Steve Jobs responded to Apple employee's 'pathetic' sales numbers by gifting him a $22,000 Porsche
Published on Oct 29, 2025 at 9:06 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Oct 29, 2025 at 9:06 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Steve Jobs once gave a $22,000 Porsche sports car to one of Apple’s employees after saying his sales numbers were ‘pathetic’
The employee in question is Craig Elliott, a man renowned in the tech world who founded Pertino, but someone who also once aspired to be a veterinarian before working for Apple for over 10 years.
Jobs himself was a big fan of Porsche, and for many years, his daily driver was a Porsche 911 sports car.
After realizing this employee was actually his best in terms of sales, Jobs gifted him a sports car, and he said this changed his life.
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Why Steve Jobs gifted the employee a Porsche
The car in question was a brand-new Porsche 944, and Craig Elliott was given it in 1984.
He worked at a computer store, and the car was the result of an Apple promotional offer.
This said that the salesman who racked up the most Macintosh sales would be gifted a 944.
Elliott ended up having the best sales figures of those who had submitted their numbers.
At the time, he lived in Iowa and was saving money to go to Veterinary school.
Following this, Apple sent a letter telling him he had won, along with an invitation to meet Jobs in California.
As Jobs was a huge Porsche fan, the gift of a 944 seemed fitting.
Naturally, Elliott found going to dinner with Jobs a daunting experience.
What happened when Eliott met Jobs
After asking questions about the computers, Jobs then asked how many Macintoshes Elliott had sold.
Upon telling him it was 125, Jobbs simply replied with ‘pathetic.’
“I am your best guy, Steve,” Elliot responded.
Jobs therefore handed Elliott the keys to his new car before they posed outside for a photograph.
The image shows the two men together with the Porsche 944, and Jobs holding the keys to Elliott’s car.
Before departing, Jobs signed Elliot’s Apple II user manual from 1978.
He also left a message that said:
“‘We share a moment of history.”
The meeting changed Elliott’s life.
Three months later, he was hired by Apple itself, and he worked there for over 10 years.
That long career is thanks to his tenacity as a salesman in the early 1980s.
Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
