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SJ's track record was actually n=3. Apple made him the youngest tech multi-millionaire. Pixar a billionaire. Apple, again, where he built the world's most valu

SJ's track record was actually n=3. Apple made him the youngest tech multi-millionaire. Pixar a billionaire. Apple, again, where he built the world's most valuable company and insane profits. More n than most billionaires, no? Only Buffet has a real n>5.

natch 10y ago
I could see a case being made that iTunes with its disruption of the music industry should count as a success on its own. Same for the iPhone and App Store. Same possibly in the future for Apple TV (we'll see), although obviously Steve's participation in thst one was limited to the envisioning phase. But you might get me on a technicality by saying that n represents actual successful IPOs. In that case take this comment as not being about n, but more about simply business successes.
- digi_owl 10y ago
  Well Apple had something of an inside track there, as they were already a household name in the creative industries.
- pinaceae 10y ago
  You're absolutely right, I was keeping it simple to stay out of SJ fanboy derailments. Key is he was not a one-trick pony. Real data to prove it. Right now I'd put Bezos in that category with an n=2 (ecommerce, AWS). To show a counterexample, Brin/Page have an n=1 - ads. Rest is cool tech, but not significant business and yes, I am adding Youtube into the ads business idea. Same with Zuckerberg, both Instagram and WhatsApp were about adding eyeballs to the same business model - super ideas, but additive. If Facebook Workplace takes off as a paid-for business, he will have n=2.
  - mark-r 10y ago
    How about Elon Musk? He would rate n=3, don't you think?
    - pinaceae 10y ago
      now that one is interesting. Does PayPal count? How much relied on the others? I don't know. Tesla, Solarcity and SpaceX are all on the verge, but not quite there yet. 5 years from now he either has a n=3+ or is known as a massive flameout. but yeah, good shot at being a SJ 2.0.

natch 10y ago

I could see a case being made that iTunes with its disruption of the music industry should count as a success on its own. Same for the iPhone and App Store. Same possibly in the future for Apple TV (we'll see), although obviously Steve's participation in thst one was limited to the envisioning phase. But you might get me on a technicality by saying that n represents actual successful IPOs. In that case take this comment as not being about n, but more about simply business successes.

digi_owl 10y ago
Well Apple had something of an inside track there, as they were already a household name in the creative industries.
pinaceae 10y ago
You're absolutely right, I was keeping it simple to stay out of SJ fanboy derailments. Key is he was not a one-trick pony. Real data to prove it. Right now I'd put Bezos in that category with an n=2 (ecommerce, AWS). To show a counterexample, Brin/Page have an n=1 - ads. Rest is cool tech, but not significant business and yes, I am adding Youtube into the ads business idea. Same with Zuckerberg, both Instagram and WhatsApp were about adding eyeballs to the same business model - super ideas, but additive. If Facebook Workplace takes off as a paid-for business, he will have n=2.
- mark-r 10y ago
  How about Elon Musk? He would rate n=3, don't you think?
  - pinaceae 10y ago
    now that one is interesting. Does PayPal count? How much relied on the others? I don't know. Tesla, Solarcity and SpaceX are all on the verge, but not quite there yet. 5 years from now he either has a n=3+ or is known as a massive flameout. but yeah, good shot at being a SJ 2.0.