STEVE JOBS
Steven Paul "Steve" Jobs was the co-founder, chairman and CEO of Apple Inc. Jobs is widely recognized as a pioneer of the microcomputer revolution with the invention of the Macintosh in 1984. He founded the Apple company with Steve Wozniak but, after a long power struggle, was forced out of the company in 1985.
After leaving Apple, Jobs founded NeXT, a computer platform development company specializing in state-of-the-art computers for higher-education and business markets. In addition, Jobs helped to initiate the development of the visual effects industry when he funded Pixar, would eventually produce the first fully computer-animated film, "Toy Story." In 1997, Apple acquired and merged NeXT, allowing Jobs to become CEO once again, reviving the company at the verge of bankruptcy. Beginning in 1997 with the "Think different" advertising campaign, Jobs worked closely with designer Jonathan Ive to develop a line of products that would have larger cultural ramifications: the iMac, iTunes and iTunes Store, Apple Store, iPod, iPhone, App Store, and the iPad.
Jobs was diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in 2003. He died of respiratory arrest related to the tumor on October 5, 2011.