Apple just became the world’s first $4 trillion company. But Tim Cook isn’t even in the top 5 for CEO pay.
The man who turned Apple into history’s most valuable company earned $74.6 million in 2024. That’s a lot of money. Until you see what other CEOs are making.
Who’s Making More Than Tim Cook?
Cook ranks 7th among America’s highest-paid public company CEOs, according to new data from executive compensation firm Equilar.
Here’s who’s ahead of him:
1. Rick Smith (Axon) – $164.5 million
The defense-tech CEO made more than double what Cook earned.
2. Jim Anderson (Coherent) – $101.5 million
Most people haven’t heard of Coherent. Their CEO out-earns Apple’s.
3. Brian Niccol (Starbucks) – $95.8 million
The coffee chain boss beats the iPhone boss.
4. Larry Culp (GE Aerospace) – $87.4 million
General Electric’s leader pulls in $13 million more.
5. Michael Arougheti (Ares Management) – $85.4 million
Another finance CEO ahead of Cook.
6. Satya Nadella (Microsoft) – $79.1 million
Even Microsoft’s CEO makes more than Apple’s.
7. Tim Cook (Apple) – $74.6 million
Running the world’s biggest company pays less than you’d think.
The Mind-Blowing Numbers
Cook’s $74.6 million breaks down like this:
- $58.1 million in stock awards
- $12 million in performance bonuses
- $3 million base salary
- $1.5 million in other compensation (security, travel, insurance)
That’s an 18% raise from his 2023 pay of $63.2 million.
But here’s what really puts it in perspective.
Cook Makes Your Annual Salary in 7 Hours
The average American worker earns $62,088 per year, according to 2025 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Tim Cook makes that in 7 hours.
Let that sink in. While you’re sleeping, commuting, and working a full day, Cook has already out-earned your entire year.
More shocking comparisons:
- In 30 minutes (your morning commute): Cook makes $4,256
- In 21 minutes: He can buy a $3,000 MacBook Pro
- In 8 minutes: He earns enough for an $1,100 iPhone 16 Pro
- In 2 days: He makes $439,000 (the median U.S. home price)
Cook earns 4,947 times the federal minimum wage.
Why Cook Took a Pay Cut
You might think $74.6 million is insane. Cook agrees.
In 2022, he earned $99.4 million. Almost hit $100 million.
Instead of aiming higher, Cook did something unusual: He asked Apple to cut his pay by 40% in 2023.
Why? Apple employees and shareholders complained that his 2022 salary was too high.
Cook’s 2023 pay dropped to $63.2 million. Then it climbed back up to $74.6 million in 2024 as Apple’s performance improved.
Most CEOs fight for higher pay. Cook voluntarily took less.
Apple Hit $4 Trillion. Cook Gets Paid Less Than Starbucks’ CEO.
Here’s the weird part.
Apple’s market value just crossed $4 trillion. First company ever to hit that number.
Under Cook’s leadership:
- Apple became the world’s most valuable company
- iPhone sales dominate the smartphone market
- Services revenue (Apple Music, iCloud, TV+) exploded
- Apple stock rose over 30% in 2024
Yet six CEOs from smaller companies make more money than he does.
Starbucks is worth $109 billion. Brian Niccol made $95.8 million—$21 million more than Cook.
GE Aerospace is worth $211 billion. Larry Culp earned $87.4 million.
Apple is worth $4 trillion. Tim Cook earned $74.6 million.
The math doesn’t add up.
The Elon Musk Comparison Nobody Wants to Make
Then there’s Elon Musk.
Musk’s 2024 Tesla compensation package? Try $56 billion. That’s not a typo.
Cook’s calculator literally switches to scientific notation to handle Musk’s earnings.
If Cook could buy 753,535 HomePod minis with his salary, Musk could buy 1.01 x 10^10 of them.
Nobody’s defending Musk’s package. But it makes Cook’s $74.6 million look like pocket change.
How Apple’s Other Executives Compare
Cook isn’t the only one getting paid at Apple.
Other top Apple salaries in 2024:
- Luca Maestri (recently stepped down as CFO): $27.2 million
- Jeff Williams (Chief Operating Officer): $27.1 million
- Kate Adams (General Counsel): Similar to Williams
- Deirdre O’Brien (Retail + People SVP): Similar range
These executives all make excellent money. But they’re nowhere near Cook’s pay.
And Cook is nowhere near the highest-paid CEOs in America.
What Cook Could Buy (But Probably Doesn’t)
Let’s have some fun with the numbers.
With his 2024 salary, Tim Cook could:
- Buy 124,541 base model Mac minis
- Buy 6,041 maxed-out Mac Pros
- Buy 753,535 HomePod minis
- Own a different $439,000 house every 2 days for a year (182 houses)
- Buy every iPhone model for 67,818 people
But Cook doesn’t spend his money like that.
He’s famously private about his personal life. He uses private jets (Apple requires it for security). He probably doesn’t shop at the Apple Park store like a regular customer.
And he’s pledged to give away most of his wealth to charity.
Why Some CEOs Make So Much More
CEO pay isn’t just about company size or success.
It depends on:
- Stock performance Most CEO pay comes from stock awards
- Board negotiations Some boards are more generous than others
- Contract terms Performance targets, bonuses, incentives vary wildly
- Company structure Public vs private companies have different rules
- Industry standards Tech CEOs often earn less than finance or defense CEOs
Apple’s board actually set Cook’s target at $59 million. He exceeded that because Apple performed well.
But compare that to Rick Smith at Axon, whose target was apparently way higher.
The Average American Can’t Relate
While Cook earns millions per day, regular Americans are struggling.
Recent data shows:
- 47% of six-figure earners are delaying vacations
- 31% are postponing home renovations
- 26% are delaying buying or leasing a car
- 17% are putting off buying a house
- 6% are even delaying getting married
The American Dream is on pause for most people.
Meanwhile, Cook can buy the median U.S. home in a weekend.
Is Cook Underpaid?
Sounds crazy to say someone earning $74.6 million is underpaid.
But compare it to what he’s delivered:
Apple’s value under Cook:
- 2011 (when Cook became CEO): $350 billion
- 2024: $4 trillion
That’s an 11x increase in 13 years.
He created $3.65 trillion in shareholder value.
His 2024 pay represents 0.000019% of Apple’s market cap.
From that perspective, maybe he’s actually cheap.
Private Company CEOs Make Even More
The numbers we’re seeing? They’re only for public companies.
Private companies don’t have to disclose CEO salaries. Many private company CEOs are making way more than the public list.
So Cook might not even be in the top 20 when you count everyone.
What Happens Next
Apple’s shareholder meeting is scheduled for February 25, 2026.
Shareholders will vote on several proposals, including:
- Executive compensation approval
- A proposal to end Apple’s diversity and inclusion policies (Apple opposes this)
- Other corporate governance issues
Cook’s pay will be discussed. Some shareholders think it’s too high. Others think it’s reasonable for running a $4 trillion company.
Given that Cook voluntarily took a pay cut before, he might do it again if there’s enough pressure.
The Bottom Line
Tim Cook runs the world’s most valuable company. He turned Apple into a $4 trillion empire. He makes decisions that affect billions of people globally.
And he’s only the 7th highest-paid CEO in America.
Six other CEOs—running smaller companies with less influence—make more money than he does.
Cook earns your annual salary in 7 hours. But compared to other CEOs? He’s practically middle-class.
That’s how wild CEO compensation has become in America.
Tim Cook’s 2024 compensation: $74.6 million (18% increase from 2023). He ranks 7th among U.S. public company CEOs, despite leading Apple to become the world’s first $4 trillion company.
