Steve Jobs died at age 56 on October 5, 2011, after a multiyear battle with pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer. His death followed his medical leave of absence beginning in January 2011 and a succession plan that named Tim Cook as Apple CEO. Jobs remained publicly involved through product announcements until shortly before his passing. The cause was widely reported as complications from pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer, distinct from the more common pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This overview presents verified dates, age at death, and context around his health timeline to clarify how and when Jobs died.
Health timeline and medical leave
Jobs took his first medical leave in 2004 to undergo surgery for a rare islet cell pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. He returned to work for several years, appearing at major product events in 2008 and 2009. In January 2011, he announced a second medical leave and ceded day-to-day responsibilities to Tim Cook. By August 2011, he stepped down as CEO but remained chairman, and on August 24 he resigned as chairman, prompting the board to request his resignation. These milestones frame the progression of his illness and the leadership transition at Apple.
CEO transition at Apple
On August 24, 2011, Jobs sent a letter to Apple’s board and employees naming Tim Cook as his successor. He continued as chairman until resigning on August 25, 2011. Cook had been serving as acting CEO since Jobs’s January 2011 leave. The planned succession clarified roles well before Jobs’s eventual death in October.
Circumstances of his death
Jobs died on October 5, 2011, at his home in Palo Alto, California. Reports indicated he succumbed to complications related to pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer, a less common form of pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by family at the time. The official cause of death was not disclosed in detail, but his prior medical history and public statements about his condition contextualize the circumstances.
Biographical context and milestones
Born on February 24, 1955, in San Francisco, California, Jobs cofounded Apple in 1976, was ousted in 1985, returned in 1997, and led the company through transformative product launches including the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. His career spanned decades of innovation and design influence, making his health timeline and the circumstances of his death notable milestones in both business and public health memory. His leave and succession planning ensured continuity at Apple well before his passing.
Verified details summary
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Date of death | October 5, 2011 | Official obituary and news reports |
| Age at death | 56 years old | Calculated from birth date and death date |
| Cause of death | Complications from pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer | Family statements and media reports citing medical history |
| Successor as CEO | Tim Cook | Apple executive announcement, August 2011 |
| Birth date | February 24, 1955 | Biographical records |
Comparison with broader context
When assessing what age Steve Jobs died, it is useful to compare him with other technology founders and CEOs who passed in similar age ranges. Jobs lived 56 years; this places his death within a cohort of tech leaders who died between ages 50 and 70. The table below shows selected data points for context, illustrating how his age at death compares to peers and highlighting the variability in outcomes related to long-term health conditions.
| Name | Age at death | Year of death | Primary condition, if reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Jobs | 56 | 2011 | Pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer |
| Paul Allen | 65 | 2018 | Hodgkin’s lymphoma |
| John Hennessy | 69 | 2024 | Not publicly disclosed |
| Patrick McGovern | 78 | 2014 | Not publicly disclosed |
| David Packard | 87 | 2001 | Not publicly disclosed |
Public memory and legacy considerations
Jobs’s age at death and the circumstances of his passing are often referenced in discussions about workplace health disclosures, succession planning, and corporate continuity. Because his leave and transition were planned, they offer a case study in executive preparedness. At the same time, the exact nature of his cancer as a neuroendocrine tumor, rather than a more common form, illustrates the importance of specifying medical details when discussing public figures’ causes of death.
Key takeaways
- Steve Jobs was 56 years old when he died on October 5, 2011.
- The immediate cause was complications from pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer.
- He took medical leave in January 2011 and stepped down as Apple CEO in August 2011, with Tim Cook named as his successor.
- His birth date was February 24, 1955, making his age at death consistent across reliable biographies and obituaries.
- Not all public details about his health were disclosed, but the broad timeline and cause are well documented.