| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | John Sculley III |
| Date of Birth | April 6, 1939 |
| Age (2025) | 86 years |
| Place of Birth | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity / Race | White / Caucasian |
| Parents | Father: John Sculley Jr. (Wall Street lawyer), Mother: Margaret Blackburn Smith (horticulturist) |
| Siblings | Brother: David Sculley |
| Education | B.A. in Architectural Design from Brown University; MBA from Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania |
| Occupation / Roles | Former CEO of Apple (1983–1993); Former VP / President of PepsiCo; Entrepreneur, Investor |
| Notable Achievements | Led Apple in 1980s, applied marketing strategies from Pepsi to Apple; steered Apple during Macintosh era |
| Marriages / Spouse(s) | Ruth (m. 1960, divorced 1965), Carol Lee Adams (m. 1978, divorced 2011), Diane Gibbs Poli (m. 2013) |
| Children | Two: Meg Sculley, Jack Sculley |
| Religion | Not publicly confirmed / widely known |
| Recent News / Statements | Declared OpenAI as Apple’s first real competitor in decades; promoted shift from apps to agentic AI era; transitioned role at Zeta Global in 2025 |
| Controversies / Conflicts | Relations with Steve Jobs and power struggles at Apple; strategic and leadership criticisms during Apple’s product delays |
John Sculley III (born April 6, 1939) is an American business executive, entrepreneur, and investor best known for his tenure as CEO of Apple from 1983 to 1993. Prior to joining Apple, he had a distinguished career at PepsiCo. In recent years, he’s remained active in tech investments, delivered prominent public commentary on AI, and served in executive and advisory roles across startups and marketing ventures.
Early Life, Education & Background
John Sculley was born in New York City to a Wall Street lawyer father and an artistic mother, and spent parts of his youth in Bermuda and Manhattan’s Upper East Side. 0
He studied architecture at Brown University, then pivoted to business and earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Career & Legacy
From 1967 onward, John Sculley climbed the ranks at PepsiCo, eventually becoming President by 1977.
In 1983, Steve Jobs famously persuaded Sculley to leave Pepsi with the line: “Do you want to sell sugared water for the rest of your life or do you want to change the world?”
Under John Sculley leadership, Apple’s revenue grew rapidly (from hundreds of millions to several billions).
However, his tenure was also marked by conflicts with Steve Jobs, culminating in Jobs’ departure in 1985.
John Sculley left Apple in 1993 and thereafter invested broadly in high-tech startups (including Zeta Global, Mobeam, OpenPeak, and others) and held leadership roles in marketing and tech ventures.
Recent Activities & 2025 Highlights
In October 2025, John Sculley stated that OpenAI is Apple’s “first real competitor” in decades, and urged the company to pivot from apps to an “agentic” AI era.
He also expressed confidence in the AI-hardware devices being developed by Jony Ive in collaboration with OpenAI.
John Sculley recently shifted from his role as cofounder and vice chairman of Zeta Global to vice chairman emeritus.
Personal Life
John Sculley has been married three times: his first marriage (to Ruth) from 1960–1965; his second marriage to Carol Lee Adams from 1978 to 2011; and in 2013 he married Diane Gibbs Poli.
John Sculley has two children from previous marriages: Meg and Jack.
John Sculley religion is not publicly confirmed. Many sources do not list a faith affiliation.
Net Worth 2025 & Financial Insights
Estimates of John Sculley net worth vary widely:
- CelebrityNetWorth lists about US$80 million.
- GuruFocus estimates at least US$69 million from his holdings (notably in Zeta) as of late 2025.
- Benzinga reported a figure of US$151 million based on multiple company shareholdings.
The wide discrepancy is due to the value of private investments, unreported equity, and stock holdings in multiple companies.
Controversy & Criticism
John Sculley power struggle with Steve Jobs is one of the most discussed chapters in tech history. Their relationship reportedly never recovered.
He has also faced critiques over strategic decisions at Apple (e.g. delays, product direction) as falling behind in innovation in later years.
Quick Facts Table
| Full Name | John Delaney Sculley III |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 6, 1939 |
| Age (2025) | 86 years |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Brown University (BA), Wharton School (MBA) |
| Famous Roles | CEO of Apple (1983–1993), President of PepsiCo (1977–1983), Investor & Entrepreneur |
| Spouse(s) | Ruth (m.1960–1965), Carol Lee Adams (m.1978–2011), Diane Gibbs Poli (m.2013–present) |
| Children | Meg Sculley, Jack Sculley |
| Net Worth (estimate in 2025) | US$ 69M – US$ 151M (varied estimates) |
| Recent Remark | Called OpenAI Apple’s first real competitor; advocates shift to agentic AI era |
FAQs About John Sculley
Who is John Sculley?
John Sculley is an American businessman, entrepreneur, and former CEO of Apple Inc. He is best known for his leadership at Apple from 1983 to 1993, during which he helped popularize the Macintosh and clashed with co-founder Steve Jobs.
What is John Sculley’s real name?
John Sculley full name is John Sculley III.
How old is John Sculley?
As of 2025, John Sculley is 86 years old. He was born on April 6, 1939.
Where was John Sculley born?
John Sculley was born in New York City, United States.
What is John Sculley’s nationality and ethnicity?
John Sculley is American by nationality and of Caucasian ethnicity.
Who are John Sculley’s parents?
John Sculley father, John Sculley Jr., was a Wall Street lawyer, and his mother, Margaret Blackburn Sculley, was a horticulturist.
Does John Sculley have any siblings?
Yes, John Sculley has a brother named Arthur Sculley, who is also involved in business and finance.
Is John Sculley married?
Yes, John Sculley is married to Diane Sculley. He has been previously married twice before.
Does John Sculley have children?
Yes, John Sculley has several children from his previous marriages, though their names are largely kept private.
What religion does John Sculley practice?
John Sculley was raised in a Christian family, though he is known to keep his religious beliefs private.
What businesses has John Sculley been involved in?
Beyond Apple, John Sculley co-founded Zeta Global, a marketing technology company, and has invested in several startups in healthcare, AI, and digital marketing sectors.
What is John Sculley’s current role?
As of 2025, John Sculley serves as Vice Chairman Emeritus at Zeta Global after retiring from his executive role.
What is John Sculley’s net worth?
As of 2025, John Sculley’s estimated net worth is around $80 million, accumulated from his tech investments and corporate leadership roles.
What is John Sculley known for?
John Sculley is widely known for leading Apple during a critical growth phase in the 1980s and for his famous conflict with Steve Jobs that led to Jobs' temporary departure from the company.
What recent news involves John Sculley?
In October 2025, John Sculley made headlines for stating that OpenAI is Apple’s “first real competitor in decades,” emphasizing Apple’s need to adapt to the new agentic AI era.
Has John Sculley been involved in any controversies?
John Sculley most notable controversy was his power struggle with Steve Jobs in the 1980s, which resulted in Jobs leaving Apple in 1985. The event remains one of Silicon Valley’s most discussed corporate clashes.
About the Author
Praise Graciebby is a content creator on The StarProfile, where she writes celebrity biographies, sports updates, gossip, and trending news. With a passion for entertainment and lifestyle journalism, Praise provides readers with simple, accurate, and up-to-date profiles of public figures worldwide.
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