Top 5 Misconceptions About Steve Jobs

We don’t often associate the terms "business" and "celebrity," yet Steve Jobs truly was a business celebrity. He wasn’t just a star — he achieved the status of a rock star, except his instrument was an iPhone instead of a guitar. It wasn’t just Apple Inc.'s products or stock that we followed; we closely watched the CEO himself, discussing and speculating on his every move. After his passing on October 5, 2011, tributes poured in from websites, celebrities, tech experts, and even the President of the United States. Why did we feel so drawn to him? It’s fascinating to learn about individuals full of groundbreaking ideas, especially those who built massive legacies, as we try to decipher their path to success.

Moreover, Jobs was a fascinating individual. A college dropout who went on to win the National Medal of Technology, he was known for being a challenging person and a tough boss. He didn’t shy away from criticizing his competitors' products and ran a marketing show that could only be described as cult-like in its devotion.

One columnist from The New York Times provided an intriguing sociological perspective on why we’ve always been so captivated by Jobs [source: Carr]. Jobs understood us deeply — from our initial need for personal computers to the way our fingers instinctively tapped to choose songs on our iPods. It’s no wonder we felt an urge to learn more about him.

Jobs kept his personal life under wraps, and his company worked hard to protect his privacy, which only fueled our curiosity even more. This led to a rumor mill that often got things wrong. Here are five common myths surrounding Jobs.

5: Steve Jobs Was Paid Just $1 to Run Apple

From 1997 until his departure as CEO in 2011, Jobs took home a salary of just $1 per year [source: Rogers]. In fact, for many of those years, his total compensation was strictly $1. A witty CNET reader remarked on Ina Fried's article, "Apple Again Pays Jobs $1 Salary," that Jobs' salary wouldn't even cover the cost of a song on iTunes, including tax [source: Fried]. So why does this make the myth list? Well, there’s more to the story.

Rather than offering high salaries, Apple rewards its executives with performance bonuses and stock options that vest gradually. This strategy is designed to encourage long-term commitment. Other companies follow similar approaches. In 2008, John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, and Eric Schmidt, then CEO of Google, each earned a $1 base salary [sources: NYT: Mackey, NYT: Schmidt]. Of course, Jobs earned much more than just $1 each year. For example, in 2000, after Apple sold a record number of computers, Jobs was rewarded with an $88 million private jet [sources: Fisher, Elkind]. By April 2011, he owned over 5.6 million shares of Apple stock [source: Reuters]. According to Forbes's 2010 list, Jobs ranked as the 136th richest person in the world, with an estimated worth of $5.5 billion [source: Forbes].

4: Jobs’ Car Had a Barcode Instead of License Plates to Ensure Safety and Privacy

A blogger once shared an image of Jobs' silver Mercedes parked in the Apple lot. The car lacked a rear license plate, and instead, a barcode sticker was placed inside the frame [source: iphone savior]. One theory suggested that the barcode allowed police to scan the car as Jobs sped past, but that’s highly unlikely. The barcode is simply a serial number on all Mercedes vehicles like Jobs'. So, where were the license plates? According to Fortune magazine, Jobs opted to leave them off to avoid parking tickets [source: Schlender]. Jobs was also known for breaking other driving-related rules. A quick Google search on “Steve Jobs” and “handicapped space” reveals a number of articles about his parking habits. At Apple, it was said that Jobs often parked his car in a handicapped space near the building's entrance [sources: Elkind, Kahney].

As for the missing plates, Jobs once remarked that it was like a game to him [sources: Elkind and Schlender]. But who was his opponent — the police? People trailing his car? License plate thieves? Or those looking to claim the parking spot he left behind? Who won in this little game?

3: Jobs Chose the Same Attire Daily - A Black Mock Turtleneck Paired with Jeans

Adrian Monk, the TV detective, was known for his obsessive-compulsive disorder, which even influenced his fashion choices [source: NBC]. His signature style was brown layered over plaid. But that was all scripted by costume designers. The real Steve Jobs, who wasn’t bound by a wardrobe script, regularly wore a black mock turtleneck and jeans — at least in public, and at least since 1992 [source: Potts].

Why did he do it? Jobs never explained. Like anyone else, we can only guess. Perhaps the outfit was simply comfortable. We all loosen up our attire when we want to focus and perform at our best. Or maybe, for Jobs, it was a way to save time, considering how packed his schedule must have been.

