Jobs and Wozniak took the company public just four years later at $22 a share, and by 1984, they reinvented the personal computer with the Macintosh. He left Apple, and from 1986 through 1997, Jobs founded and ran NeXT Software, Inc., a company that created hardware to exploit the full potential of object-oriented technologies. Jobs then sold NeXT Software, Inc., to Apple in 1997, at which time he again associated himself with Apple Computer, Inc.

In 1986, Steve Jobs discovered and bought an animation company called Pixar Animation Studios. This company became the creator and producer of a number of top-grossing animated films such as A BugÂ’s Life; Monsters, Inc.; Toy Story; and Toy Story 2.

Since 1997, Steve Jobs has helped Apple Computer, Inc. to create innovative products such as iMac, iBook, iMovie, and iPod. He was also part of the team that positioned Apple to venture onto the Internet.

See Also: Internet; Wozniak, Steve.