Does Apple's Steve Jobs Have Cancer Again?*
For almost any other human being, this topic would be a personal matter. In this case, however, tens of billions of dollars of market value rests on Steve's remaining healthy and at the helm of Apple for many years, so his health is a material business concern.
In the photos we saw of yesterday's event, Steve appeared dangerously thin. The most likely explanation, we think, is that Steve changed his diet after his bout with cancer a few years ago. Given that Steve did not believe that that cancer needed to be disclosed publicly until after the fact, however, it also seems possible that the weight loss could be an indication that Steve's cancer has reappeared.
We hope it hasn't. As we argued here, however, we believe that Steve's cancer should have been disclosed earlier, and--if it ever recurs--should immediately be disclosed. It seems inappropriate to ask Apple to issue a statement confirming that Steve is in perfect health, but we know such a statement would make some of concerned Apple and Steve fans feel better.
UPDATE: Apple spokeswoman Katie Cotton says that Steve is recovering after being sick prior to WWDC. We are glad to hear it. WSJ:
In response to a question about his health Tuesday, an Apple spokeswoman said Jobs was hit with a “common bug” in recent weeks but he still felt it was important to participate in the Apple conference. The spokeswoman said he’s now on the mend with the aid of antibiotics.
Some context here: This isn't the first time observers have seen Steve onstage and worried aloud about his health. Here's Forbes publisher Rich Karlgaard wondering about his cancer after seeing him at the 2006 WWDC; Wired's Leander Kahney had the same thought. This year's worriers included Valleywag's Owen Thomas and The Globe and Mail's Mathew Ingram.
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It's interesting how the (real) success of such a huge enterprise spanning the globe is extremely dependent on one man (don't believe me? Think pre-Jobs-return in the 80's and 90's and AAPL's slow painful decline), he should be provided Secret Service agents.
Sure hope the man lives until he's 175, and would certainly like to know for certain he's healthy, as he sure dosn't seem like it.
Screw you SAI, your little disclaimer's trying to justify your prying are as unacceptable as the question is.
Any human being on this planet has the right to deal with THEIR health issues in any manner they choose to unless of course you happen to live in a country that suppresses those rights.
Worry more about Balmer's health than Job's, though Microsoft may well be better off without that Steve.
He is also clean-shaven which also makes you look thinner.
What Apple needs is an orderly transition to a post-Steve era. We would need to know that there is a plan for, say, Tim Cook to take over in three years. The worst that could happen is for Steve to announce suddenly he's retiring and, even though Apple probably has a plan to handle such an eventuality, the market would perceive Apple in chaos.
I'm chief executive at a tiny public company. We never made an official announcement. I did write a sort of blog. If anyone asked, they were referred to the blog. I worked every day that I wasn't in the hospital, at least part of the day. I finished chemo on January 31. My board and employees knew what was going on and stepped up.
I'm the entrepreneur, and we've always said we would replace me with a seasoned executive. This forced me to relinquish day to day responsibilities and focus on what was most important. In the three years I've been with the company we've grown revenues from $1mm annual to $26 million annual and during this crisis period added significant staff that have been empowered to act on their abilities.
Jobs is a great leader. I hope his cancer is not back. But leadership is about a lot of things, like persevering in the face of long odds. If his cancer is back, he'll do the right thing. Will there be an adverse reaction? I'm sure, but Apple shareholders have evidence that there is a leader who will do what is best for his company and himself. Not a perfect answer, but a good one.
It's a compliment to be considered so valuable to so many people. It's probably also annoying, but so is much about being a CEO of a public company.
Here's to Steve, and everyone's health!
Even if it is true, you are just increasing a pressure on him. If it's false alarm, that's even worse.
We might all want to post somewhere else depending on the specific ailment(s) you might have.
Best of health to ALL at Apple.
In Europe, the private sphere of life, is just that, private, beyond any other interests. you give reason to that part of the world that see you as a greedy bunch only worried by dollars and capitalist interests.
