Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne and later became a market-cap giant.
The three founders established Apple Computer Company on April 1, 1976. Wozniak designed the Apple I computer, while Jobs helped promote and sell it. Ronald Wayne contributed early administrative and documentation work but left the company soon afterward.
Apple became a public company in December 1980. Its later growth was driven by products including the Macintosh, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, alongside services such as the App Store and iCloud.
A common mix-up is confusing Apple's founding date with its incorporation date. The partnership began in 1976, while Apple Computer, Inc. was incorporated in 1977. The company removed “Computer” from its name in 2007 as its business expanded beyond personal computers.