In 2025, Steve Jobs’ posthumous net worth is estimated at $7 billion, a significant fortune that remains a testament to his visionary work. Despite his passing in 2011, Jobs’ wealth continues to grow, largely through investments made in companies like Disney and Apple.
However, the true scale of what Jobs might have been worth today is staggering when considering the wealth he could have accumulated had he retained all his shares in Apple.
Jobs’ Wealth Beyond Apple
Steve Jobs is most famous for co-founding Apple, but much of his wealth didn’t come directly from the tech giant.
After being forced out of Apple in 1985, Jobs embarked on other entrepreneurial ventures that greatly contributed to his fortune.
One of the most notable was his acquisition of Pixar in 1986. Pixar’s eventual merger with Disney in 2006 not only solidified Jobs as a tech industry legend but also made him Disney’s largest shareholder.
When Disney purchased Pixar for $7.4 billion, Jobs received approximately $3.9 billion for his shares, which significantly contributed to his wealth during his lifetime.
His investments in Pixar were transformative, and they played a pivotal role in making Jobs a billionaire.
What If Jobs Had Retained His Apple Shares?
One of the most intriguing aspects of Jobs’ wealth is the “what if” scenario—what if he had kept all of his Apple shares? At the time of Apple’s IPO in 1980, Jobs owned about 15% of the company, which translated to 7.5 million shares.
After a series of stock splits, Jobs’ initial stake would have ballooned to 78.9 million shares by the time of his death in 2011. Had he held onto those shares, they would have been worth approximately $31.6 billion at the time of his passing.
In 2025, those same 78.9 million shares would be worth an astronomical $465 billion, based on the current stock price of Apple.
Steve Jobs’ Death and Legacy
At the time of his death in 2011, Jobs’ estimated net worth stood at around $10.2 billion. While this was a massive fortune, it was a fraction of what he could have accumulated had he kept his shares in Apple.
His death, caused by complications from pancreatic cancer, marked the end of an era for Apple. Under Jobs’ leadership, Apple revolutionized multiple industries, from personal computing to music, phones, and entertainment.
Inheritance: Who Benefited from Jobs’ Fortune?
Although Jobs passed on at a relatively young age, he left behind a significant inheritance. Most of his fortune went to his wife, Laurene Powell Jobs, who received a considerable portion in the form of shares in both Disney and Apple.
Laurene Powell Jobs has since used her wealth to fund various philanthropic efforts through her Emerson Collective, which focuses on education, social justice, and environmental causes. As of late 2024, Laurene Powell Jobs’ net worth is estimated at $16.3 billion.
Jobs’ daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs, also inherited part of his fortune. Their relationship was complex, particularly during Lisa’s childhood, but Jobs later acknowledged his paternity, and Lisa became a key beneficiary of his estate. It is estimated that she received a $25 million inheritance after her father’s passing.
The Long-Term Impact of Steve Jobs’ Wealth
Steve Jobs’ financial legacy is not just a story of massive wealth but also a story of how his investments shaped the tech industry and beyond.
His stake in Pixar, his contributions to Apple’s success, and his smart investments in Disney have ensured his wealth has endured long after his death.
Had Jobs kept his Apple shares, he would have been one of the wealthiest individuals in history, surpassing many of today’s richest billionaires.
His fortune, although diminished by his decision to sell his Apple stock, still remains significant, and the wealth continues to be passed down to his family—particularly his wife, Laurene Powell Jobs, who has used it for substantial social and environmental causes.
