The film begins in 2001, featuring Steve Jobs unveiling the iPod during an Apple Town Hall meeting. From here, it transitions back to 1974 at Reed College. Having dropped out due to exorbitant tuition fees, Jobs still attends classes under the mentorship of Dean Jack Dudman, who's taken a special interest in him. Among his pursuits, Jobs becomes captivated by a calligraphy course. During this time, he reconnects with his friend Daniel Kottke, who expresses excitement upon discovering Jobs holding a copy of Be Here Now by Baba Ram Dass. This encounter, combined with Jobs' experimental experiences with LSD, leads them on a transformative journey to India.
Fast forward to 1976, we find Jobs back in Los Altos, California, living with his adoptive parents, Paul and Clara. While working at Atari, he forms a partnership with his friend Steve Wozniak, who just created a personal computer known as the Apple I. They decide to establish their own company, Apple Computer, despite the existence of another company called Apple Records, owned by The Beatles, prompting playful jabs from Wozniak about Jobs' preference for Bob Dylan over them.
Wozniak demonstrates the Apple I at the Homebrew Computer Club, leading to a pivotal contract with Paul Terrell. As he seeks approval from his mechanically-inclined father, Jobs transforms the family garage into a workspace for their nascent enterprise. Adding a talented team including Ron Eldard and others, they strive to create the Apple I. Despite initial disappointment from Terrell, they secure funding from Mike Markkula, allowing them to progress.
Together, Jobs and Wozniak unveil the Apple II at the 1977 West Coast Computer Faire, a groundbreaking success that catapults them into fame. However, with newfound success comes estrangement; Jobs distances himself from longtime friends, including Kottke and high school girlfriend [Chris-Ann Brennan](Ahna O'Reilly), especially after she reveals her pregnancy. Eventually, she gives birth to Lisa Brennan-Jobs, whom Jobs adamantly denies as his daughter. In an effort to stabilize the company, he recruits John Sculley as CEO.
As Jobs’ behavior spirals, he experiences tensions within the company, notably leading to his removal from the Lisa project to oversee the Macintosh Group. Employed with a talented crew, including [Bill Atkinson](Nelson Franklin), Jobs pushes out the group's original leader, Jef Raskin. Although the Macintosh launches with significant acclaim in 1984, by 1985, he is ousted by Sculley.
The narrative then jumps to 1996, showcasing Jobs’ personal evolution; he is now married to [Laurene Powell Jobs](Abby Brammell) and acknowledges Lisa, who lives with him. They have a son, Reed. Running NeXT, Jobs is approached by CEO Gil Amelio to consult for Apple. Soon, he's reinstated as CEO, dismissing Amelio and [Markkula](Dermot Mulroney), who had abandoned him years ago. Jobs immerses himself in the innovations led by Jonathan Ive and resumes the transformation of Apple. The film culminates with Jobs recording the dialogue for the Think Different commercial in 1997. The credits close with original photos of key characters, including Jobs himself and those depicted in the film.
