Tony Fadell
Born 1969 · Age 56
Engineer, designer, entrepreneur and investor; led iPod engineering at Apple, co-creator of the iPhone, founder & former CEO of Nest Labs; inventor on 300+ patents and founder of investment firm Future Shape/Build Collective.
Compare Your Trajectory
See how your career milestones stack up against Tony Fadell and other industry leaders.
Life & Career Timeline
Born in Michigan
Anthony Michael Fadell born to a Lebanese father and Polish mother in Michigan.
Discovered computers; bought Apple II
At age 12 he discovered computers and caddied at a local golf club to raise money to buy his first Apple II.
Graduated Grosse Pointe South High School
Alumnus of Grosse Pointe South High School in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan (approximate graduation year based on birth year).
Founded Constructive Instruments (undergraduate)
While an undergraduate he built a small business, Constructive Instruments, producing MediaText multimedia composition software for children.
BS Computer Engineering, University of Michigan
Graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan.
Sold microprocessor startup to Apple (reported)
Reportedly sold a microprocessor startup to Apple around the time he left college (source: Achievement.org).
Joined General Magic
Joined Apple spinoff General Magic as a diagnostics engineer, later became systems architect; worked with Sony, Philips, Matsushita, Toshiba.
Developed handheld devices at General Magic
Worked on products such as the Sony Magic Link and the Motorola Envoy as part of the Magic Cap platform.
Hired by Philips; co-founded Mobile Computing Group
Joined Philips Electronics, co-founded the Mobile Computing Group and served as CTO and Director of Engineering.
Developed Philips Velo and Nino PDAs
Led development of Windows CE-based handheld devices (Velo and Nino) while at Philips.
Became VP of Philips Strategy & Ventures
Oversaw Philips' digital audio strategy, technology direction and investment portfolio (approximate late-1990s promotion).
Short stint at RealNetworks
Worked at RealNetworks for approximately six weeks after Philips and before starting his own company.
Founded Fuse
Founded Fuse (July 1999) to create a 'Dell of consumer electronics' and a hard-disk music player plus online music store.
Fuse failed to raise second round
Fuse failed to find a second round of funding; Fadell began exploring other paths to build his music player concept.
Built core iPod team & outsourced software
Assembled core iPod engineering team and engaged outside developers for the software components.
First meeting with Apple re: music player
Met Apple (January 2001) to present his small hard-disk player concept; Steve Jobs expressed interest.
Hired as contractor by Apple
Became an outside contractor (Feb 2001) to design Apple's audio strategy and the initial iPod design (codename P68/Dulcimer).
Joined Apple full-time to run iPod & Special Projects
Hired by Apple in April 2001 to assemble and run the iPod & Special Projects engineering group; recruited engineers from Fuse, General Magic and Philips.
iPod launched
Apple launched the first iPod in October 2001; Fadell led design and production teams responsible for the product.
Promoted to Vice President of iPod Engineering
Promoted to VP of iPod engineering; oversaw iPod hardware, software and accessories development.
Announced as successor to Jon Rubinstein (SVP of iPod Division)
Apple announced Oct 14, 2005 that Fadell would replace Jon Rubinstein as Senior Vice President of the iPod Division effective March 31, 2006.
Lost iPhone prototype on plane (anecdote)
Reported anecdote: once lost an unreleased prototype on a plane and searched for two hours until it was found lodged between seats (development-era anecdote).
Oversaw iPhone hardware/firmware & accessories (start)
From March 2006 began overseeing iPhone hardware, firmware and accessories development for the first three generations.
Became Senior VP of iPod Division
Took over as Senior Vice President of the iPod Division at Apple (effective March 31, 2006).
iPhone revealed by Steve Jobs (Fadell part of team)
Apple introduced the iPhone during a keynote at MacWorld (Jan 2007). Fadell was a core member of the design/development team.
Round-the-world stay in Paris; 18-month advisor to Jobs
Took family to live in Paris and completed an 18-month commitment as an advisor to Steve Jobs while transitioning from Apple.
Departure from Apple reported
Wall Street Journal broke the story on Nov 3, 2008 of Fadell's departure from Apple; he and his wife left Apple to focus on family and travel.
Developed Nest business plan in Paris
While living in Paris developed the business plan for a redesigned, connected, energy-saving thermostat (Nest concept).
Co-founded Nest Labs
Co-founded Nest Labs with Matt Rogers in Palo Alto, California (May 2010) to redesign household devices starting with the thermostat.
