Tim Cook recently surpassed Steve Jobs as Apple’s longest reigning CEO, but there is no denying that both these individuals were instrumental to the company’s success, but exactly how much? Throughout the firm’s history, there was always the surrounding noise on how Cook had stifled Apple’s innovation prowess, but a detailed infographic comparison provides a closer look at the two executives’ contributions during their 14-year career. However, before we begin, would you like to guess which one increased the company’s value by a mammoth 13,900 percent?
Tim Cook might have only raised the company’s value by 966 percent, but under Steve Jobs, Apple was never a trillion-dollar titan
Under Jobs, Apple witnessed a valuation increase of $344.5 billion, all from a measly $2.5 billion, resulting in an unfathomable 13,900 percent increase. During this period, the company’s head honcho proceeded to revolutionize the computing, music, and mobile industry, with products like the iMac, iPod, MacBook, iPhone, and iPad setting the stage by which all products from competitors would be judged.
Unfortunately, while it is disappointing that Jobs could not witness Apple as it is today, it is safe to say that Tim Cook steered the Cupertino giant into prosperous waters. Sure, taking Apple from $347 billion and bringing its value to $3.7 trillion was a Herculean task, and when doing the math, Cook’s contribution of boosting Apple’s market capitalization by 966 percent might appear pale compared to the efforts Jobs put in, but we can all agree that going from a billion to a trillion is a feat among legends.
Under Cook’s leadership, Apple launched the AirPods wireless earbuds range and became the largest watch maker in the world with its Apple Watch family. Of course, who can forget making the transition from Intel processors to the M1, along with launching AirTags and the Apple Vision Pro? Cook’s tenure is also filled with some star-studded launches, but the current Chief Executive is often criticized for failing to capitalize on the AI boom.
While some research firms call for Cook’s resignation, a previous report stated that Apple’s Board of Directors has some loyalists in place who will stand between those who oppose the CEO’s position. Additionally, with the recent launch of the iPhone 17 series, it is clear that customers do not really give AI such a preference because the newest devices are selling like hot cakes. Then again, who do you think made the most contribution to Apple’s success? Let us know in the poll and comments below.
News Source: Visual Capitalist
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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