Apple Employee Named Sam Sung: Discover His Incredible Story!

In 2012, a simple business card turned a former Apple employee into a viral sensation, changing his life—and even his name—as a result.

The Apple Mix-Up

This is a tale that captured the hearts of the internet during a time when Apple and Samsung were in fierce competition. In 2012, a Vancouver Apple Store employee named Sam Sung unwittingly became an internet legend—simply because his name resembled that of Apple’s major Korean competitor.

The whole saga began with a seemingly innocuous photo: a picture of Sam Sung’s business card posted on Reddit. Within hours, the image went viral, turning into an instant meme. His name, both utterly ordinary and ironically loaded, amused the entire tech community.

But for Sam Sung, this sudden fame was mainly a source of anxiety. I was terrified. I just wanted to keep my job and stay low-key. After the buzz took off, Apple reached out to make sure he was aware of the situation. Soon after, the company reportedly banned him from handing out his business cards and asked his colleagues not to confirm his identity to inquiring customers.

From Fame to Fatigue

Customers would come into the store just to meet me, he says.
Due to the overwhelming response, Apple temporarily removed him from customer service to let things cool down.

In 2013, a year after the buzz, Sam Sung left Apple to pursue other interests. The following year, he auctioned his famous business card, his badge, and part of his uniform on eBay, donating the proceeds ($2,500) to charity (to those who might accuse him of capitalizing on the buzz).

While the joke eventually faded, its effects lingered. Sam Sung ultimately decided to change his name, choosing Struan—a nod to one of his favorite places in Scotland. I didn’t want to be known as an internet joke, he explains, while admitting he doesn’t regret the decision. Today, he looks back on that time with a sense of peace: I would tell my younger self to find it funny, not to stress so much.