Maybe Mr Jobs is fighting again with cancer. And so what ?
Maybe you think that, for example, all gay CEO should undergo AIDS test every month just to comfort their shareholders in their sleep.
I trust Mr Jobs enough, and I think you should too, to chose if he wants to disclose or not if he is, or not, fighting against cancer again. Or do you think he is stupid?.
Your disclaimer stinks. You should apologize.
Or are you talking Paris Hilton's new puppet here ?
Shame on you.
The only untimely death I hope to see is not of a brilliant visionary and business leader, but of a third-rate online rag passing as a venerable business publication. And it can't happen soon enough.
Only in an overweight America would Steve Jobs be considered dangerously skinny. In many parts of the world, the Elvis-like figures of too many Americans are looked upon with scorn. And if you understood that Mr. Jobs is a strict vegan, you might get it. But then, I suspect Mr. Blodget takes his orders from hedge funds desperately trying to short Apple stock. And using a failed analyst and now "journalist" to do their bidding with a FUD campaign is a convenient outlet for this absurd lie.
Mr. Blodget, once your publication goes out of business, I am sure there are good opportunities as a barista at Starbucks...
Oh, and while you're at it, please that that dim-bulb embarrassment Sarah Lacey with you when you go.
This comment is laughable. Some of the worst paparazzi incidents and invasions of privacy to satisfy the public celebrity-lust occurred in Europe. (e.g. Princess Diana) Have you seen the tabloids in Britain? You can't find dirt like that in the US.
American hating now aside, as the OP said, its in the interest of the company's shareholders whether Jobs stays at the helm. For that, it is worth discussing.
Part of the pancreas was removed...could it be that he has further reduced the fat intact to compensate for reduces pancreatic enzymes being released? Wouldn't you make changes to feel better?
I just noticed the 'alley' title...no wonder, this piece is from the dumpster.
Byt he way I dont think it was inappropriate to make this posy but did you really have to point to Valleywag as an update.
I love Vallywag but I dont thing it is something that should be taken into account with a matter of this seriousness.
cheers
Jason
There is your problem: the, narrow-minded, business perspective.
When Jobs let Apple, he was replaced by people with business perspective all analysts praised. We know the story...
Jobs as also a human perspective, that's why he just creates products that smash the concurrence. As an apple user for the last 20 years, he has just made my life simpler and funnier. (It is really funny to see people discovering Apple OS, wondering why they have been cheated into Windows for so long.)
Change your perspective.
Everyday, critical business assets, or even highly critical family assets, die of cancer, and you know Mr Blodget, life goes on. Jobs surely knows better than you and anybody else how to prepare his exit, if need be.
I don't see your point.
1 - I do think this is appropriate so long as it is handled tastefully. Steve Jobs' health is a material concern to shareholders. Likewise, I think the fact that Henry is making it abundantly clear in the original post he wishes the best for Steve ("We hope it hasn't.") is perfectly appropriate.
2 - I disagree with Henry about no individual corporation being more reliant on and identified with one man than Apple. Berkshire comes to mind.
I respect AlleyInsider for talking about the pink elephant in the room.
Thanks!
How can you be writing these kind of articles if you are banned from the securities industry for life?
You are after Apple and have done nothing but one bashing article after the other.
as far as his weight goes, my father actually had a form of pancreatic cancer and they did a whipple procedure on him to remove part of his pancreas & the tumor..i think this is what jobs underwent. unfortunately the tumor metastizised and he did not make it past 18 months post-op. in the last few months, he looked eerily similar to the photos of jobs. went from 185 lbs down to like 140 & lost most his hair, etc. the combo of chemo and loss of some pancreatic enzymes is tough on the body. (pls don't interpret this as me saying jobs is out of remission)
Steve Jobs looked like he always has. He had the energy and the passion of a healthy Steve Jobs. I can see no sign of compromised health.
I wish Steve Jobs all the best. He's an amazing man, and he has built not one but several extraordinary companies. As I said in the post, I think that in the case of almost anyone else, this really would be just a private matter. In this case, though, I think it's also relevant for shareholders (and, arguably, Apple employees).
