Meet the 14-Year-Old Who Became Apple's Longest-Serving Employee! Chris Espinosa

Chris Espinosa, who started his career with Apple at just 14 years old, holds the title of the company's longest-serving employee. His journey began in 1976 when he took on a part-time role at the fledgling tech company, which was then operating out of a garage. By the time Apple was officially incorporated in 1977 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, Espinosa had earned the distinction of employee number eight.

Espinosa's first significant task was testing the Apple II BASIC OS during his Christmas holidays, setting the stage for a long and impactful career at Apple. When Jobs left Apple in 1985 to found NeXT, Espinosa stepped up as the senior employee, maintaining this status even after Jobs returned following Apple's acquisition of NeXT in 1997.

In interviews over the years, Espinosa has offered a fascinating glimpse into the early days of Apple and its foundational principles. He recounted the three key marketing principles established by Apple in 1978: empathy, focus, and impute. "There were three words. Empathy: know your customer, know what they want. Focus: do fewer things better. And impute: always carry value in everything you do. Those are things that we do today," Espinosa explained. These principles have guided Apple's approach to its products and customers from the start.

Espinosa has also shared stories about Jobs' legendary micromanagement style. He described Jobs as a "maniacal genius" whose job was to "stir up everything." According to Espinosa, Jobs would "not leave anything alone" and had zero tolerance for "inadequacy or compromise." These anecdotes offer a unique perspective on the leadership style of one of the tech industry's most influential figures.

Earlier this year, Espinosa made headlines when he identified a fake vintage Apple employee badge being sold on eBay for over $1,000. The badge was purported to belong to Sherry Livingston, who was supposedly employee number 10. Espinosa debunked this claim by pointing out discrepancies in the typewritten font and the paper used for the badge. He noted, "That wasn't taken with a Polaroid with a flash. The laminate dimensions are all wrong." Despite his efforts, the item was sold.

Chris Espinosa's incredible journey with Apple underscores his dedication and significant contributions to the company. As Apple's longest-serving employee, his experiences and insights continue to shape the legacy of one of the world's most iconic tech companies.