Tim Cook's Compensation Was Comparatively Modest Among Highest-Paid CEOs of 2020

Apple CEO Tim Cook's 14 million dollar pay in 2020 was relatively modest, compared to other S&P 500 CEOs, according to the Wall Street Journal.

tim cook toronto star
In its annual ranking of CEO pay and compensation, the Wall Street Journal revealed that ‌Tim Cook‌ earned $14,769,259 last year, which is only slightly more than the median $13.4 million pay across the Standard and Poor's 500 (S&P 500) index. The ‌Wall Street Journal‌ also noted that Apple's median employee pay is $57,783.

Apple tops the entire S&P 500 with its value exceeding more than two trillion dollars, so it is surprising that Cook's pay is comparatively modest. Cook's pay rank is the 171st highest out of the S&P 500 CEOs, even though Apple makes up six percent of the entire index.

An increasing number of CEO compensation packages are tied to stocks as boards look to tie executive pay to the fortunes of company shareholders. Although Apple's one-year return for shareholders was 109 percent in 2020, Cook's pay only increased by 28 percent.

Over the course of 2020, Cook's net worth climbed to over one billion dollars, according to calculations from Bloomberg.

The highest-paid CEO was Paycom Software's Chad Richison, who earned more than $200 million. Seven CEOs were given compensation valued at more than $50 million last year, compared with just two in 2019 and three in 2018. Twenty-four S&P 500 CEOs made less than five million dollars last year, including Tesla's Elon Musk, who reported zero pay, and Twitter's Jack Dorsey, who earned just $1.40.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...

Top Rated Comments

fwmireault Avatar
56 months ago

500 CEOs made less than five million dollars last year, including Tesla's Elon Musk, who reported zero pay, and Twitter's Jack Dorsey, who earned just $1.40.
Poor Jack Dorsey. He can’t even subscribe to his own 3$/month Twitter Blue :’(
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
guzhogi Avatar
56 months ago

Apple's median employee pay is $57,783.
For a company worth about $2 trillion and brings in $billions in profit every year, that’s actually pretty sad.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Techwatcher Avatar
56 months ago

For a company worth about $2 trillion and brings in $billions in profit every year, that’s actually pretty sad. Especially (correct me if I’m wrong) considering its headquarters is in a place with a high cost of living
I believe this includes everything like the retail workers around the world. This isn't just HQ.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dapa0s Avatar
56 months ago
Man I hope he stays at Apple for as long as possible, great CEO!
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
manu chao Avatar
56 months ago

Even then, less than $58,000 as a median for all employees? Ignoring Tim Cook, other c-level and high-level executives, all of which probably make $millions in salary and benefits a year, that means the median for everyone else even less.
How much the C-suite earns has zero effect on the median salary. It only affects the average salary.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BvizioN Avatar
56 months ago
Only 1.16 million a month? Poor Tim...!!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)