Apple Computer Co. was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak on April 1, 1976, with a 45% stake each, with the remaining 10% going to their adviser, Ron Wayne. Despite a shaky start, Apple nearly toppled before building its current empire. After casting aside Jobs in a bitter 1985 breakup, the tech firm brought back its exiled cofounder in 1997. The company's first success came in June 1977 with the release of the Apple II computer. With its sales booming, Apple went public in late 1980 at $22 per share, making $2,200 spent to purchase 100 shares at the IPO price would be worth more than $5.5 million today. However, the company faced layoffs and other cost-cutting by CEO John Sculley, who was ousted in 1996 due to mounting losses.