He sold Pixar, because it gave Ed Catmull and John Lasseter the opportunity to do what they'd always wanted to do, at Disney. Pixar was created because Disney

He sold Pixar, because it gave Ed Catmull and John Lasseter the opportunity to do what they'd always wanted to do, at Disney. Pixar was created because Disney was missing he market. When Disney bought them, the Pixar guys started running the show at Disney. Steve Jobs bought a small division of Lucas Arts that was going to be shut down otherwise, and, along with those guys and others turned it into Pixar for the purpose of realizing this market. When he sold it, it was a real company, and it enabled the cofounders of Pixar to pursue their dreams. It was a win-win.