The Day Steve Jobs Became a Tech Icon: His Historic Time Magazine Cover

February 15, 1982: A Historic Moment for Apple

Steve Jobs made his debut on the front cover of Time magazine, marking a significant moment in tech history. The cover story, titled “Striking It Rich: America’s Risk Takers”, positioned Jobs as the quintessential young entrepreneur riding the wave of the personal computing revolution.

Steve Jobs becomes the face of the 1980s tech boom. Photo illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The Rise of a New Breed of Entrepreneurs

The article highlighted a new wave of risk-takers who were reshaping the American dream by investing their savings into tech startups. Jobs was depicted as a symbol of this movement, despite not actually running Apple at the time. His early mentor, Mike Markkula, filled that role while Jobs became the public face of the company.

A Unique Spotlight on Jobs

Interestingly, this cover came just after the launch of the Apple II, but it was Jobs alone who made the cover, as co-founder Steve Wozniak was on a self-imposed leave during that time. Jobs’ charisma, public speaking skills, and good looks made him the perfect representative for Apple.

Media Relations Post-Cover

Though the Time cover brought significant publicity to Apple, it also led to a long-standing bitterness for Jobs. After a rumor suggested he might be named Time's “Man of the Year,” the title ultimately went to the computer, disappointing him further. The article also included some critical remarks about Jobs, sparking a complicated relationship between him and the media thereafter.

Steve Jobs admitted to crying when he saw this cover. Photo: Time

Shaping Apple’s Narrative

This experience shaped Jobs’ approach to media relations, fueling his desire for control over Apple’s narrative and influencing the company’s often adversarial stance towards the press in the years that followed.