1 Apr 1976
Turning point
Apple founded
Apple was founded on April 1, 1976 in the Jobs family garage in Los Altos, California by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, according to The National.
Company
How Apple unfolded
Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne and went public in 1980. After Jobs returned in 1997 it introduced the iPod, iPhone and iPad, and Tim Cook led it from 2011 until John Ternus became chief executive on September 1, 2026. It has faced a US monopolization suit, the Epic Games litigation and EU state aid, antitrust and Digital Markets Act decisions.
1 April 1976 to today · 31 dated events · 28 sources
Where it stands now · as of 31 October 2026
Apple is listed on Nasdaq under AAPL and led by chief executive John Ternus, with Tim Cook as executive chair. The Justice Department case is pending, the Supreme Court is reviewing the contempt question in the Epic case with Epic's brief due November 13, 2026, and Apple's appeal of the DMA fine is pending. Fourth quarter fiscal 2026 results had not been published on Apple Newsroom or EDGAR as of October 31, 2026.
Next date
13 November 2026 Epic's merits brief due at the Supreme Court in Apple Inc. v. Epic Games, Inc.
13 November 2026 Epic's merits brief due at the Supreme Court in Apple Inc. v. Epic Games, Inc.
revenue, quarter ended 27 June 2026$109.4bnup 16 percent
net sales, fiscal 2025$416.2bn
Digital Markets Act fine, April 2025€500munder appeal
payable to Ireland after the 2024 state aid ruling$15.8bnreleased from escrow
Overview · 1 Apr 1976 to 23 Oct 2026 · click a dot to jump
1976
1977
3 Jan 1977
Apple Computer incorporated
Apple Computer, Inc. was incorporated under California law on January 3, 1977, according to its annual reports.
· · · 47 months later
1980
12 Dec 1980
Apple goes public
Apple went public on December 12, 1980, selling 4.6 million shares, according to the Computer History Museum. The National reported an offering price of $22 a share.
· · · 194 months later
1997
4 Feb 1997
NeXT acquired
Apple acquired NeXT Software, which Steve Jobs had formed, for a total purchase price of $427 million, according to its 1997 annual report.
9 Jul 1997
Amelio resigns
Apple announced that Gilbert Amelio had resigned as chairman and chief executive and that it was searching for a new chief executive.
16 Sep 1997
Jobs named interim chief executive
Apple issued a press release naming Steve Jobs interim chief executive officer, according to its 1997 annual report.
· · · 49 months later
2001
23 Oct 2001
iPod introduced
Apple introduced iPod, a portable music player it said could hold up to 1,000 songs.
· · · 63 months later
2007
9 Jan 2007
Turning point
iPhone introduced
At Macworld in San Francisco, Apple introduced iPhone, combining a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod and an internet communications device.
“iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobile phone”Steve Jobs, Apple Newsroom
· · · 37 months later
2010
27 Jan 2010
iPad introduced
Apple introduced iPad, with a starting price of $499 and availability planned for late March.
· · · 19 months later
2011
24 Aug 2011
Turning point
Jobs resigns and Tim Cook becomes chief executive
Apple's board announced that Steve Jobs had resigned as chief executive and named chief operating officer Tim Cook to succeed him. Jobs was elected chairman.
5 Oct 2011
Steve Jobs dies
Apple's board announced that Steve Jobs had died.
· · · 32 months later
2014
28 May 2014
Beats acquisition announced
Apple agreed to acquire Beats Music and Beats Electronics for a total of $3 billion, about $2.6 billion in purchase price plus about $400 million vesting over time.
· · · 27 months later
2016
30 Aug 2016
EU rules Ireland gave Apple state aid
The European Commission decided that tax opinions Ireland issued in 1991 and 2007 were state aid and ordered Ireland to recover taxes for June 2003 to December 2014. Apple and Ireland appealed.
· · · 47 months later
2020
15 Jul 2020
General Court annuls state aid decision
The EU General Court annulled the Commission's decision, and the Commission appealed on September 25, 2020.
