Chapter 137: Apple IPO

Words : 1313 Updated : Oct 2nd, 2025

[Shall I highlight the start of the original chapters? For example, this chapter includes the chapters 168, 169 and 170 in the original novel. For those who want to read the missing parts, this may be helpful.] On December 12th 1980, Steve Jobs rang the market's opening bell. For him, it was a special day. Although only five million common shares were listed, the significance was entirely different. The stock opened at 24 dollars and then soared. Jobs' grin nearly split his face. From this moment on, he officially entered the ranks of the elite. The founders of Apple nearly all became centimillionaires, and this impact wasn't any less than William White, the richest man. Don't forget, they were just a bunch of broke kids assembling computers in a garage. William White? Now that's a different story. That guy was born a billionaire. Is it harder to make 5 billion from 1 billion, or to make 1 billion from nothing? The difficulty is obvious. Watching a whole bunch of youngsters overtaking, Larry Ellison began to reflect on his own successes and failures. Compete with William White? He doesn't even notice someone like him. It's not about him bullying newcomers; they're just in different leagues now. Try surpassing Apple first. Bill Gates was also drooling, but fortunately, his company was doing well. The operating system he bought was unreliable, but his employees were dependable. After developing a bunch of patches, it actually started working properly. Billionaires are attention-grabbers everywhere, especially in this era. Gold was hovering around 400 dollars an ounce, and the threat of inflation seemed to be receding. The economic transformation in America this time was harsh. The unemployment rate in the steel and auto industries neared 20%. That means one in five people were out of work. This Christmas was painful for many; they could only helplessly pray to God, hoping to escape their current situation soon. Most people were in dire straits, but a few were making a fortune. Envy or jealousy was pointless; perhaps it was time to consider a career change. The Fed's current policy was essentially shock therapy, which is a highly risky method. If handled poorly, it could lead to permanent stagnation. Later on, the Soviets tried this and it's fortunate, or not, that they failed miserably and couldn't recover. ... Bang. "Good shot." "Thanks, Meiko. Am I getting better?" "Yes, you're improving quickly. With your physical condition, there's no reason you can't get the hang of it." "Really? I've been feeling a bit off lately. How about we try it?" "No, boss, you've got a party to attend. You can do as you please later." "Haha, let's go. Steve is hosting, gotta fill up first." ... "William, your setup is getting grander by the day. Isn't this a bore?" "Steve, I've just got too much money. It's not safe, you know. I'm not even married yet; if I go without spending it, I'd lose out big time." "Haha, need me to introduce you to someone? Plenty of girls here!" "Tsk, I am afraid they'll break, you know I'm in great shape." "Yeah, I know. But William, can you stop using a ten thousand dollar golf club? It's just such a waste." "Three years, Steve. Give me three years, and we'll play for ten thousand a shot." "Alright, it's a deal." William White's golf skills were practically a joke. But truth be told, at his level, a few minor flaws didn't matter much. If you had no flaws, you'd likely have no friends around. *** The big turkey giveaway by William White heralded the coming of Christmas. After this holiday, a new year would begin. Many people were eagerly looking forward to this fresh start. Everyone was reviewing the gains and losses of the year, and William White was no exception. Although there were many challenges this year, there were also substantial rewards. He hoped the coming year would be smooth too! "Alright, I announce that we're done with Rush Hour," said William White. As William White's words fell, the shooting scene erupted in excitement. ... The crew was on holiday, but William White wasn't relaxed. He still had to complete post-production and dubbing. There was quite a bit of work to do. After sending off the crew, William White decided to check the film. It was essentially holiday time, so don't expect anything from the editors. Regarding William White straying from his main business, Wall Street was out of patience. Did he really love movies that much? How come all those companies weren't being handled? Is it all about the beauties? With all that money, couldn't he have any kind he wanted? These people didn't understand William White. His goal was to enjoy life, and movies weren't exactly unprofitable. Although his wealth was vast, what he could truly spend freely were the box office shares and royalty income. Now, with the introduction of strategic investors, things were more complicated. No way would they let him squander company money. "Hey, Tanner, get these things packed and sent home. We're on holiday too." "Sure thing, young master," Tanner replied. After some fussing, William White decided to head home. After all, his villa had a full set of editing equipment. Honestly, William White didn't like long vacations. They made him feel lonely, and during these times, there were few people around because many went on vacation. Luckily, Fujita and Tanner stayed. Otherwise, it would have been hard to bear. "Suzuki, aren't you going back to Australia?" "Not this year. My family went to Japan. I don't feel like going home in winter." "Okay, you can keep me company then." Regarding this lame excuse, William White didn't intend to probe deeply. Whatever the reason, the fact she didn't want to leave him was true. Christmas in America was very much about family reunions. Even when choosing to vacation, they opted for group activities. William White didn't have that luxury -- a joyful vacation would probably come after he got married. This golden bachelor was indeed the target for many heiresses. What kind William White liked wasn't really important. For him, whoever was most helpful was the best wife. The marriages among the wealthy and powerful worked like this. William White was already rich. What he should consider was a political family. ... With so much work, William White didn't intend to head back to Texas this time. His comings and goings caused quite a stir. Besides, White Castle was under major construction. The old castle was so outdated -- better suited to be a museum. As for the modern lifestyle he liked, that wasn't possible in an old place like that. "Give it till next year. Once they realize that switching bosses doesn't change anything, they'll want to cash out and leave. I just don't believe they can hold out for much longer," William White muttered to himself, hoping the two irritating firms would end up in an even worse state. Hmm, the TV station -- it needs some careful planning now. It was the golden age of television. If developed well, it could earn quite a bit. With added promotional effects, no one would dare tarnish his reputation. After all, the likes of Murdoch and Redstone of future generations thrived as media moguls. Even in the internet age, no one underestimated their presence. Even when News Corp's phone hacking scandal rocked the world, what happened? No real consequences, because no one dared to really cross them beyond repair. Such a loss was intolerable for anyone. ***** https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.

Chapter 137: Apple IPO

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