Fact check: Steve Jobs last words werent a commentary on wealth
However, according to his authorized biography by Walter Isaacson, also by Reuters, Steve Jobs’ last words were: “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.” These words were spoken by Jobs as he looked at his family members in his final moments.
Steve Jobs died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 56, leaving behind discussions and debates about his final words. However, in over a decade since his death, social media has been abuzz with fabricated tales and fictitious essays falsely attributed to Steve Jobs, alleging to contain his final thoughts on wealth and the meaning of life. One of the false essays begins with:
People know Steve Jobs for his creativity, innovation, and inspiring quotes too. So there was a lot of hype and curiosity regarding the late Apple co-founder’s last words. In 2015, rumors were circulating online that his last words were in an essay warning how the, “non-stop pursuit of wealth will only turn a person into a twisted being.”
The Rumors—and Truth—Behind Steve Jobs Last Words
People know Steve Jobs for his creativity, innovation, and inspiring quotes too. So there was a lot of hype and curiosity regarding the late Apple co-founder’s last words. In 2015, rumors were circulating online that his last words were in an essay warning how the, “non-stop pursuit of wealth will only turn a person into a twisted being.”
Although Steve Jobs passed away in 2011, the above-quoted essay didn't begin circulating online until November 2015, was not published anywhere outside of unofficial social media accounts and low-traffic blogs, and has not been confirmed by anyone close to the founder of Apple.
At the age of 56, Steve Jobs died a billionaire. Close family members say that his dying words were “Oh, wow. Oh, wow. Oh, wow.” Whether he penned an essay during the days leading up to his death is probably unlikely, but it is still being debated. What we do know is that Jobs often sacrificed his family to achieve success in business. At one point he went so far as to deny that he was the legitimate father of his daughter, Lisa, surprising on many levels, especially given that Jobs was adopted as a child.
One of the earliest iterations of this rumor we've found was published on under the title "DID YOU KNOW WHAT WERE THE LAST WORDS OF STEVE JOBS?":
STEVE JOBS LAST WORDS BEFORE DEATH
Inspiring and meaningful message. However, Steve Jobs did not write or say them. I don't know who did, but they should be credited. But hey, I take what I can from this essay and try to be better every day. Not easy, as I am a human being just like everyone else.
The Rumors—And Truth—Behind Steve Jobs Last Words
At the age of 56, Steve Jobs died a billionaire. Close family members say that his dying words were “Oh, wow. Oh, wow. Oh, wow.” Whether he penned an essay during the days leading up to his death is probably unlikely, but it is still being debated.
Steve Jobs Oh Wow: What Do His Last Words Really Mean
While the above-quoted essay does not represent either Steve Jobs' final words nor remarks he made (in either oral or written form) at any time during his life, his biographer Walter Isaacson did Jobs' expressing regret at the end of his life about how he raised his children: