• support@madhedgefundtrader.com
  • Member Login
Mad Hedge Fund Trader
  • Home
  • About
  • Store
  • Luncheons
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu

The Worst Trade in History

Diary, Newsletter

Say you owned 10% of Apple (AAPL) and you sold it for $800 in 1976.

What would that stake be worth today?

Try $75 billion.

That is the harsh reality that Ron Wayne, 83, faces every morning when he wakes up, one of the three original founders of the consumer electronics giant.

Ron first met Steve Jobs when he was a sprightly 21-year-old marketing guy at Atari, the inventor of the hugely successful Pong video arcade game. In those days, Steve never took a bath, as he believed they were unhealthy.

Ron dumped his shares when he became convinced that Steve Jobs' reckless spending was going to drive the nascent start up into the ground and he wanted to protect his assets in a future bankruptcy.

Co-founders Jobs and Steve Wozniak each kept their original 45% ownership. Today Jobs' widow owns 0.5% ownership is worth $4 billion, while the Woz shares remains undisclosed.

Ron designed the company's original logo and wrote the manual for the Apple 1 computer, which boasted all of 8,000 bytes of RAM (which is 0.008 megabytes to you non-techies).

Jobs tried on many occasions to get Wayne to return to Apple, to no avail.

Wayne worked at Atari into 1978, and later moved on to Lawrence Livermore Labs.

Today, Ron is living off of a meager monthly Social Security check in a mobile home park in remote Pahrump, Nevada, about as far out in the middle of nowhere as you can get, where he can occasionally be seen playing the penny slots.

He spends his time collecting rare coins and stamps.

Ron has never purchased an Apple product.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://www.madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Apple-Computer.jpg 324 447 Arthur Henry https://madhedgefundtrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-mad-hedge-logo-transparent-192x192_f9578834168ba24df3eb53916a12c882.png Arthur Henry2017-11-02 01:07:442017-11-02 01:07:44The Worst Trade in History

tastytrade, Inc. (“tastytrade”) has entered into a Marketing Agreement with Mad Hedge Fund Trader (“Marketing Agent”) whereby tastytrade pays compensation to Marketing Agent to recommend tastytrade’s brokerage services. The existence of this Marketing Agreement should not be deemed as an endorsement or recommendation of Marketing Agent by tastytrade and/or any of its affiliated companies. Neither tastytrade nor any of its affiliated companies is responsible for the privacy practices of Marketing Agent or this website. tastytrade does not warrant the accuracy or content of the products or services offered by Marketing Agent or this website. Marketing Agent is independent and is not an affiliate of tastytrade. 

Legal Disclaimer

There is a very high degree of risk involved in trading. Past results are not indicative of future returns. MadHedgeFundTrader.com and all individuals affiliated with this site assume no responsibilities for your trading and investment results. The indicators, strategies, columns, articles and all other features are for educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Information for futures trading observations are obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but we do not warrant its completeness or accuracy, or warrant any results from the use of the information. Your use of the trading observations is entirely at your own risk and it is your sole responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of the information. You must assess the risk of any trade with your broker and make your own independent decisions regarding any securities mentioned herein. Affiliates of MadHedgeFundTrader.com may have a position or effect transactions in the securities described herein (or options thereon) and/or otherwise employ trading strategies that may be consistent or inconsistent with the provided strategies.

Copyright © 2025. Mad Hedge Fund Trader. All Rights Reserved. support@madhedgefundtrader.com
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • FAQ
Link to: Quote of the Day - November 2, 2017 Link to: Quote of the Day - November 2, 2017 Quote of the Day - November 2, 2017 Link to: Chicago Wednesday, December 27 Global Strategy Luncheon Link to: Chicago Wednesday, December 27 Global Strategy Luncheon Chicago Wednesday, December 27 Global Strategy Luncheon
Scroll to top