If Steve Jobs were to ask you if you wanted 10% of Apple in 1976 what would you do? If I knew what Apple became, I certainly would. In fact, I would have $55 billion! And who’s to say I wouldn’t have more stock?! Well, this has happened. His name is Ronald Wayne. He was the little known Apple founder that would break a tie between Jobs and Woz should one occur. However, he dropped out in 10 days. Why? Steve Jobs was too much to handle for him. Ronald Wayne stated that he was too old to handle Steve Jobs and said that it was like being in a whirlwind. So since Ronald Wayne made the worst decision of his life (although he was content with it stating he felt he made the best decision at the time with the knowledge he had), what has he done? Where is Wayne now? Ronald Wayne, after leaving Apple, went to Atari. Later on in 1978, when Wayne was at Atari, Steve gave him chance after chance to come back, Wayne refused. Even though Apple was becoming very popular by 1978 due to the Apple 2, Wayne still refused. If he came back with his original 10% he would’ve had three quarters of a million dollars and in 1980 he would’ve had 11.7 million dollars. Ronald Wayne currently lives in Nevada now and sells stamps, rare coins and gold. He did not own a single Apple product until 2011 when a friend in London have him an iPad 2. He currently has a book out about his experience with the Apple co-founders titled “Adventures of an Apple Founder” which currently brings him the money he needs to make it by. Had he not given up his 10% equity he wouldn’t need to do this.

What could $50 billion bring him today? Well, why don’t you decide that one. Comment how you would feel if you were Wayne and what you think $50 billion+ could buy you.

Thanks for reading,

Joe