Apple Founding Documents Sell for Nearly $1.6 Million

Late last month, we noted that Apple's founding corporate papers were headed up for auction, with Sotheby's estimating that the documents would fetch in the range of $100,000-$150,000. The set of documents included the original three-page contract signed by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ron Wayne, as well as several other documents related to withdrawal from the company just 12 days after it was founded.

apple documents sold
According to the Sotheby's auction page for the documents, which are part of an ongoing sale of fine books and manuscripts, the lot sold for $1,594,500, considerably higher than the pre-auction estimates. That price includes a buyer's premium of 12% paid to Sotheby's.

The identity of the winning bidder has not been revealed, but the seller was identified last week as Wade Saadi, who purchased the documents from Ron Wayne in 1994 for "several thousand dollars".

Update: Sotheby's appears to have removed the final sales price from the auction listing for unknown reasons. Fortune reports that the winning bid came in via telephone at $1.35 million, although that figure apparently does not include the buyer's premium.

Update 2: As reported by the BBC, the winning bidder was Eduardo Cisneros, an executive whose Miami-based company owns stakes in a number of different companies.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...

Top Rated Comments

gmcalpin Avatar
179 months ago
Man, Ron Wayne just can't catch a break.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
furi0usbee Avatar
179 months ago
The seller was identified last week as Wade Saadi, who purchased the documents from Ron Wayne in 1994 for "several thousand dollars".

LOL.. Wayne just never did stop making bad business decisions... I really feel bad for that guy. At least he has a good sense of humor.

Bryan
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fazzy Avatar
179 months ago
Hey its either these original documents or 320 12 core Mac Pros. Take your pick :D
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bahamut Eos Avatar
179 months ago
Boy, Ron Wayne really seems to make bad financial decisions, especially in regards to apple.

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/06/apple-co-founder-ron-waynes-long-strange-and-sad-trip/
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S.B.G Avatar
179 months ago
Thats a lot of money for some paper with their signatures. I guess I just don't get it. What in the world is the buyer going to do with them?

Personally, I could find better things to spend $1.6 million on.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
furi0usbee Avatar
179 months ago
Man, Ron Wayne just can't catch a break.

You beat me to it! Poor Ron. Anyway, I suspected these would go for big bucks. You basically have the blueprint for one of the most storied businesses in all the world. It's a good thing I don't have the money. I would have dropped as much on these.

Bryan
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)