Steve Jobs Rumored Terminally Ill; Shares Fall

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Rumors that Apple CEO Steve Jobs was spotted leaving a cancer clinic in Palo Alto have had a negative impact on Apple shares.

Late last month Apple announced that its CEO, Steve Jobs, would be taking a medical leave of absence so he could focus on his health. The reason for his leave was not elaborated upon, but, as usual, the announcement affected shares and sparked a debate about whether or not Apple could run without Steve Jobs. If the company couldn’t function without him, some believed shareholders had a right to know the more intimate details of his condition so they could reevaluate their options. However, as always, Apple and Jobs kept schtum about what was wrong.

Today fresh reports from Radar Online say the National Enquirer (we’ll pause while you swallow the whole salt-lick) spotted Jobs leaving the Stanford Cancer Center center in his home town of Palo Alto. The report in the National Enquirer carries with it the headline “Apple Boss 6 Weeks to Live,” while Radar Online claims it has confirmed he is receiving treatment there. Neither publication seems to have information as to whether Jobs is receiving treatment related to past illnesses (a liver transplant in 2009, or surgery to combat a rare form of pancreatic cancer seven years ago) or a new condition.

The images don’t seem to be available online (at least, not at time of writing), but despite this, Apple shares are once again hurting because of the news. Cult of Mac reports that Apple stock is currently down about three points in after-hours trading and that it’s likely to take a big hit tomorrow when the markets reopen.

Jane McEntegart
83 Comments Comment from the forums
  • restatement3dofted
    The National Enquirer is still at the base of all of this, which would certainly counsel against betting on the accuracy of the report, but a lot of other major news outlets are picking this one up, as well. Time will tell, I suppose.
    Reply
  • plznote
    Like it or not he had a huge impact on society.
    Hope he recovers.
    Reply
  • waynewarrior78
    I hope this is all a rumor...get well soon Mr. Jobs.
    Reply
  • liveonc
    I take all the jokes back, he made some really nice stuff, & I hope it's not true, because he made some really nice stuff...
    Reply
  • Netherscourge
    I hope this isn't true.
    Reply
  • Immoral Medic
    This really sucks for Apple if you think about it. He was seen leaving a cancer clinic causes shares to fall. What will happen if he dies? Apple dies?
    Reply
  • Randomacts
    immoral medicThis really sucks for Apple if you think about it. He was seen leaving a cancer clinic causes shares to fall. What will happen if he dies? Apple dies?It will prob become another Dell.
    Reply
  • Netherscourge
    The problem is that Steve is SUCH a power-monger that the whole company thrives and suffers on his whim.

    There is no legit second in command. We don't even know if he has a successor. He might take Apple with him to... well... nevermind.

    Get well Steve!!!
    Reply
  • nottheking
    This reminds me of the spoof someone did where they circulated (faked) rumors of Jobs having a heart attack a few years... Cut Apple's stock price by something like 66%. It wouldn't surprise me if some unscrupulous investors would try something like that, circulating fake news to make a quick few million bucks by short-selling Apple's stock. Doing that would be flagrantly illegal, yes, (if caught, they'd be fighting Bernie Madoff for the top bunk) but that hasn't stopped investors before, now has it?

    My opinion is that he's probably fine. If he actually DID go to a cancer center, chances are it was something like an "early catch with 100% chance of survival," since those like him have the resources and know-how to go get themselves checked regularly. All told, it might be something like a tiny patch of skin cancer (save for Melanoma, it's never life-threatening if caught early) possibly caused due to radiation exposure from his reality distortion field.

    Jane McEntegart(we’ll pause while you swallow the whole salt-lick)Kudos to you for demonstrating you're aware of the potentially dubious nature here. Too many (even respectable mainstream) news sites probably are parroting it without realizing the primary source is a tabloid.
    Reply
  • illo
    immoral medicThis really sucks for Apple if you think about it. He was seen leaving a cancer clinic causes shares to fall. What will happen if he dies? Apple dies?
    apple pretty much went into cardiac arrest after he left in the 80's or whenever it was. it was only when he came back that he pulled apple out of the ground.

    as for the shares dropping it makes sense, without Jobs apple just sells expensive stuff.
    Reply