Apple's 1976 founding documents, including the handwritten signatures of the three co-founders, will be auctioned off and are valued at up to $400 million.
Witnessing the historic moment of the founding of "Apple Computer Company," the third founder sold a copy of it for only $500.

For Apple fans or tech history collectors, this could be the ultimate dream item. A written agreement marking the official establishment of "Apple Computer Company" in 1976 is reportedly about to be auctioned, with an estimated sale price of up to US$400 million (approximately NT$1.3 million).

According to reportsChristie's, the renowned British auction house, will hold an auction in New York on January 23, 2026."We the People: America's 250th Anniversary" (We the People: America at 250) This historically significant three-page document was put up for public auction.

Collect the signatures of the three founders to establish the equity distribution.

The document is valuable because it bears the signatures of Apple's three co-founders: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ron Wayne. It details the equity distribution among the three at the time, witnessing the birth of what would later become the world's most valuable technology giant.

Ron Wayne's "billion-dollar" regret

While the document itself is priceless, it also carries a famous anecdote from the history of technology. Less than two weeks after the agreement was signed, the third founder, Ron Wayne, decided to withdraw.

Before Apple Computer Company transformed into Apple Computer, Inc., he sold his 10% stake back to the other two founders. A few months later, he signed off on relinquishing all remaining business interests in Apple for a mere $1500. Based on 2016 market capitalization, that 10% stake was worth approximately $600 billion at the time, and its value today is astronomical.

Interestingly, Ron Wayne once insisted in a BBC interview that he didn't regret leaving Apple, but he did regret one thing: selling his original copy of the agreement for a mere $500. Now, seeing that document valued at $400 million, that might be the most painful decision for him.

Apple historical artifacts repeatedly fetch record prices

Apple historical artifacts have consistently commanded higher prices at auctions. For example, in 2023, an unopened first-generation iPhone sold for $19 (approximately NT$600 million), more than 300 times its original price. This auction of founding documents is expected to once again ignite a bidding frenzy among collectors.