Apple’s first ever investor could have been worth a whopping trillion dollars today if he had kept hold of his shares.
Everyone is familiar with the story of how Steve Jobs founded Apple from his garage with Steve Wozniak.
But there is another name in the mix that you might not have heard of.
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Mike Markkula was the very first investor in the firm that would go on to become a giant in the tech industry.
Putting $250,000 into the company, it gave him one third of Apple and essentially made him a co-founder too.
But Markkula made one key mistake - he decided to sell his shares.
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Of course hindsight is 20/20, but if he had made the decision to keep them, then today he would be worth a whopping trillion dollars.
It would have made him one of the richest people on the planet but it wasn’t meant to be.
Markkula didn’t become a trillionaire but he did leave a lasting legacy on the company he had a crucial part in.
His vision helped to turn the startup into a global giant.
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However, after Markkula’s story resurfaced on social media, many people shared their own thoughts on the investor who missed out on some serious cash.
On Reddit, one user wrote: “As investors, we should learn from one another and understand the power of long-term holding.”
Another joked: “Great story. Stupid of him not predicting that he would be a trillionarist.
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And a third person added: “For every story like this there are thousands where somebody ends up broke.”
Over on X, formerly Twitter, another user shared: “Mike Markkula is credited with coining Apple's original slogan ‘Byte into an Apple; which was used in the company's early marketing efforts…”
A second person commented: “You left out the part where he had to wait until he was 81 to get that much.”
A third wrote: “Mike Markkula's belief in Apple wasn't just about money, it was about vision and potential. It's a reminder that when we invest in people and ideas, incredible things can happen.”
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And a fourth person said: “He believed in Steve Jobs and the vision.. not many do when it comes to visionaries and entrepreneurs. But those that do deserve their pay day!”
However, not everyone was as sympathetic to Markkula, with one user adding: “He is worth 1.2 billion. I think he can make it.”