December 12, 1980

Apple Computer holds their initial public offering, selling 4.6 million shares at $ 22 per share and turning more than 40 Apple employees and investors into instant millionaires. With the stock value closing at $ 29, the market capitalization puts the company’s worth at $ 1.778 billion. Stock held by Steve Jobs is worth $ 217 million, Steve Wozniak $ 116 million, and Mike Markkula $ 203 million. This was the largest IPO in the US since the Ford Motor Company in 1956. Oh, to have gotten a piece of that fruit company back then!