For what it's worth, I would also argue that Berkshire should disclose it if Warren had a serious disease. Berkshire's a lot closer to having a succession plan than Apple, and Warren has often talked publicly about his age (without suggesting that shareholders are insensitive to wonder about it).
You're weird guys. If he has, it's up to him to tell. Maybe he does not even know. Maybe you have it and don't even know.
Cancer is a strange disease, few symptoms, no fever....
Have you thought maybe he had too much of those McDonalds salmonelosis infected tomatoes ?
iPhone is thinner too...
Besides that, I think this article is inapropiate!
How 'bout verifying the mental health of some of our
political leaders, ugently!
My ass.
If an investor sees Steve's thinness as a threat, s/he has every right to withdraw his/her investment. They do not have the *right* to know jack shit about Steve's personal matters.
Steve IS a veggie...
And I still think this article is inapropiate!
How'bout verifying the mental health of some of our
political leaders, urgently!
On this blog people can see the smarmy underbelly of "the investor class" Get me mine or begone.
One of the true geniuses and most compelling people of out time is just a cog in your portfolio..... There I just gagged the vomit back down. I will leave you now your own filth.
weeks ago, spokeswoman Katie Cotton says, responding to a rash of speculation
about his health. "He's been on antibiotics and getting better day by day and
didn't want to miss WWDC," Cotton says. "That's all there is to it." The
blogosphere buzzed Tuesday about Jobs' appearance at the developers conference
yesterday. Silicon Alley Insider and ValleyWag, as well as mainstream
TheStreet.com, noted Jobs looked skinnier than in past appearances and wondered
whether he might be sick. AAPL up 2.2% at $185.61. (SMR)
(well, perhaps not to me -- the heraldic devil -- Azazello).
No journalist-investor-voter no-man can contest it in the name of any imagined good of society/country/nation/humanity/church/God-self.
Thibault
Lyon, France
It's been 4 years since then, but he looks feeble and you can see him resting his arm for support during part of the keynote which he has never done before. He has aged 30-40 years since he returned to Apple in late 1996. He was almost "pudgy" some 12 years ago, so something is certainly wrong.
It's a mystery about his father, where is he? All we know is he was of Egyptian Arab decent. Figure that out and we probably know the fate of his orphan son.
And just a correction, he is a Piscetarian, not a Vegetarian.
And lastly, "nobody" has ever escaped this planet alive and I TRUELY wish he lives until 90+, but the clock is turning very quickly with him and it's near time to make plans. What will the Mac Community do when he leaves us?
I see millions in mourning, 100,000's attending a Zen funeral in California, I just hope it's 40 years from now... not 5.
---
It's irrelevant because you (and the investors you're so concerned about) can't do anything, and this is the worst sort of sensationalism. Total filth. Garbage.
You suck as journalists, bloggers, and human beings. I'm sure someone is hiring at the Enquirer.
Nasty.Kinda 'Valleywag'ish nasty, as well.
For shame.
And of course Apple customers and investors worry about what kind of a succession arrangement there is at the company. Outsiders still have no real way of knowing whether the changes Jobs, Schiller, Ive etc. have implemented at the company have been sufficiently institutionalized to survive his departure -- and innovation is an especially difficult thing to institutionalize. It's not a traceable single event like Kimberly-Clark switching from paper mills to consumer products, or Walgreens ditching the soda fountains and going strictly retail (both of which were extremely tough to achieve given internal company politics and also triggered Apple-like increases in stock price and profit, by the way); innovation is a never-ending, ongoing process, and no-one knows how much innovation at Apple comes from sources other than His Steveness. If there is a Kimberly-Clark/Walgreens-like change-event at Apple, it is OS X, so that much is definitely in place. But what else isn't nailed down?
Sell my Apple stock.
