"Apple was founded on April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne[11] (and later incorporated January 3, 1977[12] without Wayne, who sold his share of the company back to Jobs and Wozniak) to sell the Apple I personal computer kit. "

Wikipedia

1980: Apple Goes Public

In the largest IPO since Ford went public in 1956, Apple debuts on the stock market with a valuation of $1.8 billion. Of Apple's 1,000 employees, more than 40 became instant millionaires thanks to their stock options.

http://www.macworld.com/2006/03/features/30moments/index.php