Bill Gates Says Steve Jobs Was An Expert At 'Casting Spells', Saving Apple From Certain Death

Bill Gates may be a tech icon, but he's also a really humble man -- as we are finding out in his post-Microsoft time.

And though Apple has been a huge rival for Microsoft over the years, he can't help but praise the management style of late CEO Steve Jobs, practically calling him a wizard in a recent interview.

Reuters

In an interview with CNN, Gates equated the iconic Apple co-founder to a Harry Potter character, saying he was a master of "casting spells" to keep Apple on track, and employees working hard.

"I was like a minor wizard because he would be casting spells, and I would see people mesmerized, but because I'm a minor wizard, the spells don't work on me," said Gates said.

"I have yet to meet any person who in terms of picking talent, hyper-motivating that talent who could match him," Gates said. "He brought some incredibly positive things along with that toughness."

Steve Jobs in 1985 - Reuters

However, Gates also points out that it's very easy to idolize Steve Jobs to the point where you repeat his mistakes, the biggest being getting too engrossed in your job.

Bill Gates points to the Apple CEO's death to pancreatic cancer in 2011 as a "don't do this at home" style of leadership. It's not the first time the second-richest man in the world has talked about pacing yourself and taking vacation time.

Gates said that Steve Jobs was an exemplary case, where Apple was on a path to doom and he miraculously turned things around.

Flickr

Since then however, analysts have worried that Apple's success might be flagging. The company's iPhone sales have dropped, innovation seems to have slowed, and recently even legendary designer Jony Ive is leaving to form his own company, after 27 years at Apple.

Change is afoot within the firm, but this time around Tim Cook may not be able to turn things around in the magical way Steve Jobs did.