Also, as to Henry's comment, I agree that Berkshire has been far more forthcoming about Warren Buffett, but I do think he's just as important. The contrast in approaches is interesting; in the end, I suspect both companies will drop significantly when the key man leaves regardless, though.
Perhaps I am wrong. Time will tell. I do think some of the commentary is over the top, though; Steve Jobs is a public figure, and such speculation is part of that. He enjoys many benefits from his popularity as well, I am sure. Likewise, I would say I wish him the best as well - let us hope this is nothing more than a fluke and he's fine.
MACBLOGZ.com has posted an ENTIRE REPLY TO THIS OUTRAGEOUS POST BY YOU ALLEY INSIDER... UTTERLY PATHETIC.
THE RESPONSE TO YOUR POST CAN BE FOUND HERE.
http://www.macblogz.com/2008/06/10/other-blogs-need-to-stop-saying-steve-jobs-has-cancer-this-is-highly-offensive-and-disgusting/
http://www.macblogz.com/2008/06/10/other-blogs-need-to-stop-saying-steve-jobs-has-cancer-this-is-highly-offensive-and-disgusting/
Either way, go to www.macblogz.com and read the latest post on the left.
Take your gossip and go play in someone else's Internet where we don't have to smell it.
You are what journalism has become.
Steve Jobs is a great, great visionary and I wish him well as I would anyone- but he still has much to offer the world and for his sake and his family's (and ours), I hope he is well and eats a bit more to help put these concerns to rest.
Anything to catch that morning headline buzz eh ?
You guys should be ashamed.
Idiots.
As I said earlier, I am a cancer survivor. I find this kind of speculation absurd. And as I said earlier, there are a few of you who could benefit the world if you contracted a particularly virulent form of cancer yourselves.
Apple's press release did NOT reassure me. Jobs looked far too thin for this to be simply a "common bug." And "common bugs" don't require antibiotics. Either they are downplaying a serious infection, or they are spreading FUD. Given Jobs' past behavior, it is even possible the company doesn't know the whole story.
I hope I am wrong. But if I saw Mr. Jobs as a patient, I would not expect him to have a good prognosis.
As for ANNIE'S comments which suggest that Blodget and some of those who see this issue Blodget's way "could benefit the world if you contracted a particularly virulent form of cancer yourselves", well, I'd say she has managed to show us all just how mean-spirited and disgusting a person can get over a rational discourse of a sensitive topic. Wow, Annie, you may have cancer but that shouldn't cause you to wish even worse on people for expressing an opinion! I wish you the best and hope you get help from a good psychologist.
I think Mr. Jobs knew that people would notice his condition, I think this is his way of giving us hint of things to come.
And you know what? My prayers go with him and his family.
I have to also agree with some of the comments here that accuse you of looking at him as a mere business asset, like you would look at a piece of equipment or Google's server hardware. He is not.
It's Steve's right to keep whatever is going on private. And it should be your job to respect that.
You knew this was wrong and unfair and hurtful and you chose to do it anyway. I think you are a cynical and foul human being for doing this.
I get the thinness, but it looks like his stomach is bulging. Or, is that just his shirt.
It sure makes Erin Burnett sound like an idiot when she opined to Jim Cramer on Street Signs Monday that she thought he wore the same shirt over and over again. Tee hee. Thanks Erin.
While he may have some fiduciary responsibility to inform shareholders that he is gravely ill, he has no such moral responsibilty.
None.
Investing carries risk. Life itself ends in death 100% of the time. Before a human tragedy like this causes one financial worry, it ought to make him grateful and sad. None of us will be here soon.
THAT'S why I think Mr. Jobs' health is popular in discussion at the moment. At least speaking on my own behalf.
As a stockholder, I do not want to lose a fortune because Apple Corporate PR is being evasive.
Henry Blodget is also right about the company being dependent on a single person – a critical factor here.
Having said that, my best wishes to Steve Jobs - a true genius who has made us a lot of money. Hope he has another 50 years of creativity in him.
....and From Europe, grow up.
