Apple introduced the Macintosh computer in 1984 and later became one of the world’s most valuable companies by market capitalization.
The original Macintosh launched on January 24, 1984, after a famous television advertisement directed by Ridley Scott. It helped popularize a graphical user interface and a mouse for personal computers, distinguishing it from many command-line systems of the period.
Apple’s later market-capitalization growth was driven by products and services including the iPod, iPhone, iPad, Mac, App Store, and subscription businesses. The iPhone, introduced in 2007, became the company’s central consumer product and a major source of revenue.
Apple’s market capitalization is not the same as its annual sales or profit. It is the total market value of its publicly traded shares and moves with the share price.