The incredible shrinking Apple CEO

Apple PR has finally come up with an unconvincing explanation for Apple CEO Steve Jobs's all-too-evident skinniness: Jobs was suffering from a "common bug" when he spoke at Apple's WWDC event, a spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal. Spin aside, there's no hiding the fact that Apple CEO Steve Jobs used to have more heft a decade ago. Some continue to worry about his brush with cancer, or an overly strict diet imposed by wife Laurene Powell-Jobs, or a case of manorexia. But it's not like Jobs slimmed down overnight. The ever-shrinking Jobs in pictures, from 1998 to 2008, below.

A healthy Steve Jobs with a bad beard in 1998.

The incredible shrinking Apple CEO

In 2003, Jobs could have used a "bro."

The incredible shrinking Apple CEO

Secretly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003, Jobs's weight loss was evident in 2004.

The incredible shrinking Apple CEO

By 2005, he looked healthy again.

The incredible shrinking Apple CEO

Notice the contrast between Jobs and Nike CEO Mark Parker in 2006.

The incredible shrinking Apple CEO

By 2007, Jobs's frame verged on I've-fallen-and-I-can't-get-up frailty.

The incredible shrinking Apple CEO

Jobs during Monday's keynote.

The incredible shrinking Apple CEO





(Photos by AP/Susan Ragan, Richard Lewis, Mary Altaffer, Alastair Grant, Paul Sakuma)