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Ronald Wayne

Ronald Gerald Wayne (born May 17, 1934) is an American retired electronics industry business executive. He co-founded Apple Computer Company (now Apple Inc.) as a partnership with Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs on April 1, 1976, providing administrative oversight and documentation for the new venture. Twelve days later, he sold his 10% share of the new company back to Jobs and Wozniak for US$800 (equivalent to $4,300 in 2023), and one year later accepted a final $1,500 (equivalent to $8,000 in 2023) to forfeit any potential future claims against the newly incorporated Apple.[1][2][3]

Ronald Wayne

Ronald Gerald Wayne

(1934-05-17) May 17, 1934
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.

Co-founder of Apple Inc.

Official website

Early life and education[edit]

Wayne was born in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on May 17, 1934.[4] He trained as a technical draftsman at the School of Industrial Art High School in New York City.[5]

The internal system documentation and inventory tracking systems Wayne developed for Atari were immediately adapted for use by Apple.

The first company logo, known as Apple Newton, was crafted by Wayne.

The original Apple I prototype system was constructed using wire wrap technology, linking the microprocessor and individual circuit components together. Ronald created the detailed printed circuit drawings contained in the Apple-1 Operations Manual.

The detailed printed circuit drawings enabled external creation of the final printed circuit board artwork and fabrication of mass quantities of printed circuit boards, or motherboards.  Motherboards were essential for the new enterprise to mass produce consumer ready Apple I computer systems.

Ronald created the Apple-1 Operations Manual, providing initial consumers with detailed instructions needed for assembly and operation of this new home computing appliance that, in 1976, had no specifically defined purposes.

Apple I initially had no formal electronics enclosure or console. Some purchasers improvised using large briefcases as an informal enclosure. For the Apple II, it was necessary to evolve and create a very efficient and effective case to enclose and protect system components.

To streamline the profile, reduce footprint space and cost, and to eliminate system assembly and system component connections, he devised and implemented a novel horizontally mounted motherboard. This new orientation allows the monitor to be positioned atop the computer enclosure while allowing as many of the individual components to fit within the single console compartment. 

Media[edit]

Wayne appeared in the documentary Welcome to Macintosh in 2008, where he describes some of his early experiences with Jobs and Wozniak.[17]


In July 2011, Wayne published a memoir titled Adventures of an Apple Founder. His plan for initial exclusivity on the Apple Books store did not materialize.[18]


Wayne wrote and released a socioeconomic treatise titled Insolence of Office, released on October 1, 2011.[18]

Official website

Ron Wayne interview by OMT

– June 13, 2010

NPR report "Lost" Apple Founder Has No Regrets

Archived December 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Village Voice, October 8, 2011

Ron Wayne, Apple Co-Founder, Shares Steve Jobs' "Richest Man in the Cemetery" Sentiment Almost Verbatim

interviewed on the TV show Triangulation on the TWiT.tv network

Ronald G. Wayne