2025-08-25T05:11:40Z

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Imagine being on the brink of becoming the second-richest person on the planet and deciding to walk away from it all. Sounds unreal, right? Well, that's exactly what Steve Wozniak, the brilliant mind behind Apple, did when he gave away his shares, a move that could have netted him over $294 billion today.

Wozniak, often dubbed 'the inventor of the personal computer,' played a crucial role in bringing Apple to life alongside Steve Jobs. His journey began back in 1976, a time when the tech world was just awakening, and his engineering genius was about to revolutionize how we interact with technology.

When Apple went public in 1980, Wozniak held a significant 8.7% stake in the company. But before he stepped away from Apple in 1985, he made a remarkable offer: he wanted to give away $10 million worth of his shares to early employees—a gesture that even Jobs turned down. After that, Wozniak sold the rest of his shares, choosing to prioritize personal values over financial gain.

If Wozniak had held onto his shares, his net worth would have skyrocketed to an astonishing $294 billion by August 2025, placing him just behind Elon Musk in the billionaire rankings. Yet, despite being worth only around $140 million today, Wozniak remains steadfast in his beliefs.

In a recent discussion on his 75th birthday, he reaffirmed his decision, stating, “I gave all my Apple wealth away because wealth and power are not what I live for.” His philosophy on life, developed in his late teens, revolves around happiness rather than material success. Wozniak insists he’s the happiest person alive, emphasizing that life is about “Smiles minus Frowns.”

For Wozniak, money has never been a driving force. He even admitted in a 2017 interview with Fortune, “I do not invest. I don’t do that stuff. I didn’t want to be near money, because it could corrupt your values.” His focus was always on innovation and improving the world through technology—values that sometimes seem lost in today’s corporate landscape.

It's fascinating to think that in the backdrop of Wozniak’s choices, there’s a strong contrast with other tech leaders. While he’s remained an influential figure, still engaging with the tech community and sharing insights, Jobs, who amassed a fortune of around $10.2 billion before his passing in 2011, took a different path.

Ultimately, Wozniak’s story is a powerful reminder that personal values often outweigh financial success. And in a world driven by wealth and power, his journey inspires us to seek out what truly brings happiness.