The historic three-page document that formally created Apple Computer Company in 1976 is heading to the auction block, with estimates suggesting it could fetch between $2 million and $4 million. Christie’s, the renowned auction house, will offer this pivotal piece of Silicon Valley history as part of its “We the People: America at 250” sale on January 23, 2026, at its Rockefeller Centre headquarters in New York.
The Document That Started an Empire
The original partnership contract, typed on an IBM typewriter by co-founder Ron Wayne, established the initial ownership structure of what would become one of the world’s most valuable technology companies. Signed on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ron Wayne, the agreement allocated 45 percent stakes to both Jobs and Wozniak, with Wayne receiving the remaining 10 percent. The document bears the faded ink signatures of all three founders, serving as the legal foundation for a company that would revolutionize personal computing and consumer electronics.
The $800 Decision That Cost Hundreds of Billions
Alongside the founding contract, Christie’s will also auction the documentation of Wayne’s withdrawal from the partnership, which occurred just twelve days after the company’s formation. Wayne received $800—approximately $4,500 in today’s currency—for his 10 percent stake, followed by an additional $1,500 payment. Wayne later explained his decision as a cautious move, describing the venture as a “roller coaster” he preferred not to ride. Had Wayne retained his stake through Apple’s subsequent growth, his share would theoretically be worth hundreds of billions of dollars today, though structural changes to the company over decades make direct comparisons largely symbolic.
A Rising Market for Apple Memorabilia
This won’t be the first time these founding papers have changed hands—the contract previously sold at auction in 2011 for $1.5 million, less than half of the current estimated value. The significant appreciation reflects growing collector interest in technology artifacts, particularly those documenting the origins of industry-defining companies. Other Apple memorabilia has commanded impressive sums at auction, including a factory-sealed first-generation iPhone that sold for $190,000 in 2023, far exceeding its original retail price.
What Makes These Papers So Valuable
The founding contract and withdrawal agreement will be sold as a single lot, allowing one bidder to acquire both documents that chronicle Apple’s earliest days in a California garage. As part of Christie’s celebration of America’s first 250 years of innovation and culture, these papers represent not just corporate history but a defining moment in the technological transformation of modern life. The auction is expected to attract global attention from collectors of technology history, business artifacts, and Americana, positioning these documents as among the most significant pieces of Silicon Valley heritage to reach the open market.
