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A former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant is currently hospitalized in Mexico after feeling ill. Steve Wozniak, who competed on season 8 of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2009, was in Mexico to speak at a business forum.
Wozniak competed with Karina Smirnoff, noted The Hollywood Reporter. The duo did not last long, and their performances got quite low scores. Despite that, he brought 23 handwritten notes to what he expected would be his elimination appearance. The notes were thank-you letters to his fellow competitors.
Here’s what you need to know:
Steve Wozniak Felt Ill After a Speech
I remember when Steve Jobs and I sold the first Apple computer for $40. Crazy right😂 http://t.co/o4eMRhlia2
According to TMZ, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is undergoing tests at a hospital in Mexico City. He was at the World Business Forum in the area and was slated to present a speech at the forum on Wednesday. However, at some point in the day, he began feeling unwell.
The media outlet indicates Wozniak shared with his wife that he felt “strange,” and she became worried when other odd symptoms presented themselves. She then urged her husband to get checked out at the hospital.
While Wozniak initially tried to avoid going to the hospital, his wife was too concerned to let it go. Initial reports from TMZ indicate Wozniak is in the emergency room at the hospital. It is believed he is experiencing vertigo, but additional tests are being run.
As Wozniak gets checked out, people who work for him are flying via private jet to Mexico City. Their intent is to check on him in person and facilitate his return to the United States if he needs additional medical treatment.
Wozniak’s Condition Is not Fully Known Yet
Reuters shares that local media outlets have reported Wozniak was taken to the hospital due to concerns of a possible stroke.
Wozniak, 73, built his first computer at the age of 13, shared Computer History. He grew up in San Jose, California, and attended the University of California at Berkeley where he received a bachelor’s of science in computer science and electrical engineering.
When Wozniak was 19, he connected with Steve Jobs for the first time. Jobs, who was 14 at the time, worked with Wozniak to develop a way to hack into a telephone network where they were then able to make toll-free calls.
The two continued to work on projects together, and they were mostly having fun in the early days of their collaboration. CNBC noted the pair founded Apple Computers, Inc. when Wozniak was 26 and Jobs was 21. They officially launched the company in 1976 and developed the Apple i. The Apple ii came next and it grew from there.
While Apple made both Wozniak and Jobs quite rich, that was never Wozniak’s goal. He was more interested in being in computer engineering than making big money. “I loved it, and I didn’t want to ever be corrupted by big money,” he once said.
In May 2023, Money Inc. reported Wozniak’s net worth to be $100 million. He has continued to pursue ways to utilize his love for computer engineering. The focus of Wozniak’s speech at the World Business Forum in Mexico City was related to the future of technology.