12/12/1980
Apple launched the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of its stock to the investing public (with the stock symbol "AAPL" on the NASDAQ market). When Apple went public, it generated more capital than any IPO since Ford Motor Company in 1956. By selling 4.6 million shares at $22 each, the company instantly created more millionaires (about 300) than any company in history.
Steve Jobs, the largest shareholder, made $217 million dollars alone.
With the capital from its public investment, Apple funded the creation of Lisa and the Macintosh, ending the decade with a 199 percent increase in stock valuation while paying quarterly dividends.