Q1 Earnings, Focus On Premium iPhone
Q1 Earnings, Focus On Premium iPhone, Steve Jobs' Signature And More: This Week In Appleverse
$SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust(SPY)$ 690.49 0.21%
$Nasdaq 100 Trust(QQQ)$ 620.24 0.26%
BTC/USD 77286.00 1.7155%
DIA 488.00 0.21%
GLD 449.27 0.97%
TLT 87.38 0.29%
Search Tickers, Companies or News...
January 30, 2026 2:10 PM3 min read
Apple's $500 Check Worth $2.4 Million 50 Years Later — A Steve Jobs Signature Just Turned Into Gold
by Chris Katje Benzinga Staff Writer
Fifty years after its launch as a computer company, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is still setting records for revenue and iPhone sales. While Apple fans often shell out thousands of dollars on new computers, iPhones, tablets and more products from the company, some investors and Apple fans are spending millions to buy the rarest memorabilia in the company's history.
Apple's First Check Breaks Auction Record
RR Auctions recently hosted the "Steve Jobs & the Computer Revolution: The Apple 50th Anniversary Auction," featuring numerous items that belonged to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and other pieces of Apple memorabilia.
Among the top-selling pieces in the auction was Apple check No. 1, the first Apple Computer check from 1976. The check was signed by Jobs and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and given to Howard Cantin, the designer of the Apple-1 printed circuit board, in the amount of $500. The signed check has been graded a PSA Mint 9, the second-highest grading PSA gives out.
RR Auctions gave a pre-auction estimate of $500,000 on the check. The rare Apple piece just sold for $2,409,886, including buyer's premium.
This sets a new world record for the most money paid for a check ever, according to Cllct founder Darren Rovell. In fact, according to Rovell, a check had never sold for $1 million before.
While it is unknown who the buyer is, this check marks one of the oldest and rarest pieces in Apple history. The check was dated March 16, 1976, making it older than the official founding date of Apple (April 1, 1976).
Apple-1 Computer Prototype Tops Other Auction Items
Among the other highlights from the auction were a rare Apple-1 computer prototype board, another rare Apple check and other items from Jobs' childhood.
The earliest known fiberglass prototype used to validate the Apple-1 Computer sold for $2,750,000, including buyer's premium. This smashed a pre-auction estimate of $500,000.
Apple's check No. 181 to its first seed investor, Elmer Baum, from 1976 in the amount of $125, sold for $52,500, beating a pre-auction estimate of $25,000.
Apple's First Financial Record, which is a March 1976 Wells Fargo account statement, sold for $828,569. This easily surpassed a $10,000 pre-auction estimate. The statement covers the period ending March 31, 1976, predating Apple's founding.
A total of six items in the auction topped the $100,000 mark, including a collection of 12 personally owned bow ties from Jobs' boyhood bedroom closet. The bowties sold for $113,500, easily surpassing the $2,000 pre-auction estimate.
Popular items in the auction included many that personally belonged to Jobs, his signatures and old business cards.
Apple auctions and Jobs-related memorabilia have proven to be hot commodities at auction in recent years. With Apple celebrating its 50th anniversary later this year, more Apple rare items could come up for bid in the coming months.
Image via Kemarrravv13/ Shutterstock
These Trades Thrive When Markets Break Down
Matt Maley has spent 35 years trading markets like this. His recent alerts include triple-digit gains on volatility ETFs, sector breakdowns, and short-term reversals — all delivered the moment the setup appears. Now you can test-drive his real-time alerts, free for 7 days.
Get Access to Today’s Trades
AAPL
Apple Inc
$259.07
-0.16%
Stock Score Locked: Want to See it?
Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock – anytime.
Reveal Full Score
Overview
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Add Comment
|
1
Posted In:
Entertainment
Education
auction
Steve Jobs
Steve Wozniak
Comments
Close menu
Connect With Us
About Benzinga
About Us
Careers
Advertise
Contact Us
Market Resources
Advanced Stock Screener Tools
Options Trading Chain Analysis
Comprehensive Earnings Calendar
Dividend Investor Calendar and Alerts
Economic Calendar and Market Events
IPO Calendar and New Listings
Market Outlook and Analysis
Wall Street Analyst Ratings and Targets
Trading Tools & Education
Benzinga Pro Trading Platform
Options Trading Strategies and News
Stock Market Trading Ideas and Analysis
Technical Analysis Charts and Indicators
Fundamental Analysis and Valuation
Day Trading Guides and Strategies
Live Investors Events
Pre market Stock Analysis and News
Cryptocurrency Market Analysis and News
Ring the Bell
A newsletter built for market enthusiasts by market enthusiasts. Top stories, top movers, and trade ideas delivered to your inbox every weekday before and after the market closes.
Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.
