Jobs, who dropped out of Reed College and to co-found Apple Computers with Steve Wozniak in 1976, was the mastermind behind the company's iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes.

A multimillionaire by age 25, Jobs was ousted from Apple in 1984. He later founded NeXT computers and bought the computer graphics arm of Lucasfilm, Ltd., which was later renamed Pixar Animation Studios.

In 1996, Apple re-hired Jobs by purchasing NeXT. He became CEO in 1997 and revolutionized the company -- and the computer industry -- with his innovative approach to technology.

Jobs married Laurene Powell in Yosemite National Park in 1991. They have three children together: Reed Paul, Erin Sienna and Eve. When he was 23, Jobs had a child out of wedlock with his high school girlfriend, Chris Ann Brennan. Their daughter, Lisa, was born in 1978.

Beginning in 2004, Jobs -- worth an estimated $8.3 billion -- took three significant medical leaves from Apple. After beating a rare form of pancreatic cancer, Jobs appeared to be in good health until 2009 when he was forced to get a liver transplant.

Given his declining health, Jobs announced on August 24, 2011, that he would be stepping down as the company's chief executive.

"I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know," Jobs wrote in his letter of resignation. "Unfortunately, that day has come."