In 1997, Apple received a US$150 million investment that helped steady the struggling company. Who invested the money?
Answer: Microsoft.
In 1997, with Apple struggling and Steve Jobs newly back at the company, Microsoft invested US$150 million in its great rival as part of a broader agreement between the two businesses.
The remarkable part is what happened next. Apple was worth only a few billion dollars at the time. Today, we’re discussing whether it could eventually be worth US$10 trillion.
It’s a useful reminder for investors: today’s corporate pecking order can look completely different a generation later.