An Inspiring Story About a Young Apple Fan’s Experience With Steve Jobs

By

A boy with Apple Computer logo haircut, attends the opening of the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue, Friday, May 19, 2006 in New York. Apple's newest store, on the same shopping strip as Prada, Tiffany & Co. and Saks Fifth Avenue, marks five years of a distinctive retail style that both reinforces the company's brand cachet and pays off handsomely. (AP Photo/Dima Gavrysh) ORG XMIT: NYDG108
A boy with Apple Computer logo haircut, attends the opening of the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue, Friday, May 19, 2006 in New York. Apple's newest store, on the same shopping strip as Prada, Tiffany & Co. and Saks Fifth Avenue, marks five years of a distinctive retail style that both reinforces the company's brand cachet and pays off handsomely. (AP Photo/Dima Gavrysh) ORG XMIT: NYDG108

Allen Paltrow was a 10 year old boy when he was invited to attent the grand opening of Apple’s flagship retail store in New York City. He was invited by Apple’s co-founder and then-CEO, Steve Jobs.

How did Allen earn such an invitation? He showed his enthusiasm for Apple by shaving the Apple logo into the back of his head. A chain of events led to him having one of the most amazing experiences of his life.

“Growing up I was a huge apple fan-boy (fine, still am.) The first NY apple store in Soho opening was probably the coolest thing that happened to me between the ages 6 and 12. For a while I would spend almost every weekend there. Every year for halloween I was a mac, and I made a habit of shaving the Apple logo into my head to celebrate every OS launch. “

Allen loved Apple as a young boy so much that his parents even let him get $800 in Apple stock. Allen heard that Steve Jobs reads email sent to his sjobs@apple.com address, so the 10 year old sent an, “enthusiastic and grammatically incorrect message including a picture of my shaved head.”

Allen being welcomed to the 'Cube'

Not only did Jobs end up reading the email, but he forwarded it to his head of PR, Katie. She then invited Allen to attent alongside tech pundits and journalists at the opening of the 5th Avenue ‘Cube’ store in New York City. He was later invited to tour Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino with his family. Allen remembers the moment as, “the high point of my childhood.”

"I shook his hand and didn't wash it for a long time."
The kid in the blue coat said, “I’m Apple’s biggest fan!” Steve replied, “What about that guy?”

Obviously, we at Cult of Mac have a special place in our hearts for Allen’s fandom and signature haircut. His story of meeting Steve Jobs inspires the Apple fan in all of us.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Allen Paltrow is now a 19 year old sophomore at Princeton studying computer science. He told the Journal that, “He [Steve Jobs] was the first celebrity of any type that I could recognize.”

Allen Plaltrow sporting the Apple logo in his hair at the 5th Avenue Apple store opening in 2006

Stories like this one are what make Apple special.

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.