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Chapter 402: Over $13 Billion

As far as I can remember, in Lin Haoran’s previous life, this IPO created four billionaires and about 4 millionaires for Apple.

Obviously, these four billionaires are among these five people, they are Steve Jobs, Steve Gary Wozniak, Mike Markkula, and Rod Holt.

These four people are either founders or investors, and they all own a considerable proportion of shares.

When Apple's market value reached nearly 18 billion US dollars, these four people naturally became billionaires.

The one among these five who did not become a billionaire was naturally Michael Scott.

Although Michael Scott played an important role in the early development of Apple as its first CEO and helped the company build its infrastructure and achieve profitability.

But Michael Scott doesn't own much shares, he just gets a salary.

Moreover, Michael Scott's annual salary at Apple is even lower than what he earned at National Semiconductor.

Of course, as Apple’s first CEO, the company also rewarded him with some shares before the company went public, but it was not much.

However, with Lin Haoran's financing of Apple, it is obvious that Lin Haoran's return on investment will multiply many times, making him the fifth person in Apple to hold Apple shares with a market value of more than 100 million US dollars.

I just don’t know how high Apple’s stock price will eventually rise this time.

In Lin Haoran's opinion, it couldn't possibly be lower than the market value of the Apple company he was familiar with in his previous life when it went public, right?
"It seems that Mr. Lin is very confident about our listing tomorrow!" Jobs said with a smile.

"Of course, I have great confidence in you, otherwise I would not have invested in you in the first place!" Lin Haoran laughed.

"I hope Mr. Lin will not be disappointed with this investment!" Steve Gary Wozniak on the side also said with a smile at this moment.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with the five people, Jobs also introduced Mr. McLean, the trading chairman of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, to Lin Haoran.

"I know Mr. Lin. You are a very capable businessman. I have also heard about your deeds in Hong Kong!" Mr. McLean shook hands with Lin Haoran and said with a smile.

"Mr. McLean is also someone I admire very much. Without you, Nasdaq would not have become one of the three major stock exchanges in the United States." Lin Haoran also said with a smile.

Before coming, Lin Haoran also had a brief understanding of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.

After becoming the trading chairman of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, McLean began to implement his own transformation plan.

He actively advocated that stockbrokers use computer screens for real-time pricing, a move that not only significantly increased trading volume but also effectively reduced broker fees.

However, there were many skeptics at the time because computer technology was not yet mature and errors and data loss often occurred.

Faced with such doubts, some people asked whether they should wait a little longer. After all, traditional paper records seemed more reliable at the time.

But Gordon firmly believed that he had to seize the opportunity and invest money in technology construction. He invited Buncramer Computer Company to cooperate and used advanced computer technology to design an automatic quotation system, which he continuously upgraded and maintained. This system later became widely known as "NASDAQ".

Since many of its employees work on Wall Street, some Wall Street companies took the initiative to offer to conduct transactions as a pilot, which not only promoted Nasdaq's implementation but also solved a series of technical problems.

With its technology-friendly image, Nasdaq quickly attracted many potential companies to seek technical cooperation and support.

Even Intel has attached great importance to this and invested a lot of energy in it.

Thus, an increasingly sophisticated technology stock exchange, Nasdaq, came into being.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Apollo program and the Star Wars program filled the American people with infinite longing and expectations for future technology.

Nasdaq's automatic electronic quotation system fits perfectly into this technological atmosphere, appearing particularly cool and avant-garde.

In addition to the convenience brought by computers, the Nasdaq Stock Exchange has adopted a relatively relaxed attitude towards the "one share, one vote" policy, which ensures that the founders of a company can still retain voting rights after it goes public.

This is one of the important reasons why Steve Jobs and other Apple executives chose to list Apple on the NASDAQ.

What they value is Nasdaq's inclusiveness of technological innovation and respect for the rights of founders.

"I am deeply honored to be recognized by Mr. Lin!" McLean expressed his sincere satisfaction with Lin Haoran's words.

Moreover, he had investigated Lin Haoran's information and knew that although this young man was in Hong Kong, his wealth and strength would put him among the top financial groups even in the United States!

