Apple is once again the worlds most valuable company with a market value of $3.858 trillion greater than the GDP of many countries. The companys integration of ChatGPT into its devices has contributed to a surge in its stock boosting its market cap significantly. Apple Most Valuable Company The market capitalization of iPhone and iPad maker Apple is nearing the $4 trillion mark. Currently valued at $3.858 trillion Apple has seen a 16% increase in its stock since November adding $500 billion to its market cap. This growth is driven by the companys decision to integrate ChatGPT into its devices which has sparked investor enthusiasm. However Apples incredible journey highlights the story of one of its co-founders Ronald Wayne who once owned a 10% stake in the company. If he had held onto those shares Wayne would have been the second-richest person in the world today just behind Elon Musk. Ronald Wayne Stake In Apple Ronald Wayne co-founded Apple alongside Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. At the time Wayne aged 42 was much older than his colleagues. Jobs was 25 and Wozniak was 21. Wayne was tasked with overseeing mechanical engineering and documentation for the fledgling company and was rewarded with a 10% stake. Today those shares would be worth $385 billion placing him behind only Elon Musk whose net worth is $451 billion. Jeff Bezos with a fortune of $244 billion currently holds second place. A 12-Day Partnership Fate however had different plans. Waynes confidence in Apple waned within just 12 days. He feared that the loans taken out by Jobs such as a $15000 loan might burden him personally if the business failed. Unlike Jobs and Wozniak who had little to lose Wayne owned a house and other assets. He worried that a failed venture could cost him everything. As a result Wayne chose to remove his name from the company’s contract and sold his 10% stake to Jobs and Wozniak for a mere $800. Wayne Has No Regrets Surprisingly Wayne harbors no regrets over his decision. In a later interview he said he felt there were limited prospects for him at Apple. “I would have spent the next 20 years in the documentation department reviewing papers” he remarked. “I was over 40 and they were in their early 20s. For me it was like being the tail of a lion.” While he accepts his choice Wayne does admit to one lingering regret. Missing Second Opportunity Years later Wayne lost a second opportunity to benefit from Apple’s success. In 1976 he had kept Apple’s original founding contract but eventually sold it in 1990 for just $500. Reflecting on the decision he said “The contract had been sitting in my drawer collecting dust. I thought what use is it to me?” In 2011 that same contract was auctioned for $1.59 million. Wayne’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the unpredictability of decisions in business and life.