Laurene Powell Jobs is an American businesswoman and philanthropist, the billionaire Founder and President of Emerson Collective, a social change organization. Her colossal wealth is inherited, tied to the equity stakes in Apple Inc. and The Walt Disney Company left by her late husband, Steve Jobs (d. 2011), the co-founder of Apple.

Powell Jobs holds a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business (1991). Her career is defined by philanthropic activism and social investment (leveraging her wealth for policy change in education, immigration, and environmental justice).

• Emerson Collective (Founder & President): The core private asset, a social change organization that uses philanthropy, policy, and venture capital to drive social reform (immigration, education, environmental justice).
• Apple/Disney Heir: The foundational source of her wealth, tied to her inherited 4 percent stake in Disney and massive Apple stock (from the Pixar sale).
• Social Activism: Her structural focus is on social justice, gun violence prevention (supporting Giffords), and advancing educational opportunity (founding College Track).
• Investment Strategy: Her model blends philanthropy, venture capital, and political advocacy to achieve systemic change (L3C model).

Laurene Powell Jobs's strategic genius was her decision to structure her wealth for social impact through the Emerson Collective (established in 2004)—an innovative, non-profit/for-profit hybrid model. Her structural contribution is immense: advancing systemic policy reform in contentious areas like immigration and education (founding College Track in 1997, which helps low-income students prepare for college).

She acquired a majority stake in The Atlantic magazine in 2017 (a major media acquisition) and invests in high-impact ventures. Her wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term appreciation of her Apple and Disney equity stakes, cementing her status as one of the world's most powerful philanthropic and social investors.

Laurene Powell Jobs is a major global philanthropist. Her structural social impact is tied to the Emerson Collective's work in advancing educational equity (College Track) and immigration reform (TheDream.US). Her $50 million commitment to combat gun violence (supporting Giffords) is a major structural contribution to national policy debates.

Her structural contribution is tied to her belief in leveraging business strategies and political advocacy to achieve systemic social change at scale.

Laurene Powell Jobs maintains the professional, intellectual style of a philanthropist and policy advocate. Her attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. Her aesthetic reflects stability and intellectual authority, typical of a leader in global social policy.

Residing in Palo Alto, California, her luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from her multi-billion dollar fortune. Her life is dedicated to social reform, policy advocacy, and the long-term stewardship of the Jobs legacy.