· · · 14 months later
2021
10 Sep 2021
Epic case injunction on anti-steering rules
Ruling on Epic Games' suit, the federal court in Northern California found for Apple on nine of Epic's ten counts, including its federal antitrust claims, but found some App Store guideline provisions violated California's unfair competition law and issued an injunction barring Apple from prohibiting buttons and links to other purchase options, according to Apple and the Ninth Circuit.
· · · 19 months later
2023
24 Apr 2023
Ninth Circuit largely affirms Epic judgment
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's judgment except on attorney fees, leaving in place the rulings against Epic's Sherman Act claims and for Epic under California law.
2024
4 Mar 2024
EU fines Apple over music streaming rules
The European Commission fined Apple over 1.8 billion euros, finding it abused a dominant position by stopping music streaming apps from telling iOS users about cheaper offers outside the app.
21 Mar 2024
Turning point
Justice Department sues Apple
The Justice Department and 16 state and district attorneys general sued Apple in federal court in New Jersey, alleging it monopolized smartphone markets. Four more states joined in June 2024. Apple said it has substantial defenses.
10 Sep 2024
EU Court of Justice confirms Ireland ruling
The Court of Justice set aside the General Court's judgment and confirmed the 2016 decision. Apple recorded a net one time tax charge of $10.2 billion, including $15.8 billion payable to Ireland from escrow.
2025
23 Apr 2025
500 million euro Digital Markets Act fine
The Commission found Apple breached the DMA's anti-steering obligation, fined it 500 million euros and ordered it to remove restrictions. Apple says it has appealed and believes it complies.
30 Apr 2025
Apple found in violation of Epic injunction
The district court found Apple in contempt of the 2021 injunction and barred it from charging any commission on purchases consumers make outside an app or restricting how developers guide users to them.
30 Jun 2025
Court refuses to dismiss Justice Department suit
US District Judge Julien Neals denied Apple's motion to dismiss the Justice Department's case, allowing it to proceed, Engadget reported.
8 Jul 2025
Sabih Khan to become chief operating officer
Apple announced that Jeff Williams would hand the COO role to Sabih Khan later that month as part of a planned succession.
31 Oct 2025
Fiscal 2025 results
Apple's annual report for the year ended September 27, 2025 showed net sales of $416.2 billion and net income of $112.0 billion.
11 Dec 2025
Ninth Circuit modifies the Epic contempt injunction
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the contempt finding but held that parts of the remedy were overbroad. Apple said the court allowed it to require parity between its in-app purchase option and outside links and to charge some commission on link-out purchases, and sent the case back.
2026
20 Apr 2026
Turning point
John Ternus named next chief executive
Apple announced Tim Cook would become executive chair and hardware engineering chief John Ternus would become CEO on September 1, 2026, approved unanimously by the board.
30 Jun 2026
Supreme Court agrees to hear Epic contempt question
The US Supreme Court granted Apple's petition in Apple Inc. v. Epic Games, Inc., No. 25-1311, limited to the first question presented, which Apple said concerns the legal standard for civil contempt.
30 Jul 2026
Third quarter fiscal 2026 results
Apple reported revenue of $109.4 billion for the quarter ended June 27, 2026, up 16 percent, and diluted earnings per share of $2.02.
13 Aug 2026
Justice Kagan denies stay of Epic proceedings
Justice Elena Kagan denied Apple's application to stay district court proceedings in the Epic case while the Supreme Court considers it, after briefly granting an administrative stay on August 12, according to the docket.
1 Sep 2026
Ternus takes over as chief executive
The transition took effect on September 1, 2026 under the April plan. Apple's leadership page lists John Ternus as CEO and Tim Cook as executive chair.
23 Oct 2026
iPhone Duo, the first foldable iPhone, goes on sale
iPhone Duo, which Apple described as the first foldable iPhone, went on sale at Apple Store locations worldwide.
