Steve Jobs, Technological Revolutionary, Apple Co-Founder, Dead at 56

Steve Jobs, technological revolutionary and co-founder of Apple, died today at age 56 after long illness.

Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives, the company said in a statement. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

Jobs had fought back a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2004, and he had endured a liver transplant in 2009. Despite disintegrating health, he remained chief executive of the company until his Aug. 24, 2011, resignation. a

Jobs founded his company in Cupertino, Calif., in 1976, when he was just 21 years old. By age 25, he was a multimillionaire, making his debut on the cover of Time Magazine at 26. He was ousted at age 30 but returned in 1996, with the company struggling. The next year, he became CEO, and over the next 15 years, he presided over technologies that changed the way the world operates.

Under his leadership, the company developed the iPod in 2001, widely credited for reviving the suffering music industry. Continuing to revolutionize technology, Apple released the iPhone in 2007 and the iPad in 2010.

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being, read a banner on the company's website. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.