Filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission revealed this week that Mr Jobs had received about ten million Apple shares as part of a restricted stock plan. But almost half of the award was withheld by Apple to pay $259.7 million (£148.4 million)owed by the chief executive in taxes. “A stock grant of this size attracts a substantial levy,” an Apple source said.

After the share sale Mr Jobs is left with a 5.4 million-share stake in Apple worth about $323 million and 120,000 fully vested share options received in 1997. Mr Jobs, who co-founded Apple in 1976 and Pixar, the film studio, in 1986, is said by Forbes magazine to have a fortune of more than $4 billion.

Apple shares were down slightly at $59.50 in midday trading on Wall Street.

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