On September 1, 2026, Tim Cook ended his 15-year tenure as Apple’s CEO and became executive chairman. According to the DEF 14A filing submitted by Apple to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Cook’s total pre-tax compensation during his tenure amounted to approximately $2.397 billion, of which stock awards accounted for about $2.221 billion, while salaries, cash rewards, and other compensation totaled approximately $176 million. His compensation structure was highly performance-based, with stock awards accounting for about 93%. After leaving office, Cook’s base annual salary was reduced to $2 million, but stock awards were still distributed according to the established schedule. The new CEO, John Tenous, has a total compensation target of $58 million for the 2027 fiscal year, with a base salary of $3 million and an expected value of stock awards of $55 million. After leaving office, Cook will continue to deeply engage in company affairs as executive chairman, especially in areas such as interactions with the White House and China, and addressing key issues like memory shortages.
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gorman noted that Tim Cook will continue to have significant influence at Apple after leaving as CEO, and his new compensation plan confirms this trend. Apple carefully planned this transition: this week’s product launch focused on the new CEO, John Tanus, while also paying tribute to Cook’s 15-year tenure, aiming to achieve the first orderly transition in Apple’s history. Although Tanus will move into the executive office and prepare to accelerate product development, Cook, as executive chairman, will continue to be deeply involved, especially in relations with the White House and China, addressing key issues such as memory shortages, and even plans to return to the campus to meet with employees. In terms of compensation, Cook’s base salary for next year is set at $2 million (lower than the $3 million during his predecessor’s tenure), and his target amount for restricted stock units by 2027 is $45 million; in contrast, Tanus’ base salary is $3 million, and his target amount for 2027 is $55 million. Only half of Cook’s compensation is tied to performance, while Tanus’ is tied to 75%, and Cook’s income will still be higher than that of other employees at Apple…