As for Steve Jobs, a tech hero of mine. He and Woz put together a great little unit in their garage way back. It was because of the Mac 512k that we were able to start our business.
Stay well Steve.
A major consequence of this is Apple's revenues, new products and product development depend on this form of self promotion. The financial markets, rightly or wrongly chooses to place a major share price premium on Job's salesmanship and product leadership qualities (and remember there is not right or wrong in the stock market, only make money or lose money).
This is the same way that film stars, rock stars (or certain celebrities mentioned here) revenues depends on their own self promotion. The fact that these types of people do promote themselves in this way means forfeit their right to a private life, since their very existence maintains their industry, market or brand.
They either deal with it intelligently, like Jodie Foster, or not, like...(insert your list here).
Steve Jobs and Apple must do the same as privacy has little or nothing to do with it: he forfeits that right every time he goes up on the WWDC stage.
Therefore, I echo the sentiment of AAPL stockholders above, I hope he has many years of healthy and creative life left. However, if the worst scenario materializes, AAPL has proven itself prior to Steve's return it cannot survive without Steve. Steven Jobs = AAPL, it is in fact an one-man show.
God bless Steve Jobs.
I hope he does not have cancer again. It's tough to fight it twice.
If he resigns, one of a few innovative computer companies on this planet would have it's future limboized.
Selling my Apple stock now, but no relation ;-)
MarciDesign
http://www.cheap-mobile-shop.co.uk
Posted by : Sania Basco
http://www.cheap-mobile-shop.co.uk
Posted by : Sania Basco
I own stocks too...don't expect to know how each CEO is doing in his/her private life.
Get over it and leave the man alone.
Someone mentioned on this blog that those of us in the US have been looking at overweight people so long that we've lost sight of the idea that someone can be thin and still be healthy. I second that. And I urge the nay-sayers to go to a marathon this weekend and look at the regular runners. With runners as your benchmark, you will see that Steve looks fine.
Contact -- ar123789@hotmail.com
I have a contact with the group of the Russian doctors, who treat many dangerous illnesses.
They treat without the operations, without the tablets, without chemistry, without the radiation.
Many illnesses, such as cancer, tuberculosis, the disease of Alzheimer, the sclerosis of the vessels of the extremities, pressure are treated by our specialists in 2-3 months.
We perform treatment FREE OF CHARGE. Payment ONLY AFTER RECOVERY on the basis of agreement between a patient and a doctor. In 2 - 3 months the patient goes into the clinical laboratory in his city and passes the repeated analysis, where confirmation is obtained that he IS HEALTHY and payment for the treatment occurs after this.
We need to obtain from the patient his name, surname, the date of birth, and his precise diagnosis.
Patient risks in no way. If he is cured - he pays. If he is not cured - he does not pay. There is no risk at all.
currently if apple was to lose steve jobs they could simply just start to pay a divedend and I am sure the stock would go through the roof even without him.
I like Steve but his position at apple never had a role in my love of the company.
The Company is a great designer company steve dosen't build these the employees do an thy have staff with Passion
this will probably not change
Don't want to say he is fading...
Hope he will be well.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0423418/mediaindex
Rule #1 - Good Corporate Planning:
Have a successor located/in training.
Rule #1 - Life: There is a surprise (not always funny) around every corner. If that happens, see Rule #1 above.
Rule #1 - Gambling: Fate reveals her hold card after all your cards are on the table: sometimes not in your favor. If that happens, see Rule #1 above.
Every CEO should have a succession plan. "Who" when It's best business practice for just these instances. Accidents, takeovers, firings, or illness. CEO's don't always get the warning.
If that occurs, the succession plan kicks in.
How well any company, even a goliath like Apple, handles the transition from one CEO to the sucession plan appointee(s) whomever they may be, could well be the best market calming example Apple can show of how Apple Sr Mgmt was *always* thinking of the future without Steve Jobs at the helm: 200 years from now or eat.
All should be focusing on wishing him well, his family strength and support and leaving this well run machine and it's charismatic CEO to do their jobs, each in their own time.