TL;DR
A new memoir by Lisa Brennan-Jobs recounts episodes of cruelty and neglect by her father, Apple cofounder Steve Jobs. The book adds fresh details about his denial of paternity, delayed child support, and behavior that family and associates enabled.
What happened
In her memoir "Small Fry," Lisa Brennan-Jobs recounts numerous episodes in which Steve Jobs treated her harshly. According to the book as summarized in the source, Jobs initially denied paternity and only began paying child support after a court-ordered DNA test; he arranged to have the case closed days before Apple's public offering. Brennan-Jobs says he saw her infrequently during her early years, while she and her mother lived in poverty on welfare, low-paying work and outside help. The memoir also describes moments of personal cruelty: an episode in which Jobs questioned and teased the nine-year-old about her sexual interests, and later, after she moved into his household as a teenager, a six-month period when he forbade her from seeing her mother. When she asked to be told goodnight, her stepmother Laurene Powell Jobs reportedly replied, "We're cold people." The source places these anecdotes in the context of long-standing accounts of Jobs' abrasive behavior toward employees and partners.
Why it matters
- The memoir prompts reassessment of a prominent tech figure whose public achievements often overshadowed private conduct.
- Accounts of personal cruelty from close family members raise questions about how power and success can enable harmful behavior.
- Revelations may influence public and historical perspectives on workplace leadership and the moral evaluation of influential founders.
- The book highlights the long-term personal impact of familial neglect and the social supports that sustained Brennan-Jobs and her mother.
Key facts
- The account summarized comes from Lisa Brennan-Jobs' memoir titled "Small Fry," according to the source.
- Steve Jobs initially denied being Brennan-Jobs' father and began child support only after a DNA test and court order, per the memoir.
- The source reports Brennan-Jobs and her mother lived in poverty, relying on welfare, low-wage jobs, and charity while Jobs avoided responsibility.
- Jobs is said to have arranged to close the child-support case days before Apple's IPO, by which time he became a multimillionaire.
- The memoir includes an incident where Jobs questioned and teased a nine-year-old Brennan-Jobs about her sexual attractions.
- When Brennan-Jobs lived with Jobs as a teenager, she reports he forbade contact with her mother for six months.
- Laurene Powell Jobs reportedly responded "We're cold people" when Brennan-Jobs asked to be told goodnight.
- The article notes these family anecdotes add to an existing record of Jobs' abrasive behavior toward employees and business partners.
- The source article summarizing the memoir was written by Troy Wolverton and updated August 26, 2018.
What to watch next
- Public statements from Apple or the Jobs family in response to the memoir: not confirmed in the source.
- Reactions from former Apple colleagues or business partners to the new personal anecdotes: not confirmed in the source.
- Broader media and historical reassessment of Jobs' legacy in light of family accounts: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Memoir: A written account in which an author describes personal experiences and reflections from their life.
- Paternity: The legal or biological determination of a man as the father of a child.
- Child support: Financial payments ordered or agreed upon to support a child's living expenses after parental separation or denial.
- IPO (Initial Public Offering): The first sale of a company's stock to the public, which can significantly increase the founders' and investors' wealth.
- Welfare: Government assistance programs intended to provide financial support to individuals or families with low income.
Reader FAQ
Who wrote the memoir described in the source?
The memoir is by Lisa Brennan-Jobs, identified in the source as Steve Jobs' eldest daughter.
Did Steve Jobs deny paternity according to the memoir?
Yes; the source says he initially denied being her father and started paying child support only after a DNA test and court order.
Was Apple's Lisa computer named after Lisa Brennan-Jobs?
The source says Jobs denied for years that the Lisa computer was named for his daughter before later acknowledging it.
Did Apple or the Jobs family respond to the memoir in the source?
Not confirmed in the source.
Does the source say Jobs' professional achievements were affected by these revelations?
The source states it's hard to weigh his business achievements against his cruelty and notes those achievements received far more attention during his life; further impact is not detailed.
The memoir by Steve Jobs' daughter makes clear he was a truly rotten person whose bad behavior was repeatedly enabled by those around him (AAPL) Troy Wolverton Updated August 26,…
Sources
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