Career Timeline of Steve Wozniak: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Steve Wozniak, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Stephen Gary Wozniak, nicknamed "Woz," is an American technology entrepreneur, electrical engineer, computer programmer, and inventor. He co-founded Apple Computer with Steve Jobs in 1976. Wozniak is celebrated as a pioneer of the personal computer revolution due to his crucial role in developing Apple's early products during the 1970s and 1980s.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

October 1971: Building Blue Boxes

In October 1971, Steve Wozniak read "Secrets of the Little Blue Box" in Esquire and began building blue boxes, which allowed free long-distance calls. Steve Jobs sold them, splitting the profits with Wozniak.

1971: Designed and Built First Computer

In June 1971, Steve Wozniak designed and built his first computer with his friend Bill Fernandez as a self-taught engineering project.

1973: Working on Breakout Game at Atari

In 1973, Steve Wozniak worked with Steve Jobs to design a circuit board for the arcade game Breakout at Atari. Wozniak reduced the chip count significantly, but Jobs did not share the full bonus received from Atari with him at that time.

1975: Development of Apple I

In 1975, Steve Wozniak began developing the Apple I computer, which he and Steve Jobs would market the following year, marking the start of Apple's journey.

March 1, 1976: Completion of Apple I Design

On March 1, 1976, Steve Wozniak completed the basic design of the Apple I computer. He designed the hardware, circuit board designs, and operating system. After HP denied the design, Jobs advised Wozniak to start a business to sell the circuit boards.

April 1, 1976: Formation of Apple Computer Company

On April 1, 1976, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne formed the Apple Computer Company (now Apple Inc.). The name "Apple" was chosen after Jobs's time on an apple orchard.

November 1976: Funding from Mike Markkula

In November 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak received funding from Mike Markkula, an Intel product marketing manager. Wozniak resigned from HP to become the vice president in charge of research and development at Apple.

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1976: Co-founded Apple Computer

In 1976, Steve Wozniak co-founded Apple Computer with Steve Jobs. This marks the beginning of their journey in the personal computer revolution.

April 1977: Introduction of Apple II at West Coast Computer Faire

In April 1977, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak introduced the Apple II at the West Coast Computer Faire. The Apple II was the first personal computer with color graphics and built-in BASIC.

May 1977: Apple II Article in Byte Magazine

In May 1977, Steve Wozniak's first article about the Apple II was published in Byte magazine. The Apple II became one of the first highly successful mass-produced personal computers.

1977: Introduction of Apple II

In 1977, the Apple II was introduced. Steve Wozniak designed the Apple II, recognized as one of the first successful mass-produced microcomputers.

1978: Release of Disk II Floppy Disk Drive

In 1978, Steve Wozniak designed the Disk II floppy disk drive, released for use with the Apple II to replace cassette tape storage.

1979: Influence on Macintosh Concepts

From 1979, Steve Wozniak, along with Jef Raskin, significantly influenced the initial development of the original Macintosh concepts.

1980: Apple Went Public

In 1980, Apple went public, resulting in significant financial profitability and making Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak millionaires.

1980: Offered stock to early Apple employees

In 1980, when Apple first went public, Steve Wozniak offered $10 million of his own stock to early Apple employees. This contrasts with Steve Jobs, who refused to do the same.

1981: Jobs Took Over Macintosh Project

In 1981, Steve Jobs took over the Macintosh project after Steve Wozniak's plane crash, as Wozniak was unable to continue his involvement at the time.

May 1982: Founded Unuson and Sponsored US Festival

In May 1982, Steve Wozniak, with help from Bill Graham, founded Unuson and sponsored the first US Festival, intended to celebrate evolving technologies but ended up as a technology exposition and a rock festival. The festival resulted in several million dollars in losses.

1983: Second US Festival and Return to Apple

In 1983, Wozniak sponsored the second US Festival through Unuson. After the financial losses of the 1982 festival, Wozniak stated he would end his involvement with rock festivals unless the 1983 event turned a profit. Later in 1983, Wozniak returned to Apple product development.

1984: Release of the Apple IIc

In 1984, the Apple II platform was made semi-portable with the release of the Apple IIc.

1984: Discontinuation of Apple III

In 1984, the Apple III, intended as the Apple II's successor but released in 1980, was discontinued due to commercial failure. Wozniak attributed the failures to the marketing department's design, unlike previous engineering-driven projects.

January 1985: Apple II division ignored at annual meeting

In January 1985, the Apple II division, which provided about 85% of Apple's sales, was not mentioned at the company's annual meeting, frustrating Steve Wozniak.

1985: Wozniak Left Apple Again

By early 1985, Steve Wozniak left Apple again and sold most of his stock because he felt that Apple was hindering him from being who he wanted to be. He also stated that he left primarily because he was excited to start CL 9 and recapture the fun of developing a new technology.

