This Day in Tech History: When Microsoft Saved Apple – A Tech Turning Point

28 years ago today, on August 6, 1997, the unthinkable happened: Microsoft invested $150 million in Apple—its long-time rival—to help keep the struggling company alive.

At the time, Apple was on the brink of collapse. Its market share was dwindling, its leadership was scattered, and the future looked bleak. But that all changed when Steve Jobs returned to the company and struck a surprising deal with none other than Bill Gates.

The Deal That Shocked the Tech World

At the 1997 Macworld Expo, Jobs took the stage and announced the partnership, which included:

A $150 million non-voting investment from Microsoft
A commitment from Microsoft to continue supporting Microsoft Office for Mac
An agreement to settle longstanding legal disputes
Making Internet Explorer the default browser on Macs (at the time)

To many, it seemed like Apple had "lost" by turning to its biggest competitor. But in reality, this was a strategic lifeline—and a sign of what was to come.