Overview
- Ronald G. Wayne said his departure from Apple was a withdrawal from the original partnership, not a sale for $800, adding the payment felt like a small gratuity.
- He explained that Apple began as a general partnership that exposed each founder to unlimited personal liability for company debts.
- Wayne, now 91, reiterated in a Fortune interview that he has no regrets and defines success by judgment and integrity rather than money.
- He cited the early risk profile, including a $15,000 parts outlay for a Byte Shop order from a buyer he viewed as unreliable, as a key factor in stepping away.
- He recently appeared in a tongue‑in‑cheek Busch Light Apple ad, as coverage again notes his former 10% stake would be worth over $400 billion on paper and one market report linked the renewed attention to a slight, short‑lived dip in Apple shares.