Therefore, even as the head of Nasdaq, McLean was willing to build a good relationship with Lin Haoran. Through chatting with the chairman of the exchange, Lin Haoran already knew that Nasdaq Stock Exchange attached great importance to Apple's listing.

The most important reason is that they believe that Apple's total market value after its listing may break the record since the establishment of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.

In this way, Apple's listing will indirectly bring enough benefits to the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.

After all, the Nasdaq Stock Exchange was founded in 1971, and it has only been about ten years.

Compared with the New York Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange in the same city, both of which have a history of more than a hundred years, the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, which was only founded in 1971 and had been established for less than ten years until December 1980, seems to lack heritage.

In order to compete with other stock exchanges, Nasdaq must work hard to expand its influence and attract more companies to list.

Apple is one of the most influential and promising companies that Nasdaq has encountered since its establishment and is willing to choose to be listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.

After talking for a while, Mr. McLean left the meeting room for something.

Jobs looked at the remaining Apple executives in the conference room, then turned to look at Lin Haoran and said, "It just so happens that we have settled all our matters at Nasdaq, and the preparations for the listing are already waiting for tomorrow morning. Mr. Lin, you probably haven't been to Apple's New York headquarters, have you? How about we go there together?"

"Of course no problem!" Lin Haoran nodded in response.

Although Lin Haoran is not an executive at Apple, nor even a member of the board of directors, he owns 10% of Apple's shares. If he wants, he can join the board of directors at any time. It's just that Lin Haoran does not want to interfere too much in Apple, so he does not want to join.

After all, without him, Apple would have become the world's most valuable listed company in the future according to its historical development path.

He was deeply afraid that his excessive involvement would disrupt Apple's pace, and if it led to the company's bleak prospects, it would be a huge loss for him.

After all, he wasn't good at technology, and although he had a rough idea of ​​Apple's future product features, he didn't see the need to change or reveal them.

When it comes to Apple, Lin Haoran has always just been an investor and has never thought about taking control of the company.

After all, Apple's rise was largely due to the solid foundation laid by Jobs rather than the company's own extraordinary capabilities.

Just imagine, if he really took control of Apple, wouldn't that be tantamount to depriving it of the spiritual legacy left by Jobs?

Moreover, given Jobs' personality and ambition, it is unlikely that he would stay in office for an acquired company.

Apple's New York branch headquarters is also located near Times Square.

The few people left the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, walked along a street less than 300 meters away, and finally arrived in front of a building more than 30 stories high.

"Our office in New York is on the 15th floor of this building." Jobs pointed at the building and introduced it to Lin Haoran.

Lin Haoran nodded, but didn't really care.

Soon, everyone arrived at the 15th floor.

"This is Myron Zouk, general manager of Apple's New York region, and this is Mr. Lin Haoran, an important shareholder of Apple." As they walked into the office, a middle-aged white man came up to them, and Jobs introduced them to each other.

"Hello Mr. Mirren. Apple can only grow stronger thanks to colleagues like you who work hard on the front lines." Lin Haoran smiled and shook hands with Mirren Zok.

Milen Zok was obviously surprised by Lin Haoran's arrival, but as a member of Apple's senior management, he was not completely ignorant of Lin Haoran.

“Mr. Lin, it’s nice to meet you. Although I am in charge of operations in New York, I have heard your story. Your joining will undoubtedly add great confidence to Apple.”

Jobs smiled and said, "Mirren, Mr. Lin is not only our important shareholder, but also our strongest backer. His support played a key role in this listing."

"I just did what I thought was right. I believe in Apple's potential and your efforts. We are partners in the same boat, and our common goal is to make Apple go further," Lin Haoran said modestly.

"Since Mr. Lin is here, let me tell you about tomorrow's listing," Jobs continued.

Lin Haoran nodded and waited for Jobs' next words.

"Tomorrow, Apple plans to issue 460 million shares in its initial public offering. Our total share capital is 5872 million shares, and the issue price per share is $22. Once successfully subscribed, the total market value of our Apple will exceed $13 billion!" Jobs continued.

(End of this chapter)