Steve Wozniak Net Worth

Sometimes known by his nickname, “The Woz,” American computer engineer Steve Wozniak co-founded Apple Inc. alongside Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne. While Wozniak played a crucial role in the personal computer revolution, he’s also known for his philanthropy and has donated millions of dollars to charity. Even though Wozniak has given away a fortune, he’s still a very wealthy man with an impressive net worth. 

What Is Steve Wozniak’s Net Worth?

Steve Wozniak’s current net worth is estimated to be $100 million. Even though Wozniak is best known for his contributions to Apple Inc, the bulk of his fortune comes from his stock investments. Wozniak shares investment tips and backs investors on Unicorn Hunters’ Amazon Prime reality show.

Although Wozniak stepped down as an active employee of Apple in 1985, he continues to represent the company in interviews and at various events. While Wozniak still collects a salary from Apple, he says he only receives $50 per week. Most of his yearly income comes from stock investments, business ventures, and speaking fees. 

Who Is Stephen Gary Wozniak?

Wozniak was born in San Jose, California, to Francis Jacob and Margaret Louise Wozniak. From an early age, Wozniak’s passion for electronics was encouraged by his father, who worked as an engineer for the Lockheed Corporation. Wozniak received his radio amateur license in the 4th grade and spent his free time disassembling and reassembling electronic devices. 

When Wozniak started attending Homestead High School in Cupertino, CA, he was bored by school. After graduating in 1968, he began attending the University of Colorado Boulder but was expelled for hacking the school’s computer system in his first year. He returned to the San Francisco Bay Area and enrolled in De Anza College. In 1971, he transferred to the University of California Berkeley.

During this time, Wozniak built his first personal computer with the assistance of his friend Bill Fernandez. The computer, which Wozniak named Cream Soda, was accidentally destroyed by a reporter. Shortly after, Wozniak dropped out of Berkley and began working at Hewlett-Packard, where he would meet Steve Jobs. 

It wasn’t long before Wozniak and Jobs launched their first business partnership. Wozniak designed and built “blue boxes” that allowed users to make long-distance phone calls for free, while Jobs sold the boxes for $150 apiece. Later, when Jobs created a circuit board for Atari Inc., he enlisted Wozniak to reduce the number of chips in the circuit board. Wozniak’s circuit board designs reduced the total chips by 50, earning Jobs a large bonus. 

During this time, Wozniak was an active Palo Alto Homebrew Computer Club member. In 1975, Wozniak began designing a personal computer, the Apple I, to impress club members. After completing the prototype in 1976, he offered the design to HP but was turned down.

Jobs convinced Wozniak that the two of them should go into business and sell circuit boards for the computer themselves. On April 1, 1976, the Apple Computer Company was officially launched. A computer shop owner, Paul Terrell, quickly offered to buy 50 system boards. Later that year, the company received substantial funding from Intel engineer Mike Markkula. 

Although the Apple I was a hobbyist computer, it sold well, with more than 200 purchases in total. Wozniak followed it up with the Apple II, which was the first personal computer capable of displaying color graphics. The computer was mass-produced and was a massive hit, making Apple Computers a financial success. 

In 1981, Wozniak attempted to pilot a Beechcraft Bonanza airplane. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff, injuring Wozniak and his three passengers, which included his then-fiancee Candice Clark. Wozniak sustained head injuries that made it difficult for him to work as an electronics engineer, and he opted to leave the Apple Computer Company temporarily.

During his time away from Apple Co., Wozniak returned to UC Berkley to complete his Electrical Engineering degree, enrolling under the name Rocky Raccoon Clark. He also founded Unuson, a company that sponsored music and culture festivals. After losing millions on this venture, Wozniak returned to Apple. 

Even though the Apple II series was responsible for the bulk of Apple’s sales, Wozniak felt that the division that worked on Apple II computers was not being treated with respect. He permanently left Apple and sold most of his stock in the company. Shortly after, he created a company called CL 9, which created the first programmable universal remote control. 

He became an active philanthropist, supporting the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Silicon Valley Ballet, and other organizations. Wozniak co-founded Wheels of Zeus, which worked to create wireless GPS technology, and Acquicor Technology, a company that acquired and developed technology companies. In 2000, Wozniak was officially inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. 

Key Facts About Steve Wozniak

• After his plane crash, Wozniak said that playing Apple II computer games helped him heal from his brain injury.
• Wozniak has made several TV appearances, making a guest appearance on The Big Bang Theory and participating in the 8th season of Dancing With the Stars.
• In San Jose, CA, there’s a street named after Wozniak called Woz Way. The street was named to honor Wozniak’s contributions to the Children’s Museum of San Jose.
• Wozniak is a significant contributor to Los Gatos schools and has worked to ensure that the local school district has access to new technology. 
• During the 1990s, Wozniak regularly sent his high scores in Tetris for Game Boy to Nintendo Power Magazine. When the magazine stopped printing his scores, he began to submit them under the name Evets Kainzow.

Where Is Steve Wozniak Today?

Steve Wozniak lives in Los Gatos, CA, with his wife, Janet Hill. While he has primarily focused on educational and philanthropic projects recently, he launched a new company, Efforce, in 2020. The company is focused on blockchain and green technology. 

Despite everything that Wozniak has done since leaving Apple, no one has forgotten his contributions to the personal computer revolution. Wozniak’s machines, like the Apple II series, helped transform personal computers. Even though Wozniak’s Apple patents aren’t the source of his net worth, they’re why he’s a household name today. 

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