, environmental initiatives, satellite projects, and additional fields.

Early life

Stephen Gary Wozniak was born on August 11, 1950, in San Jose, California. His mother, Margaret Louise Wozniak (née Kern) (1923–2014), hailed from Washington state, while his father, Francis Jacob "Jerry" Wozniak (1925–1994) from Michigan, served as an engineer at the Lockheed Corporation. He graduated from Homestead High School in 1968. Wozniak has a brother named Mark, formerly a technology executive based in Menlo Park, and a sister named Leslie who works as a grant advisor at Five Bridges Foundation in San Francisco.

Although his birth certificate lists him as "Stephan Gary Wozniak," he prefers using "Stephen." His heritage includes Polish and German roots. During the early 1970s phreaking scene, his design of a blue box earned him the nickname "Berkeley Blue." He credits attending Star Trek conventions and the series itself as inspirations behind founding Apple Computer. In his memoir iWoz, he also mentions that the Tom Swift Jr. book series motivated his engineering pursuits.

Before Apple

In 1969, after being expelled from the University of Colorado Boulder for hacking its computer system, Wozniak returned to the San Francisco Bay Area. He re-enrolled at De Anza College in Cupertino before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley in 1971. That June marked the creation of his first computer named "Cream Soda," built with friend Bill Fernandez using twenty TTL chips provided by an acquaintance. Although this device was accidentally destroyed later on, it laid important groundwork for his subsequent Apple I and Apple II designs. Prior to Apple's founding, he was employed at Hewlett-Packard (HP), where he focused on calculator design. During this period, he left Berkeley and developed a friendship with Steve Jobs.

Introduced through Fernandez—who had attended Homestead High School alongside Jobs—Wozniak and Jobs became friends while working together at HP on a mainframe computer project. Their initial entrepreneurial venture occurred in 1971 when Wozniak constructed "blue boxes"—devices that allowed free long-distance telephone calls—after reading about them in an Esquire magazine article. Jobs managed sales efforts by distributing roughly 200 units at $150 each and shared proceeds with Wozniak. Jobs later recognized these blue boxes as instrumental precursors to Apple's formation.

In 1973, Jobs was employed by arcade game company Atari, Inc. in Los Gatos where he was tasked with designing a circuit board for Breakout. Lacking sufficient circuit design expertise himself, Jobs enlisted Wozniak’s help who managed to halve the number of chips by utilizing RAM for graphics processing. Although Atari paid only $700 for this project with Jobs claiming half ($350) as Wozniak’s share at the time, years later it emerged that Atari’s bonus was actually $5,000; nevertheless, Wozniak accepted their arrangement without dispute.

By 1975, Wozniak had begun developing the Apple I computer aimed at impressing attendees of the Palo Alto-based Homebrew Computer Club, a community of electronics enthusiasts that played a pivotal role in launching the microcomputer industry. The Apple I distinguished itself through straightforward video output capabilities that set it apart from other Homebrew custom designs and drew significant attention upon its release.

Origins and Growth of Apple

By March 1, 1976, Wozniak had finalized the foundational design of the Apple I computer.[1] He was responsible for creating the hardware, circuit board, and operating system.[2] Initially, Wozniak approached HP with his design but faced five rejections.[3] Following this, Jobs suggested they establish their own company to manufacture and market fully assembled Apple I circuit boards.[1] To finance the production, Wozniak sold his HP calculator while Jobs parted with his van.[1]

On April 1, 1976, Jobs and Wozniak officially launched Apple Computer Company (now Apple Inc.) alongside Ronald Wayne, who soon departed from the venture. The company’s name "Apple" was inspired by Jobs’s visit to an apple orchard in Oregon.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

After forming the company, they showcased the assembled Apple I at the Homebrew Computer Club.[4] Paul Terrell, who was opening a new computer store called the Byte Shop, placed an order for 50 complete units priced at $500 each.[5][1][6] The initial assembly took place in Jobs's parents' residence in Los Altos. The Apple I was sold at $666.66—a figure chosen by Wozniak due to its repeating digits.[7] That year, they fulfilled Terrell’s order of 50 units.

In November 1976, Mike Markkula, a semi-retired product marketing manager from Intel, injected essential capital into the company.[8][1] Encouraged by Markkula, Wozniak left HP to assume the role of Apple's VP of R&D. The Apple I incorporated a $25 MOS Technology 6502 CPU on a single board with ROM, RAM, and a display controller but did not include a case; approximately 200 units were manufactured.[9]

Building on the success of the Apple I, Wozniak developed the Apple II—the pioneering personal computer featuring color graphics and integrated BASIC programming.[5] Drawing inspiration from Atari’s arcade color technology, he implemented color capabilities into the NTSC system using an economical $1 chip.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name During design debates, Jobs pushed for two expansion slots while Wozniak preferred eight; ultimately, they agreed on eight.[5] The Apple II was unveiled at the April 1977 West Coast Computer Faire, where it quickly gained market acceptance. Wozniak provided an in-depth description in Byte magazine in May 1977.[10] The introduction of the Disk II floppy drive in 1978 significantly improved storage functionality for the Apple II.

