Who Was Steve Jobs?

Lexile: 750 | Grade: 5

Passage

Steve Jobs was a man who changed the way people think about technology. He helped create the iPhone, iPad, and other tools that millions of people use every day. But his journey was not always smooth.

Steve was born in California in 1955 and showed an early interest in electronics. As a young adult, he worked in his garage with his friend Steve Wozniak to build one of the first personal computers. Together, they started a company called Apple in 1976.

Jobs had big ideas. He believed computers could be simple and beautiful—not just for scientists, but for everyone. Under his leadership, Apple became famous for making technology easier to use. He helped launch the Macintosh, the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad—devices that changed the way people listen to music, talk to each other, and learn new things.

But Steve’s path had setbacks too. In 1985, he was forced to leave Apple after a disagreement with the company’s board. For many people, that would have been the end of the story. But not for Steve. He started a new computer company called NeXT and bought a small animation company that would become Pixar. Pixar went on to make famous movies like *Toy Story* and *Finding Nemo*.

In 1997, Steve returned to Apple, and the company became even more successful. His bold ideas helped Apple grow into one of the most valuable companies in the world. Steve Jobs passed away in 2011, but his creativity and vision still shape how people use technology today.