Short answer
Steve Jobs died in 2011. He passed away on October 5, 2011, at age 56, after a years-long battle with pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer. The immediate cause of death was respiratory arrest caused by tumor metastasis. Below are verified details, timelines, and context to clarify the year and related facts.
What happened and when
Illness and timeline
Jobs was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer in 2003. He took medical leave in 2008 and again in 2009 for a liver transplant. By mid-2011, his health deteriorated rapidly. On August 24, 2011, he resigned as Apple CEO and was succeeded by Tim Cook. He died six weeks later, on October 5, 2011.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Year of death | 2011 | Obituary reports, Apple SEC filings |
| Date of death | October 5, 2011 | Apple corporate release and news archives |
| Age at death | 56 | Biographical records |
| Cause of death | Respiratory arrest due to tumor metastasis | Coroner report and authorized biography |
| Last role | CEO (resigned August 24, 2011) | Apple 8-K filing and SEC records |
How we know this: sourcing and reliability
Public companies are required to disclose executive departures, and Apple’s 8-K filing on August 24, 2011, formally announced Jobs’s resignation. Obituaries from reputable outlets and the official death certificate released by the county coroner confirm the date and cause. Walter Isaacson’s authorized biography also details the medical timeline, though some personal health details remain private.
Context about his health and leave
Jobs stepped away for the first time in August 2008 to focus on his health and for a liver transplant in 2009. From 2008 onward, his reduced visibility was widely noted. By mid-2011, it was clear he could not return to day-to-day duties, leading to the CEO transition.
Immediate reactions and legacy impact
- Apple and Pixar issued statements mourning his loss and highlighting his impact on their companies.
- Global memorials and tributes followed, recognizing his role in personal computing, animation, music, and mobile devices.
- Tim Cook was named CEO on August 24, 2011, and has led Apple since.
Key milestones at a glance
The table below summarizes verifiable dates and why they matter for understanding the year of his death and the surrounding events.
| Date or period | Event | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Diagnosed with pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer | Illness origin; not publicly disclosed until much later |
| 2008 | First medical leave; COO Tim Cook assumes more duties | Signals health concerns become public |
| 2009 | Liver transplant | Major treatment; further absence from Apple operations |
| August 24, 2011 | Resigns as Apple CEO | Formal transition; company discloses reason |
| October 5, 2011 | Steve Jobs dies | End of tenure; year in question is 2011 |
Common questions and misconceptions
Some confuse Jobs’s 2003 diagnosis with the year of his passing; public leave may create uncertainty about dates. The year 2011 is established by multiple independent records, including company disclosures, coroner reports, and contemporaneous news coverage.
Why the year matters for context
Placing his death in 2011 anchors how we discuss his influence on technology and culture in the 2000s and early 2010s, and it helps compare his impact with later leaders and product eras.
Frequently asked questions
- What year did Steve Jobs die? Steve Jobs died in 2011.
- On what date did Steve Jobs die? He died on October 5, 2011.
- What was the cause of Steve Jobs’s death? Respiratory arrest caused by tumor metastasis from pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer.
- Did Steve Jobs step down before he died? Yes; he resigned as Apple CEO on August 24, 2011, and died six weeks later.