Rare Apple Founding Agreement Expected to Fetch Millions at Christie’s Auction
A pivotal document in Apple’s history is poised to make headlines as it goes under the hammer at Christie’s, potentially fetching between $2 million and $4 million. This 1976 agreement, signed by Apple’s founders, marks the inception of the tech behemoth. Notably, the document includes the signature of Ronald Wayne, Apple’s often-overlooked third co-founder, who was instrumental in the company’s early days and even designed its first logo—an ink drawing of Isaac Newton beneath an apple tree.
Ronald Wayne, who was significantly older than his fellow co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, penned the Apple Computer Company Partnership Agreement on April 1, 1976, using his IBM typewriter. Initially holding a 10% stake, Wayne withdrew from the venture just 12 days later, concerned about potential financial liabilities. The agreement’s amendment reveals that Jobs and Wozniak compensated him with $800 (equivalent to about $4,500 today) for relinquishing his ownership share and contributions to the startup. Their signatures, though faded, remain on the document.
This iconic contract will be auctioned on January 23, 2026, at Christie’s Rockefeller Center location as part of the “We the People: America at 250” sale. This event will feature artworks, furniture, and documents that encapsulate 250 years of American history. Among the noteworthy items is a draft of the United States Constitution annotated by founding father Rufus King, estimated to be worth $3 million to $5 million. King, a Massachusetts delegate at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, contributed significantly to shaping the final document, including ensuring uniform federal taxes across states.
Of the 60 second-draft Constitution copies printed, only 12 are known to exist, with all others housed in institutions such as the Library of Congress and the National Archives. King’s annotated version is being offered for sale by the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire.
Over the years, items related to Apple and its founders have fetched impressive sums at auctions. In 2022, a pair of Steve Jobs’ suede Birkenstocks sold for $218,750, while a first-generation Apple iPhone sold unboxed for $63,356 in 2023. An Apple memorabilia auction last year saw a business card from 1983 sell for $181,183 and a movie ticket stub from Steve Jobs fetch $14,653. The record for a U.S. Constitution copy stands at $43.2 million, paid by hedge fund manager Ken Griffin in 2021, although a subsequent sale saw a copy go for a more modest $9 million.
This auction underscores the enduring allure of artifacts tied to Apple’s rise and the broader narrative of American innovation and history.
