Chapter 403 Apple Goes Public, Making a Name for Himself in America
"You're issuing 4.6 million shares. Are you confident they'll all be subscribed?" Lin Haoran asked curiously.
"Of course! Although Apple has only been around for five or six years, we have built a strong reputation in the United States and have a large fan base. Over the past two months, we've toured from the West Coast to the East Coast, and in every city, we've received tremendous support. Judging by their reactions, we won't have any trouble getting all the shares subscribed," Jobs answered confidently.
"I'm very optimistic about Apple too. Otherwise, I wouldn't have invested back then!" Lin Haoran said with a laugh.
"Since Mr. Lin believes in Apple, as the founder and chairman, I won't let you down. This time, I want your investment to return more than tenfold!" Jobs said with great spirit.
If the 4.6 million shares were fully subscribed, even without any price increase, Apple's market capitalization would be close to 1.3 billion dollars. Based on Lin Haoran's stake, his shares would already be worth over 100 million dollars — indeed a tenfold return.
Of course, it was uncertain how much the stock would rise once trading began.
Lin Haoran also wasn't sure whether his early investment would alter the market's reaction to the IPO.
"I'm looking forward to it!" Lin Haoran laughed heartily.
"Once we go public, we'll raise about 101.2 million dollars. With this funding, Apple will be financially secure for the next few years," Jobs continued, his face full of expectation.
Indeed, selling 4.6 million shares at $22 each would bring in 101.2 million dollars.
Such a huge influx of capital would provide a solid financial foundation for Apple's next stage of growth.
However, even with such funding, Lin Haoran knew from his past life's memories that Apple's path wouldn't be smooth.
Jobs would later be sidelined by Apple's executives and eventually ousted from the company he founded, retaining only an honorary title.
Ultimately, Jobs resigned and left Apple.
Yet, the company without him soon stumbled into unprecedented difficulties, and it was only after years of struggle that Apple's management realized how vital he was.
Eventually, they had to invite Jobs back, and under his leadership, Apple made a historic comeback, launching iconic products and achieving explosive growth, becoming a titan of the global tech industry.
But that was still many years away. Lin Haoran had no intention of interfering.
Even if Jobs were forced out, Lin Haoran would not intervene to support him.
He understood that Jobs, young and prideful, needed that period of hardship to mature — it was part of the legend that would eventually lead to his triumphant return.
Thus, no matter what happened at Apple, Lin Haoran had decided: he would remain purely an investor.
He spent over two hours at Apple's New York office, exchanging ideas with Apple's leadership and gaining valuable insights.
Through their conversations, Lin Haoran gained a deeper understanding of Apple's position in this era.
Although Apple's product line was not as diverse as it would later become, the success of products like the Apple II had already carved out a significant place in the personal computer market.
Thanks to their outstanding performance and unique design, Apple products had earned strong consumer loyalty, helping Apple secure its foothold.
Today, Apple's technical strength and design philosophy were widely recognized.
Their innovation extended beyond hardware to software and operating systems.
For example, their Mac OS was leading the industry, offering a more user-friendly interface than competitors.
Even tech giants like IBM and HP found it hard to match Apple in this regard.
This spirit of innovation was the true reason Apple attracted so much attention during its roadshow.
By evening, Lin Haoran joined Jobs and others for a celebratory dinner at a restaurant near Times Square, marking the eve of Apple's public debut.
After dinner, Lin Haoran returned to his hotel with his bodyguards, while Jobs and the Apple team, maintaining their frugal startup spirit, stayed at a more economical hotel nearby.
That night, Lin Haoran found it difficult to sleep.
Even though he had weathered many major events in Hong Kong — including taking control of giants like Land Holdings Group — this was different.
He was about to witness the IPO of Apple, a company that would become a global icon.
Compared to Land Holdings Group, Apple's future achievements would be in a different league.
Now, he was about to witness — and participate in — this historic moment.
It was exciting.
It wasn't until past 11 p.m. that he finally drifted into a light sleep.
Before he knew it, it was 7:30 a.m.
Awoken by his alarm clock — which he had set to ensure he didn't miss this crucial day — Lin Haoran got up, stretching and shaking off the remnants of sleep.
After washing up, he had the hotel staff deliver breakfast to his room.
He picked out a well-fitted suit, neatly styled his hair, and stood in front of the mirror until he was satisfied.
After all, today would be heavily covered by the media. As a major investor in Apple, he had to look sharp.
By the time he stepped out, his aides, Li Weidong and Li Weiguo, were already waiting patiently.
"Let's eat quickly. We need to head out soon!" Lin Haoran said with a smile.
The IPO ceremony was scheduled to start at 9 a.m. — he needed to be there early.
While eating a sandwich and flipping through the morning newspapers, he saw exactly what he expected: multiple business and general newspapers had major articles on Apple's IPO.
Clearly, this was a highly anticipated event.
At 8:20 a.m., Lin Haoran left the hotel with his bodyguards, heading straight to NASDAQ.
They arrived at 8:30 a.m.
Jobs and the others were already there — and visibly even more excited than Lin Haoran.
As soon as Lin Haoran appeared, Jobs came over to greet him enthusiastically.
"Mr. Jobs, I'm not late, am I?" Lin Haoran joked.
"Not at all! Wozniak and the others are inside. Come, I'll take you in," Jobs replied, shaking his head.
Under Jobs' guidance, Lin Haoran was led into NASDAQ's VIP lounge.
The room was already filled with Apple employees, investors, and a crowd of media reporters.
The atmosphere was a mix of nervous energy and exhilaration.
As time ticked closer, the buzz in the trading hall grew more intense.
Reporters were busy capturing every moment, their cameras aimed at Jobs, Lin Haoran, Steve Wozniak, Mike Markkula, Rod Holt, and others who would soon ring the opening bell.
Finally, at 9:00 a.m., following the host's announcement, the IPO ceremony officially began.
Standing side by side in front of the iconic NASDAQ bell, Jobs, Lin Haoran, and the Apple leadership team together struck the bell with resounding force.
The crisp, sonorous ringing echoed throughout the trading floor — and even reached Times Square, drawing curious gazes from passersby.
It was as if they were announcing to the world: a new era had begun for Apple.
The media burst into action.
Cameras clicked furiously, capturing this historic moment.
In the photographs, Lin Haoran stood firmly to Jobs' right, smiling with calm joy.
Today, all of America's major news outlets were present: The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, Silicon Valley Today, CNN, and more.
Today, Lin Haoran would make a name for himself across America.
Once the IPO event was reported, his influence in the U.S. would only grow.
That, too, was one of the benefits Apple's IPO had brought him.
As the bell rang, Apple's stock officially began trading.
Lin Haoran and the others remained inside the trading hall, watching the flurry of activity.
Now, all that remained was the burning question:
Where would Apple's final closing price land?
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