Stephan Gary "Woz" Wozniak (born August 11, 1950 in San Jose, California) is a U.S. computer engineer and the co-founder of Apple Computer (now Apple Inc.), with Steve Jobs. His inventions and machines are credited with contributing greatly to the personal computer revolution of the 1970s. Wozniak created the Apple I and Apple II computers in the mid-1970s. The Apple II gained a sizable amount of popularity, eventually becoming one of the best selling personal computers of the 1970s and early 1980s. Wozniak has several nicknames, including "The Woz", "Wizard of Woz" and "iWoz" (a pun on iPod). "WoZ" (short for "Wheels of Zeus") is also the name of a company Wozniak founded. He is known for his introverted character, and he finds his level of celebrity somewhat annoying. He is also known as the "Other Steve" of Apple Computer, the more prominent Steve being co-founder and current CEO Steve Jobs. He is referred to as "Woz" to distinguish him from Steve Jobs, although Woz and Jobs have the first birth names Stephan and Steven, respectively.



Wozniak ended his full time employment with Apple for good on February 6, 1987, twelve years after setting up the company. However he still remains an employee (and receives a paycheck) and a shareholder. He also maintains connections with Steve Jobs. Wozniak founded a new venture called C.L. 9, which developed home remote control switches, bringing the first universal remote control to market in 1987. Out of spite, Jobs threatened his suppliers not to do business with Wozniak or risk losing Apple's business. Wozniak was able to find suppliers other than the ones he had worked with for years, but was disappointed in his friend's bitterness. About this time, Wozniak became a non-religious member of the Freemasons in order to spend more time with his first wife, Alice, who was a member of the equivalent women's group, the Order of the Eastern Star. Wozniak went into teaching (he taught fifth grade students) and charitable activities in the field of education. Since leaving Apple Computer, Woz has provided all the money, as well as a good amount of on-site technical support, for the technology program for his local school district Un.U.Son. (Unite Us In Song), an organization Woz formed to organize the two U.S. Festivals, is now primarily tasked with supporting his educational and philanthropic projects.

  • Wozniak received the National Medal of Technology in 1985 from Ronald Reagan, then President of the U.S.

  • In 1989, he received an honorary Doctor of Engineering from the University of Colorado in December of 1989.

  • In 1997 he was named a Fellow of the Computer History Museum. Wozniak was a key contributor and benefactor to San Jose's Children's Discovery Museum (the street in front of the museum has been renamed Woz Way in his honor).

  • In September 2000, Steve Wozniak was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

  • In 2001, Wozniak co-founded Wheels Of Zeus (note the acronym, "WoZ"), to create wireless GPS technology to "help everyday people find everyday things". In 2002, he joined the Board of Directors of Ripcord Networks, Inc., joining Ellen Hancock, Gil Amelio, Mike Connor, and Wheels of Zeus co-founder Alex Fielding, all Apple alumni, in a new telecommunications venture. Later the same year he joined the Board of Directors of Danger, Inc., the maker of the Hip Top (a.k.a. Side Kick from T-Mobile).

  • In May of 2004, upon nomination by Dr. Tom Miller, Wozniak received an honorary S.D. degree from North Carolina State University for his contribution to the field of personal computing.

  • In May 2004, Wozniak was awarded an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from Kettering University, in Flint, Michigan. He also received an honorary S.D. from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the Telluride Tech Festival Award of Technology.

  • In 2006 Wheels of Zeus was closed, and Wozniak co-founded Acquicor Technology, a shell company for acquiring technology companies and developing them, with Apple alumnae, Ellen Hancock and Gil Amelio.

  • In September 2006, Wozniak published his autobiography, iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-Founded Apple, and Had Fun Doing It. It was co-authored by writer Gina Smith.