Pixar was funded by an Indian industrial designer.
Pixar . Pixar began in 1979 as the Graphics Group , part of the Lucasfilm computer division , before its spin-out as a corporation in 1986 , with funding by Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs , who became the majority shareholder . Steven Paul Jobs ( [ ˈdʒɒbz ] February 24 , 1955 -- October 5 , 2011 ) was an American entrepreneur , businessman , inventor , and industrial designer .