[PraetorianGourd]

At the same time, it does speak to an almost childish obsession with recognition and being seen by the outside as the "most genius". I think the extreme vanity demonstrated by Mr. Jobs was both a huge factor in his success but also the thing, in some ways, held him back. "Held him back" is of course relative. He had more success than almost anyone in the modern technological era, but could he have had even more? Who knows.

But I also don't understand why Reddit commenters, or anyone, would care so much as to be "up in arms" over this or any anecdote about corporate gamesmanship.

[gjsman-1000]

Well, imagine if he didn't build this persona. Would he have succeeded in getting investments for NeXT? Would employees have worked for NeXT inspired by him? Would Apple have ever bought NeXT?

We don't know.

[ok123456]

People can get investments without showing signs of dark triad.

[mattl]

He was 22 at the time, so childish doesn't seem unreasonable.

[PraetorianGourd]

I did not mean it was not reasonable, but it was still childish. The more important point is that many anecdotes exist (with the low trust that we should have all in anecdotes) pointing to him never growing out of that.