The original legal document that formally created the Apple Computer Company is heading back to auction, and this time it’s expected to draw an even bigger wave of attention. Christies announced this week that it will offer the 1976 partnership agreement signed by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne during its January 2026 sale. Some collectors consider it the closest thing to a birth certificate for the company, and the estimate, which sits between $2 million and $4 million, reflects that sense of rarity and nostalgia. It’s fascinating to see how its value has climbed since its last public appearance in 2011, almost as if the document keeps absorbing the mythology of Apple’s modest beginnings in that Los Altos garage.
Key Takeaways
- Item for Sale: The original 1976 partnership agreement for Apple Computer Company.
- Signatories: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne.
- Estimated Price: Between $2 million and $4 million.
- Auction House: Christie’s, as part of the “We the People: America at 250” sale in January 2026.
- Historical Context: The lot includes the document marking Ronald Wayne’s departure just 12 days after founding the company.
The contract itself is a surprisingly compact piece of Silicon Valley history. Dated April 1, 1976, the three-page typed agreement lays out the framework for what would eventually become the world’s most valuable company. Jobs and Wozniak each held 45 percent, while Wayne, at 41 years old, held 10 percent. He’d been brought in partly because Jobs felt the two younger founders needed someone who could offer steadier guidance. Wayne even typed the contract himself, which is the kind of small detail that, perhaps, makes the story feel even more grounded.
What makes this particular lot stand out is that it includes not only the founding contract but also the paperwork documenting Wayne’s withdrawal from the partnership. Just 11 days after signing, he decided the financial risk wasn’t worth it. On April 12, 1976, he formally stepped away. So in a way, the collection captures both the beginning of Apple and its first major internal shift, all within the span of a couple of weeks.
Ronald Wayne’s choice has become a bit of a legend, often mentioned as one of the costliest decisions in business history. His concerns were practical. Unlike Jobs and Wozniak, who didn’t have much to lose, Wayne owned a house and feared creditors would come after his personal assets if Apple failed. When he departed, he received an $800 payout for his 10 percent stake, and later another $1,500 to ensure he had no lingering claims. It’s hard not to pause at the comparison that people often make. Had he kept his 10 percent, it would be worth around $400 billion today based on Apple’s current valuation. But Wayne has always insisted he doesn’t regret the decision, explaining in interviews that the intense, fast-moving environment Jobs fostered simply wasn’t something he felt he could thrive in. I think there’s something quietly understandable about that, even if the numbers are astonishing.
The document’s value has escalated dramatically over the years. Wayne sold the original contract in the early 1990s to a manuscript dealer for only $500. Nearly two decades later, it resurfaced at Sotheby’s in 2011 and sold for almost $1.6 million, far above the expectations at the time. Now, with an estimate reaching up to $4 million, it’s clear that interest in early technology artifacts hasn’t cooled at all. In fact, it may be growing as the tech era continues to define so much of modern life.
Christie’s plans to present the contract as part of a curated selection of American historical pieces. The auction house is framing it as more than just a business document. It’s a cultural artifact, representing the moment the personal computing revolution quietly began. And perhaps that’s why it resonates. It’s a simple stack of typed pages, yet it marks the creation of an idea that reshaped nearly every corner of daily life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why is Ronald Wayne famous in Apple history?
A. Ronald Wayne is known as the “third co-founder” of Apple. He drafted the original partnership agreement and designed the first Apple logo but left the company 12 days after it was founded, selling his 10% stake for $800.
Q. When and where is the auction taking place?
A. The auction is being hosted by Christie’s in New York. The document is part of the “We the People: America at 250” sale, which is scheduled for January 23, 2026.
Q. Has this document been sold before?
A. Yes. Ronald Wayne originally sold it for $500 in the 1990s. It was later sold at a Sotheby’s auction in 2011 for approximately $1.6 million.
Q. What happened to Ronald Wayne’s share of Apple?
A. When Wayne left the company in 1976, his 10% share was returned to Jobs and Wozniak. Because he sold his stake back to the company, he did not benefit from Apple’s massive growth over the following decades.
