Timothy Donald Cook (born November 1, 1960) is an American business executive who served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Apple Inc. from 2011 to 2026, and has been the company's executive chairman since September 2026. Cook joined the technology company in 1998 as senior vice president for worldwide operations, and later served as vice president for worldwide sales and operations and then as chief operating officer under co-founder Steve Jobs. He was appointed chief executive in 2011, when Jobs resigned due to failing health. Under Cook, Apple grew into one of the world's most valuable companies; in 2025 it was the second largest technology company by revenue in the world, at US$416 billion. Cook led a succession plan that saw John Ternus succeed him as CEO.
During his tenure as the chief executive of Apple and service on its board of directors, he has advocated for the political reform of international and domestic surveillance, cybersecurity, national manufacturing, and environmental preservation. Since becoming CEO, Cook has also replaced Jobs' micromanagement with a more liberal style and implemented a collaborative culture at Apple.
Considered one of the most successful tech CEOs of the modern era, Cook diversified Apple’s product lineup, overseeing the introduction of many new products such as the AirPods, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, AirTag, Apple silicon in its Mac lineup and expanding its services business. This propelled Apple’s growth, with Cook doubling the company's revenue and profit from 2011, when he took over, to 2020, and with an increase in the company's market value from $348 billion in 2011 to over $4 trillion in 2026.
Outside of Apple, Cook has sat on the board of directors of Nike since 2005. He also sits on the board of the National Football Foundation and is a trustee of Duke University, his alma mater. Cook engages in philanthropy; in March 2015, he said he planned to donate his fortune to charity. In 2014, Cook became the first and only chief executive of a Fortune 500 company to publicly come out as gay. In October 2014, the Alabama Academy of Honor inducted Cook, who spoke on the state's record of LGBTQ rights. It is the highest honor Alabama gives its citizens. In 2012 and 2021, Cook appeared on the Time 100, Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. As of August 2026, his net worth is estimated at $3 billion, according to Forbes.
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