Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne.
The three founders established the company in California, initially focusing on personal computers. Apple’s first major product was the Apple I, followed by the Apple II, which helped make personal computing more accessible. The company later expanded into the Macintosh, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
Apple is frequently included among the world’s most valuable public companies by market capitalization. Market capitalization is calculated by multiplying a company’s share price by its total outstanding shares, so it changes with the stock market rather than representing a fixed historical ranking.
A common mix-up is confusing Apple’s founding date with its incorporation date. Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, while it incorporated as Apple Computer, Inc. in 1977. The company adopted the name Apple Inc. in 2007.