The Apple CEO salary for fiscal year 2025 is $74.3 million in total compensation. That is the official figure disclosed in Apple’s annual proxy statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 8, 2026.
Tim Cook has led Apple since August 2011, taking over from founder Steve Jobs. Under his leadership, Apple went from a $350 billion company to the world’s first $4 trillion company. Yet his pay is lower than six other American CEOs at smaller companies.
This article breaks down every part of the Apple CEO compensation package, how it has changed over time, and what it means in real-world terms.
Apple CEO Salary 2025: Full Breakdown
Here is exactly how Tim Cook’s $74.3 million Apple company CEO salary is structured for fiscal year 2025:
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base Salary | $3,000,000 |
| Stock Awards | $57,535,293 |
| Performance Bonus | $12,000,000 |
| Other Compensation | $1,759,518 |
| Total | $74,294,811 |
Base salary — Cook’s $3 million base pay has not changed since 2016. This is unusual for a Fortune 500 CEO, but the vast majority of his pay comes from stock and performance bonuses.
Stock awards — The $57.5 million in stock is tied to Apple’s performance relative to companies in the S&P 500. If Apple underperforms, Cook gets less. If Apple outperforms, he gets more. This structure aligns his interests with shareholders.
Performance bonus — The $12 million bonus is based on Apple’s financial results for the year. Apple’s revenue exceeded $400 billion in fiscal 2025, a 6% increase from 2024, which helped Cook hit his bonus target.
Other compensation — The $1.76 million covers security expenses, private jet travel, 401(k) contributions, life insurance premiums, and vacation cash-out. Apple requires Cook to use private aircraft for all travel, citing security and efficiency.
Apple CEO Compensation: Year-by-Year History
The Apple CEO compensation has changed significantly over the past decade. Here is how Tim Cook’s total pay has moved since he became CEO:
| Year | Total Compensation |
|---|---|
| 2011 | ~$378 million (mostly stock grants on becoming CEO) |
| 2013 | ~$4.25 million |
| 2020 | ~$14.8 million |
| 2021 | ~$98.7 million |
| 2022 | ~$99.4 million |
| 2023 | $63.2 million (voluntary pay cut) |
| 2024 | $74.6 million |
| 2025 | $74.3 million |
Why did Cook take a pay cut in 2023? In 2022, his total package nearly hit $100 million. Apple employees and shareholders pushed back, saying executive pay was too high during a period of economic stress. Cook voluntarily asked Apple’s board to reduce his pay. His 2023 compensation dropped to $63.2 million. It then recovered to $74.6 million in 2024 as Apple’s performance improved, and held steady at $74.3 million in 2025.
Most CEOs demand more money over time. Cook asked for less. That says a lot about how he leads.
How Apple Sets the CEO’s Pay
Apple’s board of directors sets a target compensation for Cook each year. For 2025, the target was $59 million — the same as in 2024.
However, Cook’s actual pay came in higher at $74.3 million because Apple performed strongly. The stock award component is calculated based on Apple’s total shareholder return (TSR) relative to other S&P 500 companies over a three-year period. Strong performance means more shares vest.
This structure means Cook’s pay is directly tied to how well Apple does for investors. It is not a guaranteed number — it fluctuates based on real results.
Tim Cook’s Pay vs. Other Apple Executives (2025)
The CEO salary of Apple is significantly higher than any other executive at the company. Here is how the top Apple leadership team compares:
| Executive | Role | 2025 Total Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Cook | CEO | $74.3 million |
| Deirdre O’Brien | SVP, Retail + People | $27.05 million |
| Kate Adams | SVP, General Counsel | $27.03 million |
| Sabih Khan | SVP, Chief Operating Officer | $27.03 million |
| Kevan Parekh | CFO (new) | $22.47 million |
| Luca Maestri | Former CFO | $15.48 million |
Cook earns nearly three times more than the next highest-paid Apple executive.
Apple CEO Salary vs. Other Tech CEOs
How does the CEO salary Apple pays compare to rivals in the tech industry and broader S&P 500?
| CEO | Company | 2024 Total Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Rick Smith | Axon Enterprise | $164.5 million |
| Jim Anderson | Coherent Corp | $101.5 million |
| Brian Niccol | Starbucks | $95.8 million |
| Larry Culp | GE Aerospace | $87.4 million |
| Michael Arougheti | Ares Management | $85.4 million |
| Satya Nadella | Microsoft | $79.1 million |
| Tim Cook | Apple | $74.6 million |
Tim Cook ranked 7th among the highest-paid public company CEOs in the United States in 2024, according to data from executive compensation research firm Equilar.
Starbucks is worth approximately $109 billion. Apple is worth $4 trillion. Yet the Starbucks CEO made $21 million more than the Apple CEO. CEO pay does not simply scale with company size — it depends on board negotiations, industry norms, stock performance formulas, and contract terms.
What Does $74 Million Look Like in Real Life?
The Apple company CEO salary of $74.3 million is a number most people cannot relate to directly. Here are some comparisons that put it in perspective.
The average American worker earns $62,088 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 data). Tim Cook earns that same amount in approximately 7 hours.
