Apple CEO Tim Cook, a veteran leader in the technology sector, oversees one of the world's most valuable companies. While his compensation package is substantial, it presents a stark financial contrast when compared to figures like Elon Musk, the chief executive behind Tesla and SpaceX.
Cook's financial standing, heavily influenced by stock awards, places him significantly below many of the world's highest-paid executives and wealthiest business leaders, particularly when measured against Musk's vast fortune tied to his ownership interests.
Tim Cook's Executive Pay Ranking
According to Bloomberg's executive pay ranking data for 2025, Tim Cook is positioned at 46th. This places him ahead of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who ranks 48th. The top spot on this list is held by Elon Musk, followed by Dr. Alexander C. Karp at second, and Vasily Shikin in third place.
Cook's reported total compensation from Apple for 2025 amounted to $74,294,811. This package was structured with a $3 million salary, $57,535,293 in stock awards, $12 million from non-equity incentives, and an additional $1,759,518 in other compensation.
Net Worth: Cook vs. Musk
The disparity in personal wealth between the two tech titans is even more pronounced. Tim Cook's net worth is reported at $83.8 million, a figure largely accumulated through his extensive career at Apple and the compensation, including significant stock awards, he has received from the company.
In stark contrast, Elon Musk's net worth stands at an astounding $20.5 billion. Musk's wealth largely stems from his substantial ownership stakes in his various companies, which explains the dramatic difference in personal fortunes compared to Cook.
The Compensation Gap
The gap extends to executive compensation figures as well. While Cook's total Apple compensation for 2025 was $74.3 million, Elon Musk's reported pay for the same period is listed at an extraordinary $25.1 billion. This highlights the vastly different financial scales on which these two prominent technology leaders operate.
Ultimately, while Tim Cook ranks among highly compensated corporate executives, Elon Musk's reported pay and personal net worth place him in an entirely different financial league within the global business landscape.