Apple, one of the world’s highest-market-cap companies, was founded in 1976.
Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne established Apple Computer on April 1, 1976. The company’s first product was the Apple I, a personal computer designed primarily by Wozniak and sold as an assembled circuit board.
Apple became especially influential through the Macintosh, introduced in 1984, and later through products including the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Its market capitalization grew dramatically as the iPhone developed into a global platform for hardware, software, and services.
A common mix-up is the company’s founding date and incorporation date. Apple was founded in 1976, while Apple Computer, Inc. was incorporated in 1977. The company adopted the name Apple Inc. in 2007, reflecting its expansion beyond computers.