Apple Co-Founder Clarifies Stake Sale Details on 50th Anniversary

Ronald Wayne says he never actually sold his 10% stake in Apple for $800 as widely reported.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 12:19pm

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Apple co-founder Ronald Wayne has revealed that the long-standing story about him selling his 10% stake in the company for $800 is inaccurate. Speaking at a Computer History Museum event celebrating Apple's 50th anniversary, Wayne stated he never actually sold his stake, but rather received a $800 check from Steve Jobs around two months after leaving the company, which he initially thought was a tip. Wayne says he was later bought out of the original Apple partnership by Mike Markkula when the company was incorporated, but he never directly sold his 10% stake as has been widely reported for decades.

Why it matters

This clarification from one of Apple's original co-founders helps set the record straight on a key part of the company's early history that has been misreported for years. Wayne's comments provide more context around his departure from Apple and the circumstances of his dissociation from the company, which has implications for understanding the founding and early ownership structure of one of the world's most valuable tech companies.

The details

According to Wayne, the conventional story about him selling his 10% stake in Apple for $800 is "totally inaccurate." He says he never actually sold the stake, but rather received an $800 check from Steve Jobs around two months after leaving the company, which he initially thought was just a small tip. Wayne was later officially bought out of the original Apple partnership by Mike Markkula when the company was incorporated, but he did not directly sell his 10% stake as has been widely reported.

  • In 1976, Apple was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne.
  • Wayne left Apple after just 12 days.
  • Around two months after leaving, Wayne received an $800 check from Steve Jobs, which he initially thought was a tip.
  • Later, when Apple was incorporated, Mike Markkula bought Wayne out of the original Apple partnership.
  • Wayne's comments were made at a Computer History Museum event celebrating Apple's 50th anniversary in 2026.

The players

Ronald Wayne

One of the three original co-founders of Apple, who left the company after just 12 days.

Steve Jobs

One of the three original co-founders of Apple, who sent Wayne an $800 check around two months after he left the company.

Steve Wozniak

One of the three original co-founders of Apple, along with Jobs and Wayne.

Mike Markkula

An early Apple investor who officially bought Wayne out of the original Apple partnership when the company was incorporated.

Charles Stigger

Wayne's current collaborator on a new computer architecture project.

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What they’re saying

“I actually never sold my 10%.”

— Ronald Wayne, Apple Co-Founder (Computer History Museum event)

“The story that's been floating around for decades about $800... that I had sold [my stake] for $800, that was totally inaccurate.”

— Ronald Wayne, Apple Co-Founder (Computer History Museum event)

“I got an envelope in the mail from Jobs, containing no letter, no note, no explanation, nothing, just a check for $800. And to be candid I thought it was a tip. And a cheap one at that.”

— Ronald Wayne, Apple Co-Founder (Computer History Museum event)

What’s next

Wayne announced that he and Charles Stigger of CMD Supplies in Las Vegas are collaborating on a new computer architecture project that they claim will run 30% more efficiently and faster than any other computer in the world, but no further details were provided.

The takeaway

Ronald Wayne's clarification of the details around his departure from Apple and the fate of his 10% stake in the company helps set the record straight on a long-standing piece of Apple's founding history that has been widely misreported. This provides valuable context around the early ownership structure and leadership of one of the world's most influential tech companies.