Steve Jobs, Apple's innovative leader who developed electronic gadgets that transformed the global music, mobile phone, and computing industries, died on Wednesday at the age of 56.
Apple said late Wednesday it has lost a "visionary and creative genius," and that the world has lost an "amazing human being."
Jobs had suffered from a rare form of pancreatic cancer since 2003, and underwent a liver transplant in 2009. He resigned as CEO of Apple in August saying he could no longer meet his duties as the technology giant's top executive.
Jobs' family said he died peacefully on Wednesday, surrounded by his loved ones at his home in Palo Alto, California.
His death was met with an immediate outpouring of condolences by world leaders and fans alike.