Was Steve Jobs the greatest CEO of all time?

I have to admit, I’m a little biased here. I’m not a fan of Apple but I will root for Steve Jobs any time of the day. The man has the audacity of John D. Rockefeller, the ruthlessness of Jack Welch, the vision of Henry Ford, and the charm and creativity all of his own. How’d a hippie become so cool is beyond me.

After his resignation, yummy Amanda Drury and the rest of the CNBC talking heads asked where he would be on the all-time CEO rankings. Top 5? Top 3? Performance-wise, he’s leaving AAPL as the most valuable company in the world, having increased its market cap over $250 Billion since his return in ’97 and he topped it off with a $144 Million increase in net income during his last quarter. More importantly though, he changed the world when he created the Apple II, so he should be way up there in the top 5 along with Ford, Rockefeller, Sloan, and Morgan if you ask me.

How about you monkeys? What do you think? Should he be #1?

Putting him at third behind John D and Ford.

Video of the cleave after the jump.

 

Jobs is a very strong leader, but Jack Welch, Jamie Diamond, Richard Gates, Colin Powell, Warren Buffett, and even John Thain have all made much stronger C-level executives than Jobs. Jobs has always had a certain rigidity and a bit of insecurity when someone comes up with an idea that might be better than his if you talk to a lot of the folks who worked for him in the '80s. But on the design and thought leadership front, it's hard to come up with a better leader than Jobs.

 

Depends on what you think the CEO's role should be. If Apple completely falls apart in the next few years does that make him a good CEO? He's done miraculous things since he's returned no doubt but I always think of continunity; especially if from the corporation as an undying entity viewpoint.

Edit: It may just end up being a conincidence with dude leaving but I don't see Apple coming out with anything mindblowing or "innovative" in the near future that really fits into their existing line. This may end up being the point in time where Apple branches out a bit.

 
Best Response

I vote yes. I think he's also a testament to the supremecy of the American economy and the greatness of America in general. No where else on Earth could someone like Jobs come along.

The same thing could be said about every other notable "best ever" type CEO. They are all products of the greatest country on the face of the Earth.

 
TheKing:
I vote yes. I think he's also a testament to the supremecy of the American economy and the greatness of America in general. No where else on Earth could someone like Jobs come along.

The same thing could be said about every other notable "best ever" type CEO. They are all products of the greatest country on the face of the Earth.

^^^ Well put.

" People call me a Zenophobe but I just think that America is the greatest country in the world and all the other country's just aren't as good. That used to be called Patriotism."

-Kenny Powers The MFN CEO

[quote=patternfinder]Of course, I would just buy in scales. [/quote] See my WSO Blog | my AMA
 

I prefer Mohammad Ali's quote to a Russian Journalist when the reporter asked, "What do you think about America?" In an attempt to get this sports legend to speak ill of his own nation at the height of the Cold War. Mohammad Ali responded simply, "America is the greatest country in the world, including yours."

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 
happypantsmcgee:
I prefer Mohammad Ali's quote to a Russian Journalist when the reporter asked, "What do you think about America?" In an attempt to get this sports legend to speak ill of his own nation at the height of the Cold War. Mohammad Ali responded simply, "America is the greatest country in the world, including yours."

I've never heard that before, but I like it.

[quote=patternfinder]Of course, I would just buy in scales. [/quote] See my WSO Blog | my AMA
 

Steve Jobs has been getting some pretty good lip service from WSO lately. WHO CARES! ALL I CARE ABOUT IS THAT MY OPTIONS GO ITM.

"The higher up the mountain, the more treacherous the path" -Frank Underwood
 

Praesentium consequuntur non beatae consequatur quos aspernatur. Animi rerum perferendis itaque est mollitia qui reiciendis. Expedita consequatur commodi voluptas quas iure aperiam. Officia quos optio quisquam nemo ea et.

Totam iste libero eius aperiam laborum. Animi aut ad ipsam ea atque. Numquam placeat ut debitis ipsum sit recusandae. Quod sunt assumenda laborum debitis. Minima optio consequuntur minima eum reprehenderit architecto.

Qui dolor voluptas assumenda exercitationem eos. Dolorem voluptatum quia quibusdam tempora sed eaque quas. Et eaque dolorem non voluptatem cum. Veritatis porro inventore est in. Aut voluptatem consequatur debitis assumenda sapiente qui iure. Illum aut quo vel quis rem et officiis.

Iusto dolor impedit aut accusamus repellat architecto consequatur. Asperiores consequuntur harum ratione dolorum. Velit quia excepturi qui dignissimos consequatur.

 

Dicta doloribus corporis occaecati sed rem a facilis tenetur. Excepturi quis id quisquam sit commodi aut. Et est qui aspernatur enim nulla explicabo suscipit.

Ut in occaecati et blanditiis. Non ipsa nostrum ipsam dolores qui. Aperiam ut sapiente ut neque pariatur perspiciatis. Praesentium ullam omnis labore mollitia.

Voluptates assumenda nam eveniet delectus. Doloremque dignissimos quidem placeat dolores quasi sint odio. Harum et voluptates ratione nihil est.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”