Announced Nest Learning Thermostat
Nest announced its first product, the Nest Learning Thermostat, in October 2011 (sensor-driven, Wi‑Fi enabled thermostat).
Vanity Fair Next Establishment recognition
Named to Vanity Fair's 2012 Next Establishment list as a trailblazer.
Received the Alva Award
Recipient of the Alva Award (2012), honored as 'the next great serial inventor'.
Multiple industry recognitions (2013)
Named to Business Insider's Top 75 Designers in Technology, Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People and CNBC's Top 50 Disruptors.
Named to Time 100 Most Influential People
Named one of Time's '100 Most Influential People in the World' (2014).
Golden Plate Award, American Academy of Achievement
Received the Golden Plate Award presented by George Lucas at the 2014 International Achievement Summit.
Nest acquired by Google (Alphabet) for $3.2B
Google announced an agreement to buy Nest Labs for $3.2 billion in cash (Jan 13, 2014). Nest continued to operate as a distinct brand under Fadell's leadership initially.
Nest spun out to operate alongside Google under Alphabet
As part of Google's reorganization (late 2015), Nest began operating alongside Google as a subsidiary of Alphabet.
Put in charge of Google Glass project (role)
Assigned to oversee the Google Glass effort during Google's reorganization (reported 2015).
Named Nest/iPhone/iPod among Time's 50 Most Influential Gadgets
Time named the Nest Learning Thermostat, the iPod and the iPhone among the '50 Most Influential Gadgets of All Time' (2016).
Co-founded / active with Actev Motors (passion project)
Listed as co-founder of Actev Motors (all-electric smart go-karts for children); described as a passion project tying to automobiles and parenting.
Resigned as CEO of Nest
Announced resignation as CEO of Nest Labs on June 3, 2016; subsequently left roles at Google/Alphabet and moved family back to Paris.
Operating Future Shape / Build Collective (venture fund)
Running a venture fund originally called Future Shape (now Build Collective) coaching founders and investing in deep tech (active by 2017).
Global High‑Tech Award from Armenia
Received the Global High‑Tech Award, State Award of Armenia for global contribution to humanity through high tech (2017).
Moved family to Bali for market study
Moved to Bali in 2018 for a yearlong study of Asian market opportunities, fintech and foodtech expansion.
Future Shape had funded 200+ startups (reported)
By 2019 Future Shape had funded more than 200 startups, including an early investment/advisory role to Impossible Foods.
Published book 'Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making'
Released Build (May 3, 2022); the book became a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller.
Principal at Build Collective (ongoing)
Continues operating Build Collective (formerly Future Shape), investing/advising deep-tech founders and teams worldwide.
300+ patents authored (milestone)
Public profiles state Fadell has authored more than 300 patents across his career (ongoing milestone).
Key Achievement Ages
Explore what Tony Fadell and others achieved at these notable ages:
Similar Trajectories
Biz Stone
Born 1974 · Age 51
American entrepreneur, co‑founder of Twitter, cofounder/CEO of Jelly, author, investor and advisor in multiple tech startups; creative director and product/brand leader in early blogging and social media.
Jon Oringer
Born 1974 · Age 51
American programmer, photographer, founder and long-time CEO (now executive chairman) of stock-media company Shutterstock; early internet entrepreneur credited with creating one of the web's first pop‑up blockers and founding multiple subscription-software startups.
Naval Ravikant
Born 1974 · Age 51
Indian-born American entrepreneur, angel investor, podcaster and co-founder/chairman of AngelList; early investor in Uber, Twitter, Foursquare, Postmates and others; founder/cofounder of Epinions, Genoa Corp, Vast.com, The Hit Forge, AngelList, MetaStable Capital, CoinList (spinout), Spearhead and Airchat.
Jason Fried
Born 1974 · Age 51
Designer, entrepreneur, co‑founder and CEO of 37signals/Basecamp; author and speaker known for small‑company, calm‑workplace philosophy and products such as Basecamp, HEY; co‑author of Getting Real, Rework, Remote.
Natasha Leggero
Born 1974 · Age 51
American stand-up comedian, actress, writer and voice actress known for Chelsea Lately, Another Period, stand-up specials and voice roles.
Charles Duhigg
Born 1974 · Age 51
American investigative journalist and non-fiction author; former New York Times reporter, Pulitzer Prize winner, and author of The Power of Habit, Smarter Faster Better, and Supercommunicators.