Apple Inc.

Apple Inc. is an American <a href="/facts/Multinational_corporation/qrMQSMTb">multinational corporation</a> and <a href="/facts/Technology_company/qdfDdm2m">technology company</a> headquartered in <a href="/facts/Cupertino%2c_California/kBjEJdap">Cupertino, California</a>, in <a href="/facts/Silicon_Valley/gdot9J7e">Silicon Valley</a>. It is best known for its <a href="/facts/Consumer_electronics/cJ8g9NXh">consumer electronics</a>, <a href="/facts/Computer_software/RP79lVSW">software</a>, and <a href="/facts/Online_service/MSe2Ta87">services</a>. Founded in 1976 as Apple Computer Company by <a href="/facts/Steve_Jobs/fQpja1hx">Steve Jobs</a>, <a href="/facts/Steve_Wozniak/qSHwIrMz">Steve Wozniak</a> and <a href="/facts/Ronald_Wayne/mkPR28u0">Ronald Wayne</a>, the company was incorporated by Jobs and Wozniak as Apple Computer, Inc. the following year. It was renamed Apple Inc. in 2007 as the company had expanded its focus from computers to consumer electronics. Apple is the <a href="/facts/Largest_technology_company_by_revenue/JKUbd62v">largest technology company by revenue</a>, with US$391.04 billion in the 2024 <a href="/facts/Fiscal_year/qcR3PIXe">fiscal year</a>.
The company was founded to produce and market Wozniak's <a href="/facts/Apple_I/MCLPkKgE">Apple I</a> personal computer. Its second computer, the <a href="/facts/Apple_II_(original)/se82CNvK">Apple II</a>, became a best seller as one of the first mass-produced <a href="/facts/Microcomputer/ETW22UTv">microcomputers</a>. Apple introduced the <a href="/facts/Apple_Lisa/PJpJhNRK">Lisa</a> in 1983 and the <a href="/facts/Macintosh_128K/oXlQGVpX">Macintosh</a> in 1984, as some of the first computers to use a <a href="/facts/Graphical_user_interface/wBlQFWDP">graphical user interface</a> and a <a href="/facts/Computer_mouse/fJpa1tUE">mouse</a>. By 1985, internal company problems led to Jobs leaving to form <a href="/facts/NeXT/71CK18lB">NeXT</a>, and Wozniak withdrawing to other ventures; <a href="/facts/John_Sculley/RXWHJsIj">John Sculley</a> served as long-time CEO for over a decade. In the 1990s, Apple lost considerable <a href="/facts/Market_share/kvXSlhlB">market share</a> in the <a href="/facts/Personal_computer/koaYfNce">personal computer</a> industry to the lower-priced <a href="/facts/Wintel/tlsHpeke">Wintel</a> duopoly of the <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a> <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a> on <a href="/facts/Intel/SMF0gJJX">Intel</a>-powered <a href="/facts/IBM_PC_compatible/zGUpl7Sh">PC clones</a>. In 1997, Apple was weeks away from <a href="/facts/Bankruptcy/EAztPnMf">bankruptcy</a>. To resolve its failed operating system strategy, it bought NeXT, effectively bringing Jobs back to the company, who guided Apple back to profitability over the next decade with the introductions of the <a href="/facts/IMac/Yx2fxTbD">iMac</a>, <a href="/facts/IPod/Uagdn1F6">iPod</a>, <a href="/facts/IPhone/h5WeKRl9">iPhone</a>, and <a href="/facts/IPad/Ql67x0Dw">iPad</a> devices to critical acclaim as well as the <a href="/facts/ITunes_Store/c3XFlT3q">iTunes Store</a>, launching the "<a href="/facts/Think_different/pC2sy7sm">Think different</a>" <a href="/facts/Apple_Inc._advertising/fFYXEx9y">advertising</a> campaign, and opening the <a href="/facts/Apple_Store/SNq5qQoL">Apple Store</a> retail chain. These moves elevated Apple to consistently be one of the world's <a href="/facts/List_of_most_valuable_brands/8pEGFWRg">most valuable brands</a> since about 2010. Jobs resigned in 2011 for health reasons, and died two months later; he was succeeded as CEO by <a href="/facts/Tim_Cook/gATPjDFA">Tim Cook</a>.
<a href="/facts/List_of_Apple_products/Uwy6wUkM">Apple's product lineup</a> includes portable and home hardware such as the iPhone, iPad, <a href="/facts/Apple_Watch/tJjbXQEa">Apple Watch</a>, <a href="/facts/Mac_(computer)/8GhnXTK0">Mac</a>, and <a href="/facts/Apple_TV/FHVJqBCw">Apple TV</a>; <a href="/facts/List_of_Apple_operating_systems/mrqrldMc">operating systems</a> such as <a href="/facts/IOS/mK5cggH5">iOS</a>, <a href="/facts/IPadOS/fClrmH7D">iPadOS</a>, and <a href="/facts/MacOS/Y93vVpTm">macOS</a>; and <a href="/facts/List_of_software_by_Apple_Inc./mzcsngS9">various software</a> and services including <a href="/facts/Apple_Pay/UGyHba9I">Apple Pay</a>, <a href="/facts/ICloud/AUcIyg4L">iCloud</a>, and multimedia <a href="/facts/Streaming_media/4rPhSq0Y">streaming</a> services like <a href="/facts/Apple_Music/HdUFLRFz">Apple Music</a> and <a href="/facts/Apple_TV%252B/mBHlcK5r">Apple TV+</a>. Apple is one of the <a href="/facts/Big_Tech/n3mdHnMK">Big Five</a> American <a href="/facts/Information_technology/glMzunwe">information technology</a> companies; for the most part since 2011, Apple has been the world's <a href="/facts/List_of_public_corporations_by_market_capitalization/3zIFBx5h">largest company by market capitalization</a>, and, as of 2023, is the <a href="/facts/List_of_largest_manufacturing_companies_by_revenue/EM97wwJV">largest manufacturing company by revenue</a>, the <a href="/facts/Market_share_of_personal_computer_vendors/5vaHdNLp">fourth-largest personal computer vendor by unit sales</a>, the <a href="/facts/Tablet_computer/6pGX2I7b">largest vendor of tablet computers</a>, and the <a href="/facts/List_of_best-selling_mobile_phones/hLyYvQkj">largest vendor of mobile phones</a> in the world. Apple became the first <a href="/facts/Public_company/tnJQvSdR">publicly traded</a> U.S. company to be <a href="/facts/Trillion-dollar_company/3zIFBx5h">valued at over $1 trillion</a> in 2018, and, as of December 2024, is valued at just over $3.74 trillion. Apple is the largest company on the <a href="/facts/Nasdaq/C6GlcQcB">Nasdaq</a>, where it trades under the ticker symbol "AAPL".
Apple <a href="/facts/Criticism_of_Apple_Inc./cERXSSMo">has received criticism</a> regarding <a href="/facts/Apple_supply_chain/4LyYTjWH">its contractors</a>' labor practices, <a href="/facts/Apple_Inc._and_unions/6uTgchRF">its relationship with trade unions</a>, <a href="/facts/Environmental_impact_of_Apple_Inc./tNMdsWaj">its environmental practices</a>, and its business ethics, including <a href="/facts/Anti-competitive_practices_of_Apple_Inc./cERXSSMo">anti-competitive practices</a> and materials sourcing. Nevertheless, the company has <a href="/facts/Apple_community/PEaStug8">a large following</a> and enjoys a high level of <a href="/facts/Marketing_of_Apple_Inc./8q8pgrn5">brand loyalty</a>.

Apple Inc. open-in-new

Apple Inc.