What did Steve Jobs know, and when did he know it?
That’s the $64-million question, and while Apple has been adamant that Jobs was unaware of any financial shenanigans, some of his recently made redundant former colleagues have different takes. But unlike many other companies that are facing questions over their options practices, Apple’s reliance on its founder and leader and the Cult of Steve makes this a unique case.
Personally, I find the notion that Jobs, a notorious micromanager, was unaware of what was going on hard to swallow. But are we willing to upset a great American success story — and quite possibly take down Apple for a second time — by forcing out Mr. iPod? In short, what’s a fair price for Apple and Jobs to pay if it turns out they have misled the SEC?
Who do you think is going to force Steve Jobs to resign? Greenpeace?
The way things are now, even if he goes to jail, the shareholders won’t complain. Instead of iCEO standing for intermin CEO, Steve could be the incarcerated CEO, and run the company from his cell.
Worse comes to worst, Apple could hire Bill Clinton to as a temporary stand-in iCEO. To paraphrase Garp, “He is pre-scandeled”.
Apple lose Steve Jobs?
Bah!
Steve W. makes a point so relevent it’s worth repeating: There’s no victimized investors.
Without lost retirements and no life savings drained, I see a worst-case scenario where Jobs gets a Martha Stewart anklet and does 18-months of work from home.
And while Steve’s doing time at Casa Infinite Loop, we can expect a new campaign for the iPhone, AppleTV and Job’s new book, “iDidn’t iSwear”