Daily earnings: Cook earns roughly $203,000 per day (based on $74.3M ÷ 365).
What $74.3 million could buy:
- About 92,984 iPhone 17 units
- A median-priced U.S. home ($439,000) roughly every 2 days for the entire year
- Approximately 186,202 Apple Watch Series 11 units
These numbers are not meant to criticize. They simply show the scale of executive compensation at the top of American business.
Apple’s Growth Under Tim Cook: Is the Salary Justified?
Whether the CEO salary Apple pays Tim Cook is justified depends on what he has delivered.
When Cook became CEO in August 2011, Apple’s market capitalization was approximately $350 billion. As of early 2026, Apple’s market cap stands at around $4 trillion. That is an increase of roughly 11x in 14 years, representing over $3.6 trillion in shareholder value created.
Key milestones under Cook’s leadership:
- Apple became the first U.S. company to reach $1 trillion in market cap (2018)
- Apple became the first company globally to reach $2 trillion (2020)
- Apple became the first company globally to reach $3 trillion (2022)
- Apple became the first company globally to reach $4 trillion (2025)
- Apple’s annual revenue exceeded $400 billion in fiscal 2025
- Services revenue (App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, Apple TV+) grew from near zero to over $100 billion per year
Cook’s 2025 pay of $74.3 million represents roughly 0.0019% of Apple’s $4 trillion market cap. By that measure, his pay is modest relative to the value he oversees.
Tim Cook’s Net Worth
Tim Cook’s total compensation figures each year are just one piece of his wealth. His net worth in 2025 is estimated at approximately $2.5 billion, according to financial tracking sources.
The bulk of his wealth comes from Apple stock he has accumulated over his career, which has appreciated dramatically in value. He has also publicly pledged to donate the majority of his wealth to charitable causes.
What Happens Next: Cook’s Future at Apple
Apple’s future leadership has been a topic of discussion. In January 2026, The New York Times reported that Cook has told Apple’s board he would like to reduce his workload, with the company potentially shifting him to a chairman role if he chooses to retire.
Apple senior vice president John Ternus has been publicly discussed as a possible successor, though the board has not confirmed any transition timeline.
Cook’s compensation package includes a retirement vesting provision, meaning his outstanding stock awards can still vest if he steps down under the right conditions. Apple’s board has noted it is regularly engaged on succession planning.
Any change in Apple’s top leadership would likely affect how the company’s market sets expectations for the stock and future CEO salary of Apple going forward.
What is the Apple CEO salary in 2025?
The Apple CEO salary for fiscal year 2025 is $74.3 million in total compensation. This includes a $3 million base salary, $57.5 million in stock awards, $12 million performance bonus, and $1.76 million in other compensation such as security and travel costs.
What is Tim Cook’s base salary?
Tim Cook’s base salary is $3 million per year. This has not changed since 2016. The majority of his total Apple CEO compensation comes from stock awards and performance bonuses, not his base pay.
How much does the Apple CEO make per day?
Based on his 2025 total compensation of $74.3 million, Tim Cook earns approximately $203,500 per day. He earns the equivalent of the average American’s full-year salary in about 7 hours.
How does Apple CEO compensation compare to other CEOs?
Tim Cook ranked 7th among the highest-paid public company CEOs in the United States in 2024, according to Equilar. CEOs at companies including Axon, Starbucks, GE Aerospace, and Microsoft all earned more than Cook despite leading significantly smaller companies.
Did Tim Cook ever take a pay cut?
Yes. After his 2022 pay nearly reached $100 million, Cook voluntarily requested a pay reduction in 2023 following pushback from employees and shareholders. His pay dropped from $99.4 million in 2022 to $63.2 million in 2023.
What is Tim Cook’s net worth?
Tim Cook’s estimated net worth in 2025 is approximately $2.5 billion, largely from accumulated Apple stock. He has pledged to donate the majority of his wealth to charity.
Who decides how much the Apple CEO gets paid?
Apple’s board of directors, specifically the People and Compensation Committee, sets Tim Cook’s target compensation each year. The actual payout can be higher or lower depending on Apple’s financial performance and stock performance relative to the S&P 500.
What percentage of Apple does Tim Cook own?
Tim Cook owns a very small percentage of Apple — less than 0.01% of outstanding shares. However, even a fraction of a percent of a $4 trillion company represents billions of dollars in value.
Summary: Apple CEO Salary at a Glance
The CEO salary of Apple in 2025 is $74.3 million total — made up of a $3M base, $57.5M in stock awards, $12M performance bonus, and $1.76M in other pay.
Tim Cook has held the Apple CEO role since 2011 and has presided over the most extraordinary growth story in corporate history, taking Apple from $350 billion to $4 trillion in market value. His compensation is significant in absolute terms but modest relative to what he has built.
For anyone looking to understand Apple CEO compensation — whether for research, investing, or simple curiosity — the key fact is this: most of his pay is variable, tied to Apple’s performance, and not guaranteed. The $3 million base salary has not moved in nearly a decade. Everything else depends on results.
