Apple CEO Tim Cook is one of the highest-paid company bosses in the world – no wonder, since Apple is the planet’s most valuable company. But even by his standards 2020 was a lucrative year, thanks to Apple’s success in the stock market.
Apple pays Cook a basic yearly salary of $3m, but this can be substantially bolstered with bonus payments if things go well. Things went very well in 2020, and according to the (German-language) stock exchange magazine Der Aktionär, Cook earned a total of around $14.8m in that year, having been rewarded with bonuses and inducements for achieving various goals. This is up 38% from 2019, when Cook earned a combined $10.7m
It’s worth pointing out, however, that Cook’s salary and bonuses are dwarfed in value by his stock options, which in 2019 were enough to push his take-home to a grand total of $134m. Cook holds several hundred million dollars in Apple shares, and the value of these rose by 81% in 2020.
Cook is reported to have become a billionaire last year. Even so, according to his loved ones, Cook maintains a simple lifestyle and plans to give away much of his fortune.
This article originally appeared on Macwelt. Translation by David Price.