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Sources
28 records, ranked by type- 1News report1 Apr 2026Apple at 50: The company that reshaped the world must now reinvent it againThe National · thenationalnews.com
- 2Subject's own statement13 Dec 1994Apple Computer, Inc. annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal 1994Apple via SEC EDGAR · sec.gov
- 3Subject's own statement5 Dec 1997Apple Computer, Inc. annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal 1997Apple via SEC EDGAR · sec.gov
- 4Subject's own statement23 Oct 2001Apple Presents iPodApple Newsroom · apple.com
- 5Subject's own statement9 Jan 2007Apple Reinvents the Phone with iPhoneApple Newsroom · apple.com
- 6Subject's own statement27 Jan 2010Apple Launches iPadApple Newsroom · apple.com
- 7Subject's own statement24 Aug 2011Steve Jobs Resigns as CEO of AppleApple Newsroom · apple.com
- 8Subject's own statement5 Oct 2011Statement by Apple's Board of DirectorsApple Newsroom · apple.com
- 9Subject's own statement28 May 2014Apple to Acquire Beats Music and Beats ElectronicsApple Newsroom · apple.com
- 10Subject's own statement31 Oct 2025Apple Inc. annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2025Apple via SEC EDGAR · sec.gov
- 11Subject's own statement31 Jul 2026Apple Inc. quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 27, 2026Apple via SEC EDGAR · sec.gov
- 12Official record24 Apr 2023Epic Games, Inc. v. Apple, Inc., No. 21-16506, opinionUS Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov
- 13Government document4 Mar 2024Commission fines Apple over 1.8 billion euros over abusive App store rules for music streaming providers (IP/24/1161)European Commission · ec.europa.eu
- 14Government document21 Mar 2024Justice Department Sues Apple for Monopolizing Smartphone MarketsUS Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs · justice.gov
- 15Government document23 Apr 2025Commission finds Apple and Meta in breach of the Digital Markets Act (IP/25/1085)European Commission · ec.europa.eu
- 16News report30 Jun 2025Judge rules Apple must face antitrust lawsuit brought by the US DOJEngadget · engadget.com
- 17Subject's own statement9 Jul 2025Apple Inc. Form 8-K, chief operating officer transitionApple via SEC EDGAR · sec.gov
- 18Subject's own statement20 Apr 2026Apple Inc. Form 8-K, chief executive officer transitionApple via SEC EDGAR · sec.gov
- 19Subject's own statement20 Apr 2026Tim Cook to become Apple Executive Chairman, John Ternus to become Apple CEOApple Newsroom · apple.com
- 20Subject's own statement30 Jul 2026Apple reports third quarter resultsApple Newsroom · apple.com
- 21Subject's own statement23 Oct 2026iPhone Duo arrives at Apple Store locations worldwideApple Newsroom · apple.com
- 22Subject's own statement31 Oct 2026Apple LeadershipApple · apple.com
- 23Government document11 Jun 2024Four Additional States Join Justice Department's Suit Against Apple for Monopolizing Smartphone MarketsUS Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs · justice.gov
- 24News reportDecember 12: Apple Computer's Initial Public Offering, This Day in HistoryComputer History Museum · computerhistory.org
- 25Subject's own statement29 Oct 2021Apple Inc. annual report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2021Apple via SEC EDGAR · sec.gov
- 26Official record11 Dec 2025Epic Games, Inc. v. Apple Inc., No. 25-2935, opinionUS Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov
- 27Official record30 Jun 2026Order List, June 30, 2026 (certiorari granted in No. 25-1311, Apple Inc. v. Epic Games, Inc.)Supreme Court of the United States · supremecourt.gov
- 28Official record31 Oct 2026Docket for No. 25-1311, Apple Inc. v. Epic Games, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · supremecourt.gov
Last updated 31 October 2026. Spotted an error? See corrections. Every event links to the record it comes from. Allegations are attributed to whoever made them.