what does it mean "the kid with all the marbles"

Basically, the one who has the most power.

If you think of a game of marbles, the intention is to win your opponent's marbles. The one who has the most marbles wins.

So Steve Jobs is the one with the most power, with an implication that he has beaten everyone else on the way to getting the most power. (Competitors in the field of computers, presumably.)

This isn't a standard idiom, by the way, just what I take from the phrase. ("He/she has lost his/her marbles" is an idiom which means "He/she is crazy" or "can't think straight.")

These are marbles, if you weren't aware:

http://www.landofmarbles.com/marbles-play.html

the goal of the game of marbles is to win your opponent's marbles - particularly any fancy ones they have

if you've got all the marbles, you've won the game, you've got the best position

the author has used an English idiom

Yes, if you "have all the marbles," you are in control of the "game." You will determine when and where the action takes place because you have the advantage. It's a boy's game, but here it means position.

The "marble" reference is used here as a metaphor for power and control.

Those look just like the ones I lost.

Next time, don't play with Steve Jobs.

And don't buy one of his overpriced computers.

"The marbles" usually refer to a person 's material possessions.
If "he has all the marbles" that means that he has all the assets, all the wealth.


Another use of those words, with a different meaning is:
"he lost his marbles" or "he does not have all his marbles"
which refer to loss of mental powers; mental instability.

Thanks for repeating what has already been stated.

Go forth and attend to the military footwear of your mother.

Marbles are also used in the training program for disc jockeys. They read a script while holding ten marbles in their mouths. Second day; nine marbles, third day; eight marbles. On the tenth day, when they've lost all their marbles, they get the coveted DJ Certificate. This explains a lot about disc jockeys.

shades of Demosthenes

Thank you very much!