Running head: APPLE INC.

The Rise of Apple, Inc.

Maria Hendren

Arizona State University

OGL 260

Module 5

September 24, 2020

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The Rise of Apple, Inc.

The success of Apple, Inc. brought their revenue to surpass Google, Amazon, and

Facebook combined (Ward, 2019). Apple is one of the most successful companies in technology

and still continues to grow. From the iPod, to a computer, to the iPhone, and now a watch, Apple

is always progressing with new ideas to continue growing the company. Apple strives to improve

with every device that is put on the market, whether it is an improved software or overall quality

of the products. The history, finances, and products date back to 1976 where Apple began with

the founders, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.

The beginning of Apple started in the garage of Steve Jobs. Wozniak and Jobs were

college dropouts with the hopes of creating a computer that was user friendly (Terrell, 2008).

While Apple continued to grow, Jobs left Apple to open a new business NeXT, and also buy

Pixar (Rawlinson, 2017). When Jobs left the company, the market share of Apple suffered. In

desperate times for Apple, they bought Steve Jobs’ new company, NeXT. With Apple

purchasing Jobs’ other company, he was able to continue growing the brand of Apple and use his

leadership to bring the company back to financial success. To progress the growth of Apple and

create an even bigger success, Jobs established a deal with Microsoft in order to use their

software for the Apple products (Terrell, 2008). Although from 1990-1996 Apple suffered

financially, the company still found its way back to success.

Although Apple became so successful that the company accumulated double the amount

of money than U.S Treasury (Ward, 2019), the company still faced unexpected financial

hardships. A financial database exemplifies a five-year trend among the finances of Apple, Inc.

In 2016, the company experienced difficulty in income compared to their past years. However, in

2017 and 2018 Apple, Inc. made a comeback in their gross income from -7.08% to a high of
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17.40% (AAPL: Apple Inc. Annual Income Statement, n.d.). Although Apple demonstrated an

impressive increase in numbers for gross income, Covid-19 caused a dramatic drop to -4.20%.

(AAPL: Apple Inc. Annual Income Statement, n.d.). From 2018 to 2019, their income faced a

significant decrease of almost $3 million (Apple Inc. (AAPL) Income Statement, n.d.) due to the

most recent pandemic. As the general public, we do not see Apple, Inc having financial struggles

for such a successful business. However, a dramatic income drop can alter future plans Apple

may have been anticipating.

In Apple’s current state, the company is the largest publicly traded company in the

United States (Ward, 2019). Jobs and Wozniak’s idea of a simple user-friendly computer turned

into a company that now produces iPhones, iPads, computers and laptops (known as Mac), and

watches. All Apple products are made to sync with one another (“Apple at Work”, n.d.). For

example, text messages that you receive on your iPhone will automatically appear on your Mac

computer. The ability to sync all devices in itself separates Apple from many companies of

technology. In addition to the synchronization of products, Apple incorporates a strong security

system with every new product and new update created. The company started with simple

passcodes, then fingerprint recognition, and now face recognition in order to access information

on a device (“Apple at Work”, n.d.). Apple, Inc incorporated convenience and security into their

multiple devices making their company stand out from the rest.

In conclusion, Apple, Inc. became one of the most successful companies in technology

and is still continuing to grow. The company does not stop at one great success; Apple continues

to improve their devices and the software that come along with their products. The history,

finances, and products of Apple date as far back as 1976 when, as college dropouts, Steve Jobs

and Steve Wozniak brainstormed a simple idea of a user-friendly computer. That statement alone
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demonstrates that a successful business only needs a unique idea with a unique plan. Steve Jobs

stated, “Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and

get on with improving your other innovations” (Gorjipour, 2016, p. 6). Jobs’ willingness to admit

to his mistakes and continue to reach ultimate success demonstrates a prime example of a leader.
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References

AAPL: Apple Inc. Annual Income Statement. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2020, from

https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/aapl/financials

Apple Inc. (AAPL) Income Statement. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2020, from

https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/AAPL/financials?p=AAPL

Apple at Work. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2020, from https://www.apple.com/business/

Gorjipour, C. (2016). Top 12 Most Inspiring Steve Jobs Quotes. Retrieved September 23, 2020,

from https://www.goalcast.com/2016/07/22/top-12-most-inspiring-steve-jobs-quotes/

Rawlinson, N. (2017, April 25). Apple was 41 years old in April, here's some history. Retrieved

September 23, 2020, from https://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/apple/history-of-apple-

steve-jobs-mac-3606104/

Terrell, E. (2008). Apple Computer, Inc. Retrieved September 23, 2020, from

https://www.loc.gov/rr/business/businesshistory/April/apple.html

Ward, L. (2019, September 15). 20 Astonishing Facts About Apple. Retrieved September 23,

2020, from https://www.thefactsite.com/astonishing-facts-about-apple/