robert friedland was born in chicago, illinois, the eldest of three children born to immigrant parents ilona (née muller) and albert friedland. friedland's father survived three years in auschwitz while his mother worked as a forced laborer during the holocaust. he resigned from bowdoin college in 1970 after being arrested by federal authorities for the possession of an estimated $100,000 worth of lsd, a crime for which he was sentenced to two years in federal prison, but received early release on probation. he graduated in 1974 from reed college, oregon, usa, with a political science degree. his senior year at reed, friedland was student body president. during his time at reed he met steve jobs with whom he shared an interest in eastern spirituality. at the time, friedland served as the caretaker of an apple farm south of portland that was owned by his millionaire uncle marcel muller and jobs would come on the weekends and help with the apple orchard, which served as the inspiration for the name of his company, apple inc. friedland turned the orchard into a commune called all one farm. his followers were not paid for working on commercial endeavors there.