On His 75th Birthday, Steve Wozniak Says ‘I Gave All My Apple Wealth Away Because Wealth And Power Are Not What I Live For’ And Proves Happiness Matters More Than Billions

On his 75th birthday, Steve Wozniak didn’t take the stage at an Apple event or host a billionaire’s gala. Instead, he dropped into a Slashdot comment thread about his ongoing lawsuit against YouTube scammers. The conversation drifted to his decision to sell Apple stock in the 1980s, a move that cost him what would now be worth billions. One commenter summed it up bluntly: “Great engineer. Bad decision.”

Wozniak’s response was as unexpected as it was profound. “I gave all my Apple wealth away because wealth and power are not what I live for,” he wrote. He went on to describe his philosophy of life, where true happiness equals “Smiles minus Frowns.” It was the kind of statement that stops you in your tracks and makes you reconsider the rules of success.

A very different kind of tech founder

The story of Silicon Valley is filled with billionaires. Bill Gates built a fortune through Microsoft. Larry Ellison amassed luxury yachts and estates. Steve Jobs, Wozniak’s cofounder, drove Apple into becoming the world’s most valuable company.

Wozniak chose another path. After designing the Apple II, he stepped back from the spotlight, donating to museums, arts programs, and children’s education in San Jose. His name is on a street there, not because of unimaginable wealth, but because of generosity. He later spent decades speaking at events, teaching, and pursuing oddball passions like Segway polo.

Where others chased power, Woz chased joy.

The stories people never forget

Part of what makes Wozniak so beloved is how often people stumble into unforgettable encounters with him.

• A young technician once answered his support call about network issues and ended up in a full-hour conversation about technology, encouraged by Woz’s kindness.
• At a book expo, a stranger debated the flow of people in a crowded aisle with him before realizing they were speaking with the cofounder of Apple.
• Fans recall standing in line for the first iPhone and chatting casually with him like he was just another customer.

Every story paints the same picture: approachable, funny, endlessly curious, and genuinely kind.

Choosing “enough” instead of endless more

Many argue Wozniak’s sale of Apple stock was a mistake. But from his perspective, it was liberation. He estimates his current fortune at roughly $10 million, plus a couple of homes. That’s a fraction of what Apple stock would be worth today, yet more than enough for a comfortable life.

Importantly, he never tried to shield his earnings in tax havens. He pays more than half in taxes and says he is “the happiest person ever.” By his definition, money is not a scoreboard. Happiness is.

This outlook places him worlds apart from modern tech leaders who obsess over rockets, islands, or limitless growth. Wozniak’s wealth may not be in billions, but his philosophy of enough has made him richer in ways most billionaires will never know.

Why Woz stands out today

Silicon Valley has become synonymous with outsized egos, relentless accumulation, and surveillance-driven empires. Against that backdrop, Wozniak feels like a relic of a gentler era. He is remembered not just for his engineering brilliance, but for staying human.

Like Keanu Reeves in Hollywood, Wozniak embodies the rare combination of immense achievement and humility. He is proof that you can change the world without losing your sense of play, curiosity, and kindness.

Woz at 75

At 75, Wozniak is still active. He continues to speak publicly, mentor others, and engage with online communities for the sheer fun of it. He doesn’t track his net worth closely. Instead, he measures his life in smiles, not stock charts.

His equation is simple but powerful: Happiness = Smiles − Frowns. It is a reminder that no amount of money can guarantee joy, and that giving, teaching, and laughing often count for more than billions.

Steve Wozniak may not be the richest tech founder alive, but he may very well be the happiest.