Steve Jobs’ Early Career at Atari
Steve Jobs, widely recognized for his role at Apple, had a brief stint at Atari, the leading video game company of the time. He was recruited by the renowned Al Alcorn, famed for creating the iconic game Pong, in 1974 when he was just 18 years old, making him the 40th employee at Atari. One of the most notorious anecdotes from his tenure at Atari revolves around how he persuaded his friend Steve Wozniak to significantly reduce the chip usage for the game Breakout. However, Jobs allegedly shortchanged Wozniak on the reward money they received for this effort. After spending only six months at Atari, Jobs left to pursue spiritual enlightenment in India. He returned in 1975 and subsequently founded Apple on January 1, 1976, even offering Atari’s CEO Nolan Bushnell a stake in Apple, which Bushnell declined.
Interest Surrounding Jobs’ Atari Application
Given Jobs’ unique background, there was significant excitement surrounding an auction featuring what was claimed to be his job application to Atari from 1973. This auction, organized by RR Auction, included the original application letter along with an NFT representation of it. The listing described an intriguing one-page document, measuring 8.5 x 11 inches, which was completed and signed by Jobs, annotated with the year 1973 in a different hand. The application included basic information such as his name, “Steven Jobs,” his address at Reed College, and a lack of a contact number. Jobs responded affirmatively to having a driver’s license but noted that access to transportation was “possible, but not probable.” When asked about his skills, he indicated proficiency in computers and calculators, and he characterized his special abilities as being an “electronics tech or design engineer” with a reference to Hewlett-Packard.
Auction Controversy and Authenticity Concerns
The same auction that featured the application letter has since seen the item withdrawn due to emerging doubts about its authenticity as a job application for Atari. While the authenticity of the document itself is not in question—it’s indeed a form filled out by Jobs—the prevailing theory suggests it may have originated from a part-time position at Reed College’s psychology lab, which Jobs held in 1973, a year before he joined Atari. Bobby Livingston, Vice President of RR Auction, confirmed that an interested party had uncovered this information regarding Jobs’ part-time role at Reed, where he was involved in repairing lab equipment. This revelation has raised questions about the connection of the letter to Atari, an association that was previously accepted without much scrutiny.
Historical Value of Jobs Memorabilia
This development is particularly surprising, considering that the letter had been sold previously without any doubts regarding its history. The current owner purchased it at Bonhams in July 2021 for $343,000, in addition to acquiring the NFT for $27,000. At that time, it was marketed as a significant piece of history, symbolizing the moment a visionary began to change the world. However, the narrative of simply having a part-time job to earn some money lacks the same allure. It’s important to note that the job application could still potentially be linked to Atari, aided by an authenticity letter signed by Allan Alcorn, who was responsible for hiring Jobs. Nonetheless, the sale has been paused while further inquiries are conducted to clarify the document’s origins.
Items like this are often valued for their historical significance, and memorabilia related to Steve Jobs occupies a speculative market. As a job application associated with Jobs, it holds appeal for collectors from various backgrounds. However, the distinction between its ties to Atari versus Reed College could have significant financial implications for the current owner.
