What company manufactured the Commodore 64, one of the best-selling home computers of all time?

The Commodore 64, often affectionately known as the C64, was a groundbreaking 8-bit home computer that left an indelible mark on the history of personal computing. This iconic machine was manufactured by Commodore International, a company that played a pivotal role in bringing computers into homes around the world.

Released in January 1982, the Commodore 64 quickly became a phenomenon, largely due to its advanced sound and graphics capabilities for the era, which were powered by custom-designed chips like the VIC-II for video and the SID for sound. Its relatively affordable price of $595 (equivalent to about $1,990 in 2025) made it accessible to a broad audience, helping to kickstart the home computer revolution. The C64 is recognized by Guinness World Records as the best-selling single desktop computer model of all time, with sales estimates ranging from 12.5 to 17 million units worldwide during its impressive 12-year production run, which ended in April 1994.

Commodore International, founded by Jack Tramiel, had a history that predated the personal computer, starting with typewriters and calculators. Under Tramiel's leadership, the company embraced the philosophy of "computers for the masses, not the classes," a vision that the Commodore 64 perfectly embodied. The C64's success made Commodore one of the largest personal computer manufacturers globally, demonstrating the company's significant influence on the early computer industry.