Apple's 3rd Co-Founder Sold His 10% Stake For Only $800 – Today It Would Be Worth $345 Billion, But He Says Stress Wasn't Worth It

In the grand tale of Silicon Valley, Apple Inc. often recalls the dynamic duo of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. But there's a lesser-known character in this story, a man who played a crucial role in Apple's early days yet slipped into the background of history: Ronald Wayne.

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Wayne was the third co-founder of Apple, a man whose brief stint with the company became a legendary tale of what might have been. He famously sold his 10% stake in the company for just $800 – a decision that, in hindsight, seems almost unimaginable. Today, thanks to Apple's current market value of approximately $3.45 trillion, Wayne’s stake would be worth around $345 billion.

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Ronald Wayne, born in 1934, was already an experienced engineer and entrepreneur when he joined forces with the much younger Jobs and Wozniak in 1976. At 41, Wayne brought maturity and stability to the team, otherwise brimming with youthful energy and ambition. His job was to provide "adult supervision" to the startup, manage the mechanical engineering, and handle the necessary paperwork. Wayne was instrumental in drafting the original partnership agreement and even designed Apple's first logo. Despite his significant contributions, Wayne's time with Apple was incredibly short – just 12 days.

So, why did he walk away? Wayne was concerned about the financial risks involved. Jobs had taken out a $15,000 loan to fill an order for The Byte Shop, a retailer with a shaky reputation. As the only one with substantial personal assets (including a house), Wayne feared that the debt would fall on him if the business failed. Jobs and Wozniak, having no real assets then, had little to lose, but Wayne wasn't in the same position. The fear of financial ruin led him to sell his shares to Jobs and Wozniak for that fateful $800.

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Looking back, it's easy to see Wayne's decision as a monumental mistake, especially given Apple's incredible success. But Wayne himself has no regrets. He's often said that had he stayed with Apple, the stress would have likely killed him, making him the "richest man in the graveyard."

Ronald Wayne's story is a sobering reminder of the unpredictable nature of entrepreneurship. While he missed out on becoming one of the richest men in the world, he's at peace with his decision, valuing his well-being over wealth. Today, there's growing recognition of his contributions, with many now acknowledging his role in the birth of Apple. 

His legacy, ultimately, isn't defined by the wealth he gave up but by the fact that he was there, right at the beginning, laying the groundwork for one of the most influential companies in history.

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