The legacy of Steve Jobs extends far beyond his work with Apple. The co-founder of Apple Inc. passed away in 2011 due to complications from a rare pancreatic cancer, leaving behind four children: Lisa, 46; Reed, 33; Erin, 29; and Eve, 26.
Jobs entered fatherhood in 1978 when he welcomed his daughter Lisa with Chrisann Brennan. In 1991, he married Laurene Powell, and the couple had their first child together, Reed, that same year. They later had two more children, Erin in 1995 and Eve in 1998.
Erin Jobs, known for her private nature, shared her father’s introspective qualities and maturity beyond her years
Upon his death, Laurene inherited a substantial amount of stock from Apple and The Walt Disney Company, but she has no plans to pass this wealth on to Steve’s children.
“I’m not interested in creating a legacy of wealth for my children, and they understand that,” she stated in a February 2020 interview with The New York Times. “Steve didn’t care about wealth accumulation. If I live long enough, it ends with me.”
She elaborated, “My wealth came from my husband, who valued things beyond money. I’m focused on honoring his work and distributing it effectively to uplift individuals and communities sustainably.”
Here’s what you need to know about Steve Jobs’ four children.
Lisa Brennan-Jobs, 46
Born on May 17, 1978, Lisa is the first child of Jobs and Chrisann Brennan, who had an on-again-off-again relationship since 1972. According to Lisa’s memoir, Small Fry, Jobs initially denied paternity, claiming, “It’s not my kid,” when he arrived shortly after her birth. He also stated in court documents that he was “sterile and infertile,” which precluded him from fathering a child.
Lisa recounts that her mother worked multiple jobs and relied on welfare for their livelihood during her early years, noting, “My father didn’t help.” After a DNA test confirmed Jobs as her father in 1980, he was ordered to provide minimal child support and medical insurance until she turned 18.
Lisa attended Harvard University, spending a year studying abroad at King’s College in London. After graduating in 2000, she moved to Manhattan to pursue a writing career, contributing to publications like Vogue, The Massachusetts Review, and O, The Oprah Magazine. She is married to Bill, a software designer, and they share a son.
In promoting his authorized biography in 2011, Jobs expressed regret about his past decisions, including becoming a father at a young age and how he handled it. Despite Jobs’ admission of regret, other family members have disputed Lisa’s portrayal of her relationship with him.
“Lisa is part of our family, so it saddens us to read her book, which diverges significantly from our memories,” stated Laurene, along with Jobs’ children and his sister, Mona Simpson.
They emphasized that Jobs loved Lisa and wished he had been a better father during her early years, appreciating the time they spent together before his death.
Reed Jobs, 33
Reed, born on September 22, 1991, is the first child of Jobs and Laurene Powell. Graduating from Stanford University in 2014 with honors in history and international security, Reed continued his studies, earning a master’s degree from Stanford the following year. Since September 2015, he has served as managing director of Emerson Collective, an organization founded by his mother in 2004.
While Emerson Collective addresses various issues, Reed focuses specifically on healthcare. “Unlike others in this field who prioritize either philanthropy or investment, we aim to do both,” he explained on the organization’s website, highlighting their goal to create new therapeutic options for cancer patients.
Erin Siena Jobs, 29
Erin, born on August 19, 1995, is known for being the most private among Jobs’ children. In Jobs’ 2011 biography, author Walter Isaacson described Erin as “quiet, introspective” and possessing a level of maturity surpassing her father’s.
Erin shared with Isaacson, “He tries to balance being a father and the CEO of Apple. Sometimes I wish I had more of his attention, but I appreciate the importance of his work and think it’s cool, so I’m okay with it.”
Although Erin maintains a low profile and appears to avoid social media, her sister Eve honored her 26th birthday with a sweet tribute in 2021. “To my lifelong best friend — happy birthday!! I love you so much 🌟,” Eve wrote alongside a nostalgic photo of them.
Eve Jobs, 26
The youngest of Jobs’ children, Eve was born on July 9, 1998. She graduated from Stanford University and is recognized as a talented equestrian. In 2019, she was ranked fifth among the top 1,000 riders under 25 worldwide by Horse Sport.
Eve made her modeling debut in Glossier’s holiday campaign in December 2020, alongside stars like Sydney Sweeney and Naomi Smalls from RuPaul’s Drag Race.
After spending much of her life out of the spotlight, Eve went public with her relationship with Harry Hudson, a close friend of Kylie Jenner, in early 2021. However, they later deleted their photos together, sparking speculation about a breakup.
Following her appearance at Paris Fashion Week in September 2021, Eve announced in March 2022 that she had signed with DNA Model Management, which also represents well-known models like Kaia Gerber and Emily Ratajkowski. She attended the 2022 Met Gala in a stunning Louis Vuitton ensemble.
While Eve is focused on her modeling career, she still connects with her father’s legacy. After Apple announced the new iPhone 14 models in September 2022, she shared a meme on her Instagram Story humorously poking fun at the new release.
The meme depicted an older man showing off a new shirt that closely resembled the one he was already wearing, captioned, “Me upgrading from iPhone 13 to iPhone 14 after Apple’s announcement today.”