Apple went public in 1980, generating substantial profits that turned Jobs and Wozniak into millionaires. However, that same year saw the commercial failure of the Apple III due to hardware problems linked to design decisions driven more by marketing than engineering.[11]

During the early stages of developing the original Macintosh (Macintosh 128k), Wozniak contributed to its design alongside Jef Raskin. The Macintosh became the first widely available personal computer to feature an integrated graphical user interface and mouse. It also played a key role in revolutionizing desktop publishing with the Apple LaserWriter, which introduced vector graphics printing.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name In a 2013 interview, Wozniak revealed that after his absence following a plane crash, Jobs assumed leadership of the Macintosh project in 1981.[12][13]

Aircraft accident and hiatus from Apple

On February 7, 1981, Wozniak was flying a Beechcraft Bonanza A36TC, for which he lacked proper certification, when the aircraft crashed shortly after departing Sky Park Airport in Scotts Valley, California. The plane stalled during its ascent, hit the runway unevenly, broke through two fences, and collided with an embankment. Wozniak and his three passengers—his then-fiancée Candice Clark, her brother Jack Clark, and Jack's partner Janet Valleau—sustained injuries. Wozniak endured serious head and facial trauma, including the loss of a tooth, and suffered from five weeks of anterograde amnesia, during which he was unable to create new memories. He had no memory of the accident or his own identity while hospitalized and shortly thereafter. He later credited playing Apple II computer games with aiding his memory recovery. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the cause of the crash to be premature liftoff coupled with pilot inexperience.

After recuperating, Wozniak chose not to immediately resume work at Apple, regarding the incident as an opportunity for a break. Infinite Loop characterizes this interval as a mental reboot for Wozniak, who felt disconnected from engineering and design and expressed a wish to start anew.

University of California, Berkeley and US Festivals

Following his recovery from the 1981 crash, Wozniak re-enrolled at UC Berkeley to complete his degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, which he initially began in 1971 and finished in 1986. To maintain privacy, he registered under the alias Rocky Raccoon Clark—the name that appeared on his diploma—though his degree was officially conferred in 1987.

In 1982 and 1983, Wozniak co-created Unuson ("unite us in song") alongside concert promoter Bill Graham. Unuson organized two US Festivals—events that combined technology showcases with rock music performances. Despite incurring substantial losses during the 1982 festival, Wozniak committed to a second event; however, after the 1983 festival also failed to turn a profit, he withdrew from the rock festival scene to concentrate on computer engineering. Later that year, he resumed involvement in Apple’s product development as both an engineer and an inspirational figure for employees.

Resumption of Apple product involvement

During the mid-1980s, as Macintosh sales experienced modest growth, Apple’s management—including Steve Jobs—increasingly sidelined both the Apple II line and Wozniak himself. The Apple II team (except for Wozniak) was excluded from the Macintosh launch event; reports indicate that Wozniak was observed outside the venue. Although Apple II products accounted for approximately 85% of Apple's early 1985 revenue, neither the division nor its staff were recognized at the company’s annual meeting—a slight that caused frustration for Wozniak.

Final exit from Apple employment

Despite his foundational contributions to Apple's achievements, Wozniak felt constrained creatively within the company and missed the enthusiasm of its early days. By early 1985, he departed Apple once more and sold most of his shares. While media outlets suggested conflicts with management as the cause, Wozniak clarified that his departure was motivated by a desire to explore new ventures such as CL 9, rather than dissatisfaction with Apple itself. The Apple II series continued to financially support the company into the late 1980s with models like the semi-portable Apple IIc (1984) and the 16-bit Apple IIGS (1986). Production of the Apple II line concluded following the end of Apple IIe manufacturing in 1993; however, the Apple IIe Card, enabling Macintosh compatibility, remained available until 1995.

Post-Apple

Following his departure from Apple, Wozniak established CL 9 in 1985 and introduced the first programmable universal remote control, named the "CORE," in 1987. Driven by a strong commitment to education, he later provided computer instruction to both students and educators, supported financially by Unuson.[14] In 2001, he created Wheels of Zeus (WOZ), a company dedicated to wireless GPS technology aimed at making it easier to track everyday objects. That same year, Wozniak joined the boards of telecommunications companies such as Ripcord Networks, Inc. and Danger, Inc., broadening his reach beyond engineering roles.

