In 1996, Apple acquired NeXT, which marked the return of Steve Jobs to the company he co-founded. This event led to significant changes at Apple and ultimately shaped its future direction. Key figures associated with Jobs during this period include Bill Atkinson, an early Apple employee who worked on Macintosh graphics, and Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari, who inspired Jobs's entrepreneurial spirit.

Another important personal connection was Chrisann Brennan, Jobs's high school girlfriend and mother of his daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs. Born in 1978, Lisa became a writer in New York City. Bill Campbell, who served as Apple's marketing chief during Jobs's initial years, continued to be a crucial confidant and board member after Jobs's return. These individuals played significant roles in Jobs's life and career, as detailed in Walter Isaacson's biography, "Steve Jobs."