Though he wore this outfit while at NeXT Computer, Jobs might have turned it into his personal uniform at Apple [source: Potts]. It made him and his products easily recognizable. Jeffery O’Brien, a former senior editor at Wired magazine, suggested that the simplicity of his wardrobe sent a message: Jobs invested his creativity in his work, not in his clothing [source: Jackson]. Or, just like his products, Jobs may have simply preferred a minimalist approach.

In the realm of "har, har, har," one reader responded humorously to Steven Heller's fictional "Fashion iCon" article. Daniel Kostka humorously proposed that Jobs' turtleneck was actually equipped with Internet connectivity as part of a new iNecks line [source: Heller/Kostka]. Adding a philosophical twist, one satirist suggested that the outfit was a remedy for our "misery" in deciding which of the thousands of songs on our iPods to play [source: Shine]. Perhaps the turtleneck symbolized Jobs' growing disdain for buttons: First, he eliminated them from his shirts, and then his company launched the iPod and iPhone.

However, Jobs wasn't rigid about his attire. He adapted when the situation called for it. He wore a suit to the 2001 MacWorld Expo in Tokyo and donned tuxedos at the Academy Awards [source: Jackson]. Occasionally, he could be spotted in a white T-shirt and black vest at work, and there were even rumors that he owned a white turtleneck [sources: Jackson, Dukcevich].

2: Steve Jobs Vowed Never to Return to Japan

It’s quite the tale: In 2010, Steve Jobs took a trip to Kyoto, Japan. As his vacation concluded, he headed to the airport to board his private jet back home. However, while going through security, he was informed that he wouldn't be allowed on his own plane. Why? Because Jobs had bought a set of ninja throwing stars during his trip and had them with him (a true ninja move, after all).

The story unfolds further. Jobs, enraged by the airport security’s refusal to let him take his souvenirs on his own jet, declared that he would never visit Japan again. This tale has all the hallmarks of a legendary myth: the rebellious CEO — who already dressed like a casual ninja — used to getting his way, the security personnel sticking strictly to procedure, and the infamous Jobs temper flaring. Unfortunately, this story seems to be untrue.

To clear up the confusion, an Apple representative reached out to John Paczkowski of All Things D. According to the representative, Jobs did indeed visit Japan, but that’s where the similarities between the story and reality end. The representative clarified that Jobs thoroughly enjoyed his trip and had plans to return to Japan soon [source: Paczkowski]. There’s no indication that the official disappeared in a dramatic puff of smoke afterward.

1: Steve Jobs Bullied Employees for no Reason

The myth of Steve Jobs takes many forms. He’s seen as the bold hacker who ingeniously used technology to make free long-distance calls. He’s also the persuasive salesman with the infamous ‘reality distortion field’ who could convince you that you needed a new product before you even realized it. And then there’s the unforgiving boss — a driven and relentless leader, both ruthless toward competitors and demanding toward employees.

The reality is far more intricate. Steve Jobs was a perfectionist who could focus intensely on the smallest details. To an engineer, that detail might seem trivial, but for Jobs, if it didn’t meet his high standards, it was a dealbreaker. He wasn’t one to keep quiet about his opinions and wasn’t afraid to cut a project meeting short if something felt off to him.

Steve Jobs would shower employees with praise when they delivered results, but the very same individual who was celebrated one day could find themselves on the receiving end of harsh criticism the next. Many Apple employees who collaborated with Jobs have shared that although they did some of their finest work under his leadership, the experience was often intense and demanding [source: Deutschman].

Jobs could come across as abrasive. He sometimes adopted an aggressive style to challenge employees. Those who were able to defend their work or viewpoints would find that he listened to them, but those who couldn’t stand their ground were quickly dismissed — sometimes even physically. It’s possible that Jobs used sharp criticism to motivate employees, preying on their insecurities to drive them harder. This approach produced results, but it wasn’t exactly a comfortable work environment.

While Jobs' methods may seem to contradict every leadership guide ever published, the reality is that Apple went on to create some of the most groundbreaking consumer electronics the world has ever seen. Despite his reputation for being tough and demanding, Jobs earned the unwavering loyalty and admiration of many employees. Like other great visionaries, the true story of Steve Jobs is probably even bigger than the myth.

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