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Abdulfattah John Jandali: The Forgotten Father of Steve Jobs

By Tech OutstandersPUBLISHED: February 6, 13:36UPDATED: February 6, 13:43
Abdulfattah John Jandali

Abdulfattah John Jandali, the obscured branch in the family tree of the man behind Apple Inc. Yes, you read it right. He is the unrecognised but biological father of the well-known personality Steve Jobs. His life remains underground, often behind the bright spotlight received by Steve Jobs.  Although adumbrated, Abdulfattah Jandali led a remarkable life, making a commendable transition from being a scholar to a well-known businessman in the United States. His life narrates the tale of emotional detachment and unfulfilled paternal bond while holding strongly onto ambitions. Although it's undeniable that Steve Jobs' adoptive parents raised him to be a household figure, his biological parents played an insignificant but contributory role in his accomplishments. 

This article tours down into the insights of Jandali's personal and professional voyage. It will shed light on Abdulfattah John Jandali's net worth, relationship, career and education.

Early life and Pursuits

Abdulfattah John Jandali was born into a wealthy Syrian Muslim family. His father was a well-esteemed businessman and landowner. He owed entire villages succeeding in providing a luxurious life to his children. Despite a privileged upbringing, Jandali turned out to be a hardworking, sincere and ambitious scholar. He pursued political science at the well-known University of Damascus before he secured a scholarship to study in the United States. 

He transferred to the University of Wisconsin where he continued his academic pursuits. At this point, destiny introduced him to the love of his life, Joanne Carole Schieble.

The Love Story That Led to Adoption 

Jandali and Schieble, Steve Jobs' mother and father, felt affection for each other while they were students at the University of Wisconsin. Although the couple was passionately in love, their story faced resistance from Schieble’s family. Societal norms and cultural differences played a rigid role in shaping decisions about their marriage and upcoming family. As Jandali belongs to a Syrian family, Schieble's father disapproves of their relationship.

The societal norms and disapproval of the family navigated the love towards injustice and despair. Their union, although brief, led to the birth of a son on February 24th, 1955. They named him Adbulfattah Jandali Jr. The couple’s circumstances restricted them from raising the child together and they placed him for adoption. Paul and Clara Job turned out to be Steve Jobs' adoptive parents changing his name to the present one.

Steve Jobs Adoptive Parents and Upbringing 

Steve Jobs was adopted and raised by a working-class couple from the mountains in California. Paul and Clara Jobs, being Steve Jobs' adoptive parents, played a pivotal role in defining Jobs' competence as a technical icon. Clara, who was of Armenian descent and Paul, a machinist and Coast Guard veteran, fostered Jobs' childhood with immense love and care shaping his overall development.

Schieble's initial hesitations to give her child to the couple later transitioned to delight and assurance as Steve Jobs' adoptive parents excelled at parenting, nurturing their son with emotional and mental intelligence. 

Abdulfattah John Jandali Net Worth and Career 

Abdulfattah Jandali's life passed through different phases from being an academic scholar to a well-known businessman. He is a multifaceted personality and tried multiple roles before settling down as a businessman. Jandali ventured from being a teacher to a corporate worker. At some point, he even worked in real estate and casino management, earning the designation of vice chairman of Boomtown Casino and Hotel in Reno, Nevada. 

Although his appropriate financial status has been a matter of debate and discussion, Abdulfattah John Jandali's net worth is known to be around 5 million dollars. This, however, fades in comparison to Steve Jobs’ prosperity, marking a net worth of around 10 billion dollars at the time of his death. 

The Relationship Between Steve Jobs and His Biological Father 

For most of his life, Jobs was unaware of his biological parents. However, in his later years, he discovered the hidden faces of his life, Abdulfattah Jandali and Joanne Schiable.

What's more surprising is that Jobs and Jandali unintentionally crossed paths. But destiny has been so unfair that John didn't discover his real father despite having visited his restaurant in Silicon Valley multiple times. And Jandali also failed to recognise that one of his permanent customers is his long-lost son.

Why did Steve Jobs Never Reconnect with Jandali?

Despite recognizing the identity of his biological father, Jobs refuses to meet him. It reflects his genuine love and connection with his adoptive parents. He identified Paul and Clara Jobs to be his true parents and dismantled any significance of his biological relations.

In one interview Steve Jobs  mentioned:

“They were my parents. I was completely theirs and they were completely mine.”

This firm belief meant the pain of abundance and despair. Also, it reflects Jobs' unwillingness to be in touch with his biological parents even during the final days of his father's grappling with cancer. 

Abdulfattah Jandali's Regrets and Reflections 

Since the birth of Steve, Jandali has insisted on raising his son and disapproved of the concept of adoption. When Jandali aged he kept finding himself battling with regrets of not being part of his own son's life. He expressed his emotions and willingness to reunite with his lost son. However, he denied the expectations of financial help and dreaded being perceived as a wealth seeker. 

Despite holding the regrets cultivated out of grief and unwanted separation, Abdulfattah Jandali remained proud of Steve's achievements. He always acknowledged the fact that his son drove the revolution in the technological landscape. 

Conclusion 

The story of Abdulfattah Jandali and his son, Steve Jobs, signifies the unfair deliberation of destiny. More like a forgotten father, Jandali accused his fate of being guilty of detachment. Their experience ignites respect for everlasting parenting and sympathy for inevitable separation. Although he never intended to connect with his biological parents, they portray unrecognised contributions behind his success. On the other hand, Steve Jobs's second parents radiate dedication towards their son. They reveal a meaningful yet conventional form of parenthood. 

Moreover, Abdulfattah John Jandali's net worth may never compete with the net worth of his son, but he will always be remembered as a forgotten name in the history of Apple Inc. The fable of Steve Jobs, his adoptive parents and his unrecognised association with Jandali is a multi-dimensional report to discuss. It can serve different purposes to different perspectives, keeping the love and ambitions alive forever.