The original founding papers that created the Apple Computer Company on April 1, 1976, are about to be auctioned off by Christie’s. The original partnership contract is expected to fetch as much as $4 million when the gavel falls.
The original three-page document was a contract among Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ron Wayne. The agreement established initial shares at 45% for Jobs, 45% for Wozniak, and 10% for Wayne.
Included in the auction package are additional papers that document Wayne’s leaving the partnership, just 12 days after the company was formed. When Wayne left the company, he initially received $800 for his 10% share of the company, later receiving an additional $1,500 payment.
Wayne later said he pulled out of the partnership, because he knew he didn’t have the stomach for it.
I didn’t separate myself from Apple because of any lack of enthusiasm for the concept of computer products. Aside from any immediate apprehension in regard to financial risks, I left because I didn’t feel that this new enterprise would be the working environment that I saw for myself, essentially for the rest of my days.
I had every belief would be successful but I didn’t know when, what I’d have to give up or sacrifice to get there, or how long it would take to achieve that success.
Christie’s will offer the founding contract and Wayne’s withdrawal agreement as a single lot on January 23, 2026.
Back in 2011, Apple’s founding partnership agreement was auctioned by Sotheby’s, which ended with a winning bid of $1.59 million. The papers were actually valued at around $1.35 million at the time, as the price included a 12% premium for the auction house.
(Via Arirang TV.)
