Jobs built multiple multi-billion dollar companies that redefined innovation. He (and his team) created the personal computer market, transformed it again 20 years later, transformed telecom 'overnight' while slaying RIM and Nokia with one swoop, and in many regards — introduced new childhood memories that will not be forgotten for decades, like Snow White's glass slipper. The MySpace abomination barely left a wrinkle in history's culture.
I'm not one to hate on entrepreneurs but Zuck has a long way to go. I feel like there needs to be a history book for new entrepreneurs who think the glorified web startup guys are Gods among men. Most of the Gods aren't socializing at this weeks Startup FunFunFun HappyHour Fest 5000.
Also, I'm not sure I'd call him a Valley success story. Zynga is company number 4. The last three all made him some money without going anywhere. Like the article's author, I think Zynga is on the same path to long-term irrelevance.
Few in the Valley look back on the wreckage of Bubble 1.0 and think of those companies as success stories, however much they enriched their founders.
A: Not being Mark Pincus.
He could run as a certain abrasive ex-Senator's Veep. "Get Santorum on your Pincus in 2016." I say this as one who desperately wanted to see this ex-Senator win the Republican nomination (I dislike the Republican Party that much at this point) and choose Boehner as his running mate.
The article cites several examples of CEOs with similar "zeal", none of whom are dead, and none of whom are known for being unbearable dicks.
It's usually a big can of worms to judge an entrepreneur by anything other than his success. Besides -- what is so wrong about Pincus wanting to get rich?