News of the transplant was first reported on Saturday by The Wall Street Journal but the hospital's statement is the first confirmation of the operation.

"Mr. Jobs is now recovering well and has an excellent prognosis," said Dr. James Eason, chief of the hospital's transplantation committee, in a on its Web site. The news was released with the permission of Jobs, the hospital said.

Jobs received the liver because he was judged top of the waiting list at the time, Eason said.

"He received a liver transplant because he was the patient with the highest MELD score () of his blood type and, therefore, the sickest patient on the waiting list at the time a donor organ became available."

Jobs took a six-month leave of absence from Apple in January amid intense speculation regarding his health.