Steve Jobs didn’t actually become a billionaire thanks to leading Apple—but rather from his work with a film company he bought off George Lucas

The late billionaire Steve Jobs is known for being cofounder and CEO of Apple—and introducing the iPhone, iPad, and iMac to the world. However, his time at the computer company that turns 50 years old on Wednesday wasn’t what helped strike gold for his net worth. Jobs actually made the billions in 1995—three years before the iMac hit shelves—after using an unexpected career roadblock to his advantage, with a little help from Tom Hanks and Tim Allen.

“To infinity and beyond!” wasn’t just the catchphrase of Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear—it was the turning point that turned Steve Jobs into a billionaire.

After a power struggle that forced Jobs out of Apple in 1985, Jobs bought Lucasfilm’s computer graphics division the next year for $10 million. The seller was George Lucas, fresh off creating the Star Wars empire. That small acquisition would soon be renamed Pixar—and would change both Hollywood and Jobs’ fortune forever.

The company got off to a rocky start, with Jobs questioning whether to sell it multiple times, thanks in part to having to personally cover its monthly cash shortfall. But by 1995, Jobs believed Pixar was ready for primetime. In a week’s span in November, it would release its first major film, Toy Story, as well as launch an IPO.

Lawrence Levy, the company’s then-CFO, wrote that it........

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