Apple’s Steve Wozniak says he cofounded the tech giant after 5 rejections from HP-not to ‘make money.’ For years, his paycheck was just $50

Key Points:

• Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak revealed that building a tech empire and making money were never his initial goals; he was driven by a passion for creating a personal computer and earning respect from fellow engineers.
• After being rejected by Hewlett-Packard for his personal computer idea, Wozniak joined Steve Jobs to start Apple, emphasizing the importance of taking unconventional paths rather than following the crowd.
• Wozniak sold most of his Apple shares in the 1980s and gave away stock to early employees and charities, reflecting his skepticism toward wealth accumulation; had he kept his original stake, he could have become the world's first trillionaire.
• Despite co-founding Apple, Wozniak continued receiving a modest paycheck and avoided investing, believing that money could corrupt values, and he maintained a focus on doing what he loved rather than pursuing wealth.
• Wozniak completed his college degree at age 35 under an alias and spent a decade teaching computing to school students, advising graduates that it is okay not to have a perfect career path immediately and to prioritize financial independence first.