Wheels of Zeus ceased operations in 2006; after that, Wozniak co-founded Acquicor Technology, a holding firm focused on acquiring and developing technology enterprises alongside Apple veterans Ellen Hancock and Gil Amelio. Between 2009 and 2014, he served as chief scientist at Fusion-io, followed by a similar position at Primary Data starting in 2014.[15][16] In 2015, he co-launched Silicon Valley Comic Con (SVCC), an event merging pop culture with technological innovation. By 2017, he had initiated Woz U, an online platform for technology education, which received licensing approval from Arizona state in 2018.[17]

Although Wozniak has not been a full-time Apple employee since 1985, he remains listed as an official employee and acts as a public representative of the company, earning an estimated yearly stipend of $120,000 as of 2006. He retained shareholder status and maintained a friendly relationship with Steve Jobs until Jobs passed away in 2011.[18]

In various interviews, Wozniak has expressed criticism regarding the original Macintosh's commercial underperformance during Jobs’s initial leadership but acknowledged subsequent management for its eventual success in the marketplace.[13]

At the close of 2020, Wozniak launched Efforce, a platform that finances environmentally sustainable projects through WOZX cryptocurrency and redistributes profits via blockchain technology.[19] In September 2021, together with Alex Fielding, he co-founded Privateer Space to tackle the issue of space debris; their space traffic monitoring software was introduced in March 2022.[20]

In 2024, Wozniak prevailed in a lawsuit against YouTube concerning fraudulent videos exploiting his image; a San Jose appeals court found YouTube responsible for failing to adequately address the scam content.[21]

Inventions

Wozniak holds sole inventorship on several significant Apple patents, including:

  • US Patent No. 4,136,359: "Microcomputer for use with video display"—a contribution that earned him induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
  • US Patent No. 4,210,959: "Controller for magnetic disc, recorder, or the like"
  • US Patent No. 4,217,604: "Apparatus for digitally controlling PAL color display"
  • US Patent No. 4,278,972: "Digitally-controlled color signal generation means for use with display"

Other

In 1990, Wozniak was a co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, providing its initial funding and serving on its inaugural Board of Directors. Additionally, he is recognized as the founding sponsor of the Tech Museum, Silicon Valley Ballet, and the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose.

Views on artificial superintelligence

In March 2015, Wozniak initially rejected Ray Kurzweil's forecast that machine intelligence would surpass human intellect within several decades. Nevertheless, he later voiced apprehensions that highly advanced AI might outsmart humans and take over corporate leadership with greater efficiency. Despite these concerns, he remained an advocate for ongoing technological innovation.

By June 2015, Wozniak had adjusted his perspective, proposing that a takeover by superintelligent AI could actually serve humanity’s interests: an AI with superior intelligence would understand humans’ importance and look after them, comparing humans to "family pets" dependent on AI care.

In 2016, Wozniak again modified his viewpoint, expressing skepticism that computers could ever replicate human "intuition," despite their logical strengths. He anticipated that if AI reached superintelligence, it would collaborate with humans rather than seek to dominate them.

In 2023, Wozniak endorsed an open letter from the Future of Life Institute advocating for a six-month moratorium on developing AI systems more powerful than GPT-4. During a May 2023 interview with the BBC, he cautioned that increasing AI sophistication could facilitate more believable scams, thereby posing dangers to users.

Personal life

Wozniak lives in Los Gatos, California and applied for Australian citizenship in 2012, expressing a desire to reside in Melbourne, Australia. Commonly known as "Woz" or "The Woz," he is also referred to as "The Wonderful Wizard of Woz" and "The Second Steve," a nod to his collaboration with Steve Jobs. In 2002, he founded the company "WoZ" (an abbreviation of "Wheels of Zeus"), which ceased operations in 2006.

He joined the Freemasons in 1979 to spend more time with his then-wife Alice Robertson, who was affiliated with the Order of the Eastern Star. Initiated at Charity Lodge No. 362 in Campbell, California, he ended active participation following their divorce but retained lifetime membership.

Wozniak was married to slalom canoeing gold medalist Candice Clark from 1981 until 1987; together they have three children. After a relationship with actress Kathy Griffin, he married Janet Hill. He identifies either as an atheist or agnostic but upholds personal ethical principles emphasizing kindness.

An enthusiastic participant in the Silicon Valley Aftershocks Segway Polo team, Wozniak is also a devoted supporter of the NHL's San Jose Sharks. He co-wrote The Official Computer Freaks Joke Book (1998) and authored his autobiography, iWoz, which became a The New York Times Best Seller.

Wozniak has openly expressed reluctance toward amassing wealth, prioritizing values over financial gain. In 1980, unlike Jobs, he offered $10 million worth of his Apple stock to early employees. In 2017, he acquired Polish citizenship and engaged actively with Poland’s government and technology sectors in recognition of his ancestry.

