Ok Dear, I patched that hole in the wall you have be nagging me about!
In 1997, Apple was on the brink of collapse. Its stock had fallen to historic lows, market share was evaporating, and the company was bleeding cash. Many believed Apple was finished, until Steve Jobs made one of the most unexpected moves in tech history.
At the Macworld conference that August, Jobs appeared on stage in front of a skeptical crowd of Apple loyalists. Then, a giant screen lit up with a live video of Bill Gates, Apple’s greatest rival. Gasps rippled through the audience. Gates announced Microsoft would invest $150 million in Apple, ensuring it could stay afloat.
The deal wasn’t just about money. Microsoft agreed to keep developing Office for Mac for at least five years, while Apple made Internet Explorer its default browser. In return, Apple dropped ongoing patent lawsuits. The announcement drew boos at first, but Jobs saw further than anyone in the room. The partnership stabilized Apple long enough for him to reinvent it completely, with the iMac, iPod, and eventually the iPhone.
That $150 million lifeline is often called the most profitable investment in history. It helped turn a nearly bankrupt company into the world’s first $3 trillion brand.
Added Fact: If Microsoft had held onto its Apple shares, that $150 million investment would be worth over $120 billion today.
This week’s mint mishap is a double disaster turned collector gold: a 1997 Lincoln Cent struck on a previously struck Roosevelt Dime. That’s right — two coins, two strikes, one glorious error. PCGS graded it MS66, and it’s part of the legendary Fred Weinberg Collection.
