Steve Jobs, the chairman and a co-founder of Apple, died today following  years of battling cancer. He was 56.

The specific cause of death has not been released. Jobs, however, had been battling pancreatic cancer for close to ten years.  Jobs is survived by a wife and four children.

Apple released a statement on its Web site that remarked on Jobs’ death and his life at the company.

“Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being,” the statement reads. “Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor.”

Jobs stepped down as Apple’s CEO on Aug. 24, after being on medical leave since January . He was replaced by the company’s COO Tim Cook.

Jobs founded Apple in 1976 with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Since then, the company has become one of the largest in the world.

The computer executive was also responsible for turning Pixar into a major motion picture company. He also served as a director of Disney. Jobs was ranked 39 on Forbes 400 Wealthiest People at a net worth of $7 billion.