Who is the highest paid employee at Apple?

The highest-paid employee at Apple is typically the CEO or other C-suite executives, with the current CEO, Tim Cook, being at the top in terms of total compensation. Here’s an overview of the highest-paid roles at Apple and their compensation:

1. Tim Cook (CEO)

• Base Salary: As CEO, Tim Cook receives a base salary of approximately $3 million per year.
• Performance Bonuses: In addition to his base salary, Cook receives performance-based bonuses that can range between $10-20 million annually, depending on Apple’s performance.
• Equity and Stock Grants: The largest portion of Cook’s compensation comes from equity and stock grants. In some years, Cook’s total compensation has exceeded $100 million due to stock awards tied to Apple’s financial performance.
  • For example, in 2022, Tim Cook’s total compensation was reported to be $99 million, with much of it coming from stock-based awards.

2. Other High-Paid Executives

Several other top executives at Apple also receive significant compensation, mainly through a combination of base salary, bonuses, and stock awards:

• Luca Maestri (CFO): Maestri receives a base salary of around 1 million**, with total compensation, including bonuses and stock awards, sometimes exceeding **25-30 million per year.
• Deirdre O’Brien (SVP of Retail and People): Similar to other top executives, her compensation can range from $20-25 million annually, including stock options and bonuses.
• Jeff Williams (COO): Williams, who is responsible for overseeing Apple's global operations, also earns total compensation in the $25-30 million range, much of it through stock awards.

3. Highest-Paid Non-Executive Employees

• Top engineers and product designers can also be among the highest-paid employees at Apple, especially those working on high-impact projects like the iPhone, Mac, or Apple Silicon. Senior engineering roles, like Distinguished Engineers or Principal Architects, can receive total compensation packages ranging from 1 million** to **3 million per year, primarily through stock options and bonuses.

4. Compensation Breakdown

• Base Salary: Executives typically receive $1-3 million in base salary.
• Bonuses: Performance bonuses can vary but often add millions more.
• Stock Awards: The most significant portion of compensation comes from stock options and RSUs (Restricted Stock Units), which can be worth tens of millions of dollars, particularly for top executives.

Conclusion

The highest-paid employee at Apple is Tim Cook, whose compensation is largely based on stock awards that have amounted to over $100 million in some years. Other top executives, such as Luca Maestri and Jeff Williams, also earn significant compensation through a mix of salary, bonuses, and stock options. Non-executive employees, particularly senior engineers and architects, can also earn high compensation packages in the seven-figure range.