1985: Founded CL 9

In 1985, Steve Wozniak founded CL 9 after leaving Apple.

1985: Departure from Apple

In 1985, Steve Wozniak permanently left Apple, marking the end of his full-time involvement with the company.

1985: Stepping Down at Apple

Since stepping down in 1985, Steve Wozniak has remained an employee of Apple in a ceremonial capacity.

1985: Left Apple as an active employee

Though permanently leaving Apple as an active employee in 1985, Steve Wozniak chose to never remove himself from the official employee list and continued to represent the company at events or in interviews.

1986: Release of the Apple IIGS

In 1986, the Apple II platform was extended, with some input from Wozniak, by the 16-bit Apple IIGS.

1987: Launched CORE Universal Remote

In 1987, CL 9 developed and brought the first programmable universal remote control to market, called the "CORE".

1987: Founded CL 9 and Created Universal Remote

In 1987, Steve Wozniak founded CL 9 and created the first programmable universal remote, showcasing his continued innovation in technology.

1990: Helped found the Electronic Frontier Foundation

In 1990, Steve Wozniak helped found the Electronic Frontier Foundation, providing some of the organization's initial funding and serving on its founding Board of Directors. He is the founding sponsor of the Tech Museum, Silicon Valley Ballet and Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose.

November 15, 1993: Discontinuation of the Apple IIe

On November 15, 1993, the Apple IIe was discontinued altogether, marking the end of the Apple II platform.

May 1995: End of Apple IIe card production

In May 1995, the Apple IIe card, which allowed compatible Macintosh computers to run Apple II software, was discontinued.

1998: Co-authored The Official Computer Freaks Joke Book

In 1998, Steve Wozniak co-authored "The Official Computer Freaks Joke Book" with Larry Wilde.

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2001: Founded Wheels of Zeus

In 2001, Steve Wozniak founded Wheels of Zeus (WOZ) to create wireless GPS technology to "help everyday people find everyday things much more easily".

2002: Founded Wheels of Zeus (WOZ)

In 2002, Steve Wozniak founded the company "WoZ" (Wheels of Zeus).

2002: Joined Ripcord Networks and Danger, Inc.

In 2002, Steve Wozniak joined the board of directors of Ripcord Networks, Inc. and later the same year he joined the board of directors of Danger, Inc., the maker of the Hip Top.

2006: Founded Acquicor Technology

In 2006, Steve Wozniak closed Wheels of Zeus and founded Acquicor Technology, a holding company for acquiring and developing technology companies, with Apple alumni Hancock and Amelio.

2006: Closed Wheels of Zeus (WOZ)

In 2006, Steve Wozniak closed the company "WoZ" (Wheels of Zeus).

2006: Co-authored Autobiography iWoz

In 2006, Steve Wozniak co-authored his autobiography, "iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-Founded Apple, and Had Fun Doing It" with Gina Smith. The book made The New York Times Best Seller list.

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2006: Stipend and Relationship with Steve Jobs

In 2006, Steve Wozniak was receiving a stipend from Apple for his role as a representative. He also stated that he and Steve Jobs were not as close as they used to be.

2009: Chief Scientist at Fusion-io

From 2009 through 2014, Steve Wozniak served as chief scientist at Fusion-io.

2013: Interview on the Macintosh's initial failure

In a 2013 interview, Steve Wozniak stated that the original Macintosh "failed" under Steve Jobs and only became a success after Jobs left. He also discussed the Apple Lisa group and the creation of a cheaper computer to compete with the Lisa.

2014: Chief Scientist at Primary Data

In 2014, Steve Wozniak became chief scientist at Primary Data, which was founded by some former Fusion-io executives.

2015: Announced Silicon Valley Comic Con

In 2015, Steve Wozniak, along with Marvel legend Stan Lee, announced the annual Silicon Valley Comic Con (SVCC), a pop culture and technology convention co-founded by Wozniak and Rick White.

October 2017: Founded Woz U

In October 2017, Steve Wozniak founded Woz U, an online educational technology service for independent students and employees.

December 2018: Woz U licensed as a school

As of December 2018, Woz U was licensed as a school with the Arizona state board.

2020: Launched Efforce

At the end of 2020, Steve Wozniak announced the launch of Efforce, a marketplace for funding ecologically friendly projects. It used a WOZX cryptocurrency token for funding and blockchain to redistribute the profit to token holders and businesses engaged on the platform.

July 2021: Expressed support for the right to repair movement

In July 2021, Steve Wozniak made a Cameo video in response to right to repair activist Louis Rossmann, describing the issue as emotionally affecting and crediting Apple's early breakthroughs to open technology of the 1970s.