In a recent interview with the BBC on the documentary “Steve Jobs: Billion Dollar Hippy,” Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak revealed his emotional response upon learning that his late counterpart, Steve Jobs, had deceived him by keeping the majority of the profits from a game project.
The revelation left Wozniak in tears as he recounted the betrayal.
The incident unfolded when Atari approached Jobs to create a new game, prompting Jobs to enlist Wozniak for the task while compensating him with less than half of what he received from the company.
Despite the unequal distribution of earnings, Wozniak initially harbored no bitterness towards the arrangement but later confessed to shedding tears upon discovering the truth through a book.
Wozniak’s sense of betrayal deepened when he learned that Atari had also offered a bonus tied to minimizing the number of chips used in the game.
According to Walter Isaacson’s biography of Jobs, the tech magnate had orchestrated the project under false pretenses, setting an unrealistic deadline and concealing crucial details from Wozniak to secure personal gains.
Driven by his passion for game design, Wozniak dedicated relentless effort over four days to complete the project swiftly, only to receive a fraction of the anticipated compensation.
The extent of Jobs’ deception became fully apparent to Wozniak a decade later when he stumbled upon the truth in a book recounting the history of Atari.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Wozniak expressed a desire for honesty from Jobs, lamenting the lack of transparency in their professional collaboration.
The episode serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and challenges inherent in creative partnerships, underscoring the importance of integrity and fairness in business dealings.
