Steve Jobs announces he is ailing but will remain on as Apple CEO
In an unusual and curiously-timed press release that leaves us scratching our heads, Steve Jobs has informed the Apple community that he is suffering from a hormone imbalance that caused his drastic weight loss. He is currently under treatment for the condition and will remain in place as Apple CEO without interruption. He also provides his reason for skipping Macworld this year. He wanted to spend more time with family instead of feverishly prepping for a Macworld keynote. Hit the jump for the entire press release and we wish Steve all the best for a speedy recovery.
Letter From Apple CEO Steve Jobs
Dear Apple Community,
For the first time in a decade, I’m getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.
Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.
I’ve decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.
As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.
Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause — a hormone imbalance that has been “robbing” me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.
The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment. But, just like I didn’t lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery.
I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple’s CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.
So now I’ve said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.
Steve
First! I hope he has a speedy recovery.
not buying the hormaone imbalence one bit mailny hormone imbalinces don’t cause weight loss they DO however effect fat distributun and mood swings your mental behavior
he’s just stslling so applss buy rating dosn’t go down or loose grond SELL
stalling*
@Galva-idiot: Grow the fuck up, you insignificant atom of dog excrement. Jesus Fucking Christ!!
With his connections he should have called House M.D. when he first started getting sick.
backbeat Said<<<<<<<,WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE YOU DEVIL……YOU IDIOT….I BET YOUR GREASEY AND YOU STINK LIKE CRACK SHIT.
First of all I wish Steve the best. And hopes he makes a full recovery. I also want to thank him for shareing something as personal as this. But I read that some people in this life time are so damn bitter and hateful. They have nonething going on in thier empty lives so they have to wish hurt and evil upon people.The gate to hell is going to be a long one and some here are already in line. Steve I wish you the best for you and your family and hope all turns in your favor. And to the rest of you evil deamons get a freaking life or just drop dead!
@ back bear is your real name richard cause your a dick.
yeah hugh loiris charcter COULD help him an knock some sens into him with the cane
caous steve robbs is a stuborn mofo
@galvatron
Your spelling ability is a clear indicator of your intelligence (or lack thereof in your case) and thus a signal that you should be ignored.
lol @ galvatron
Moderators must be at Macworld.
@ Galvatron:
Are you a doctor or just play one on this blog? Moron!
Cover up – Steve Jobs has terminal cancer – trying to protect stock until he can sell enough of it for his family. Already noted that he has been dumping stock. As Steve goes so goes Apple. Sorry for you health problems Steve!
@macman
Karma is going to be a bitch with such insensitive feelings.
You probably dont know what the definition of irony is but when he outlives you then you may get it.
After reading the comments I feel much better now: there seem to be an equal quote of assholes and cynics around the whole beautiful planet.
Peace,
juraj
P. S. My best wishes to you, Steve.
My dad has a pancreatic disorder they dont call it cancer but a carcinoma and one of the problems he had was fat ran straight through him which caused him to lose tons of weight. It wasnt serious healthwise but did dramatically change his appearance. There are different types of rapid weightloss maybe this is the less serious fat processing kind.
LMAO @ Galvatron for writing those comments that were barely readable but he felt the need to correct the spelling of only one word in his very next post. That was pure comedy.
None of us really knows what is ailing Steve Jobs so I will take the man’s word on what he reports his ailment to be. I wish him a speedy recovery.
What I don’t get is why this blog is mystified by the timing of this letter. It’s patently clear why this was released today. Apple’s stock took a beating when that slimy blog Gizmodo unleashed the obviously false rumors of Steve Jobs health, causing Apple stock to tank temporarily.
What possibly better timing could there be than the day before the Keynote when Apple’s stock normally takes a beating, no matter how amazing or positive the announcements at the Keynote are?
I think there is a simple explanation to the timing! The poor man was on Vacation with his family and caught up with what is happening in the world only today. Just like the rest of us!
Like Eric said, Apples stocks were falling and they needed this to bring them back. I was just watching the news when they talked about this and they said stock holders want Jobs to stay as CEO, he had to release this.
I hope he takes the time to get better and let Phil (I think that his name) do the public appearances while he gets better.
The *wrong* thing to do is for _any_ company to keep the market in frozen-animation by not communicating as fully and consistently as possible. This resulted in Apple’s recent minor stock drop with all the unchecked speculation about Jobs’ health. The correct action for Apple, both ethically and economically, was to be forthcoming. If only more companies would follow suit and man-up.
I have had a friend that went through the same thing. Could not keep weight on. Turned out to be a hormone inbalance that was not discovered until he finally got an appointment at the mayo clinic.
Karma – And you will come back as a cow I guess?
Now for the intelligent people – this is not insensitive, just what is happening. I am a huge Mac fan, but it sounds like this is Elvis again. So in the future you will say it was all a cover up or aliens took him? Trust me what they (and every other company) release about a CEO is all about the Stock prices.
Instead of worrying about precious stock we should just wish him the best regardless of whether he is really sick or not. Some of you people need to grow up. If you have Apple stock and are so concerned then just sell it, end of story.
I have never been a fan of Apple, and lost quite a bit of respect for Apple last year (not just iPhone 3G-related), but this is a human being, so I wish you the best, Steve Jobs.