Co Founder of Apple!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are looking into the work and life of the incredible co-founder of Apple; Ronald G. Wayne! I was even lucky enough to ask him a few questions!

When people talk about the origins of Apple, names like Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak dominate the story; but there was a third co-founder, Ronald G. Wayne. Born in 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio, Wayne worked as an engineer and draftsman before crossing paths with Jobs at Atari. When Jobs and Wozniak were setting out to form Apple Computer in 1976, they invited Wayne to join, and he not only helped draft the company’s original partnership agreement but also designed its very first logo. At 41, he was the seasoned adult in the room, offering stability to two ambitious young dreamers.

But Wayne is most remembered for one of the biggest “what-ifs” in business history. Just 12 days after signing the contract, he sold his 10% stake in Apple for $800, worried about being personally liable if the company failed. That decision meant he missed out on billions of dollars as Apple grew into a global powerhouse. Over time, his story has become a favorite case study in business schools and motivational talks, often used to highlight the importance of risk-taking, the unpredictability of success, and how even small decisions can ripple into history.

Wayne’s career didn’t end with Apple. He later worked at companies like Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and even ran a small stamp business. He also authored books, including his memoir “Adventures of an Apple Founder” and works on political philosophy, giving readers insight into his life beyond the headlines. Among the fun facts that intrigue fans: the original Apple founding contract, bearing Wayne’s signature, was later auctioned for nearly $1.6 million; proof of how much history still values his role in the company’s birth.

Culturally, Wayne has become a symbol of missed opportunity, but also of perspective. His decision is often compared to modern near-misses, like people who sold Bitcoin for a few hundred dollars or passed on investing in Amazon in the 1990s. While many focus on the fortune he gave up, his legacy now lives on as a lesson. His story adds a unique dimension to Apple’s mythology; reminding us that innovation is shaped not only by those who stayed the course, but also by those whose choices changed the trajectory. Today, he stands as a quirky but unforgettable figure in the tech world’s history, the man who helped start one of the most valuable companies on earth before walking away.

Bonus Question:

Giancarlo: What are your thoughts on your contributions to Apple’s legacy?

Ronald: A shocking news story about myself and Apple is soon to break: 

At the very beginnings of Apple, Steve Jobs, by methods that I'd had no knowledge nor evidence of until now, had defrauded me out of my 10% interest in the Apple enterprise. Action is soon to be taken to rectify that villainy.

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Ronald: When I was about 19 years old, I got ahold of a book titled "Wealth of Nations”, written by Adam Smith and published in 1776. At that time Mr.Smith was referred to as a Natural Philosopher. There were "Natural Philosophers" all over Europe and the America's - men who were students of all aspects of the human Condition - but Mr.Smith and his group were concerned with the "Nature of Money" and how it functioned in society. As philosophers, Smith's group would argue about every detail of their subject - but there was one understanding upon which they all agreed: "Any nation that went to "fiat" money (money with no material backing) would suffer monetary inflation, economic collapse, monetary collapse, and probably governmental collapse as well. Since then, every fiat money in history has inflated itself out of existence. From WWII to now, every country on Earth has been married to FIAT money. - and that is the exact and only cause of today's worldwide inflation! -Upon that advice, my life long savings has always been in silver and gold!!!

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again on Monday!

-Giancarlo