He experiences prosopagnosia (face blindness) and advocates for the right to repair movement, highlighting its emotional importance and linking Apple's initial success to open technology principles. In November 2023, Wozniak suffered a minor stroke while in Mexico City but made a swift recovery. The following month, December 2023, he obtained Serbian citizenship alongside his wife Janet and pledged to promote Serbia while continuing to live in the United States.

Honors and awards

Wozniak has been the recipient of a wide array of accolades that acknowledge his significant technological innovations and entrepreneurial achievements, such as:

  • 1979: Awarded the ACM Grace Murray Hopper Award.
  • 1985: Honored with the National Medal of Technology by US President Ronald Reagan, an award he shared with Steve Jobs.
  • 1998: Designated as a Fellow of the Computer History Museum in recognition of his role in co-founding Apple and creating the Apple I.
  • 2000: Received the George R. Stibitz Computing and Communications Innovator Award from the American Computer & Robotics Museum; additionally acknowledged as a founding donor after contributing an Apple I to the museum.
  • 2000: Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
  • 2001: Awarded the 7th Annual Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy and Employment.
  • 2004: Honored with the Telluride Tech Festival Award of Technology.
  • 2011: Presented with the Isaac Asimov Science Award by the American Humanist Association alongside the Global Award from the President of Armenia for exceptional contributions to humanity through IT.
  • 2014: Received the 66th Hoover Medal from IEEE for advancing human welfare; also earned the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York City Chapter of Young Presidents' Organization and was inducted into the Industry Week Manufacturing Hall of Fame.
  • 2015: Given the Legacy for Children Award by the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, which also named a street "Woz Way" in his honor; additionally recognized by UC Berkeley's Cal Alumni Association as Alumnus of the Year.
  • 2016: Appointed Innovator in Residence at High Point University, where he engaged with students and participated in campus activities.
  • 2017: Placed 18th on Richtopia’s UK-based list of 200 Most Influential Philanthropists and Social Entrepreneurs.
  • 2021: Honored with the IEEE Masaru Ibuka Consumer Electronics Award for pioneering designs in consumer-oriented personal computers.

These distinctions highlight Wozniak’s lasting influence on technological innovation, business leadership, and charitable efforts.

Honorary degrees

In acknowledgment of his technological impact, Wozniak has been conferred multiple honorary Doctoral degrees from various institutions, including:

In media

Since Apple’s inception, Wozniak has been prominently featured across various media platforms.

Documentaries

Feature films

  • 1999: Pirates of Silicon Valley – A TNT production directed by Martyn Burke, featuring Joey Slotnick portraying Wozniak and Noah Wyle as Jobs
  • 2013: Jobs – Directed by Joshua Michael Stern, with Josh Gad in the role of Wozniak and Ashton Kutcher as Jobs
  • 2015: Steve Jobs – A feature film helmed by Danny Boyle, screenplay by Aaron Sorkin, starring Seth Rogen as Wozniak and Michael Fassbender as Jobs
  • 2015: Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates: The Competition to Control the Personal Computer, 1974–1999 – A documentary aired on National Geographic Channel as part of the American Genius series

Television

  • TechTV's The Screen Savers on 2002-09-27 featured Steve Wozniak alongside Kevin Mitnick, including an interview with Adrian Lamo
  • After witnessing her stand-up performance in Saratoga, California, Wozniak began dating comedian Kathy Griffin. The couple attended the 2007 Emmy Awards together, and he appeared during the fourth season of her show Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List. Their relationship ended in 2008, though they stayed on friendly terms
  • Wozniak made a self-parody appearance on Code Monkeys, portraying Gameavision's owner who sells the company to fund a new project. He returned for an episode set at a video game convention and also participated in a spoof of "Get a Mac" commercials in the season two finale
  • Featured in the documentary titled Hackers Wanted
  • Participated as a contestant on Season 8 of Dancing with the Stars in 2009, partnered with Karina Smirnoff. Despite receiving low scores from judges and facing injuries, he remained until his elimination on March 31. He briefly questioned the validity of the voting process but later issued an apology after receiving clarification
  • Appeared as himself in a 2010 episode of The Big Bang Theory season 4 entitled "The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification," interacting via telepresence robot
  • In 2013, appeared alongside early Apple collaborators Daniel Kottke and Andy Hertzfeld on John Wants Answers, discussing the movie Jobs
  • In April 2021, joined as a panelist on Unicorn Hunters, a business investment television program created by the producers of The Masked Singer, which enables viewers to invest in companies prior to their IPO

See also

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Apple Confidential
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named FireValley
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named AI
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named becomingsj
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named iWoz
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Isaacson
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named VintageNews
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Markkula1997
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named wozniak198412
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named The Apple-II by Woz
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named byte198501
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named wozorg
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named TheVerge
  14. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Flatow
  15. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named fusion
  16. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named primary
  17. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named woz-u
  18. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named wozemployee
  19. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named efforce
  20. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named privateer
  21. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named youtube-lawsuit
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