“On December 12, 1980, Apple launched its IPO (initial public offering) of its stock, selling 4.6 million shares at $22 per share with the stock symbol ‘AAPL’ on the NASDAQ market,” Suzanne Deffree reports for EDN.
“The shares sold out almost immediately and the IPO generated more capital than any IPO since Ford Motor Company in 1956,” Deffree reports. “Instantly, about 300 millionaires, some 40 of which are Apple employees and investors, are created. That is more millionaires than any company in history had produced at that time. Steve Jobs, the largest shareholder, made $217 million dollars alone.”
“By the end of the day, the stock had increased in value by almost 32% to close at $29, leaving the company with a market value of $1.778 billion,” Deffree reports. “As of December 12, 2013, Apple stock was trading in the $562 range [with a market value of $504.34 billion].”
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