Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Larry Ellison have one thing in common: All were adopted – the unknown lives of billionaires

The world’s most successful entrepreneurs often captivate us with their business acumen, vision, and relentless drive, but there’s one factor in the early lives of Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Larry Ellison that many people overlook: they were all adopted. Steve Jobs, the Apple co-founder, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, and Larry Ellison, the Oracle co-founder, each grew up in adoptive families that provided stability and guidance.

While adoption is not the sole reason for their extraordinary achievements, it may have shaped their resilience, ambition, and determination to succeed against the odds. These stories offer a glimpse into the unknown early lives of billionaires.

Steve Jobs: Parents who adopted him nurtured his creativity

Steve Jobs was born to Abdulfattah Jandali, a Syrian student pursuing a PhD, and Joanne Schieble, an American Catholic of Swiss-German descent. Because Joanne’s parents opposed the relationship and pregnancy, she opted for a closed adoption.

The couple originally selected to adopt Jobs backed out after learning the baby was a boy. He was eventually adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs, a working-class couple who promised to save for his college education.

Jobs was fiercely loyal to his adoptive parents, viewing them as his true family. Throughout his life, he often referred to his biological parents as “my sperm and egg bank.” The nurturing environment provided by Paul and Clara helped cultivate his creativity, curiosity, and relentless pursuit of innovation, which later defined his career at Apple and Pixar.

Jeff Bezos: From Jeffrey Jorgensen to Amazon founder

Born Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen, Jeff Bezos experienced early family instability. His teenage mother, Jacklyn, divorced his biological father when Jeff was just 17 months old, leaving her to raise him alone under difficult circumstances. At age four, Jacklyn married Miguel “Mike” Bezos, a Cuban immigrant who adopted Jeff and gave him the surname Bezos. Mike Bezos became a guiding force in Jeff’s life, instilling discipline, a strong work ethic, and a love for learning.

Jeff has often credited Mike for providing the stability and support that allowed him to explore his interests in science, technology, and entrepreneurship. The adoption offered him a second chance at a stable family environment, which may have contributed to the resilience and strategic thinking that later fueled the creation of Amazon.

Larry Ellison: Adopted by his aunt and uncle, shaping a self-reliant tech titan

Larry Ellison’s early life was marked by health and family challenges. Born in New York City to a 19-year-old single mother, he contracted pneumonia as an infant.

His mother made the difficult decision to give him up for adoption, and he was taken in by his mother’s aunt and uncle, Lillian and Louis Ellison, in Chicago. Larry was aware of being adopted but fully grasped the reality at age 12. Lillian provided warmth and nurturing, while Louis was often stern and distant, creating a complex family dynamic.

Growing up in modest circumstances on Chicago’s South Side, Ellison developed a sense of independence, ambition, and self-reliance that would later drive his success at Oracle.

He only met his biological mother at age 48, which reinforced the sense of self-made achievement that characterizes his public persona.

Dave Thomas: Overcoming early hardships to create Wendy’s

Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s, also had an adoption story that shaped his values and vision. Born Rex David Thomas, he was adopted as an infant by Rex and Auleva Thomas in New Jersey. Despite losing his adoptive mother at age five and facing further family losses, he developed resilience and empathy. His early experiences inspired him to advocate for adoption later in life, leading to the creation of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which helps children in foster care find permanent homes.

Dave’s story demonstrates how adoption, combined with love and support, can nurture determination, compassion, and a lifelong commitment to giving back.