The name Tim Cook may not mean anything to the average smartphone user. Very often it is of Steve Jobs, who appears when the largest US multinational technology company Apple Inc. is mentioned. However, Cook as CEO of Apple Inc. before Jobs died, but apparently, the popularity of his predecessor precedes him because of his reluctant lifestyle.
The technology guru joined Apple Inc. in March 1998, and since that time he has climbed the career ladder that has led him to his current position as CEO of the company. He joined the company as senior vice president of worldwide operations, served as executive vice president before being named chief executive of the company in 2011 prior to Steve’s death.
Tim Cook – Biography
Tim Cook was born on November 1, 1960, the son of Donald and Geraldine Cook. His father worked as a shipyard worker and his mother worked in a pharmacy. Tim Cook grew up with his two brothers (Gerald and Michael) in Robertsdale, Alabama, United States.
After graduating from Robertsdale High School, he went to Auburn University, where he earned a degree in Industrial Engineering and Management in 1982. He also earned an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in 1988. Much later, after achieving much in life, he returned to his alma mater as a member of the Board of Trustees.
After graduating from Auburn University, Tim Cook spent 12 years as Director of North American Order Processing at IBM Personal Computers. He was later appointed Chief Operating Officer in the Computer Reseller Division of Intelligent Electronics. He also worked at Compaq, where he served as vice president of enterprise materials for a six-month period.
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Later in his career, he received a call from Apple Inc. He readily joined the company in 1998 and was named senior vice president of worldwide operations. He was later promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer in 2007.
Tim and Jobs became so close that when Steve was put on leave for health reasons, Cook stepped in as Chief Executive Officer. Jobs later resigned as CEO of Apple Inc. and Cook was appointed as the substantial CEO of Apple Inc. on August 24, 2011, a few weeks before Job lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.
Working with Apple gave Tim Cook the opportunity to advocate for policy reform in international and national surveillance, U.S. manufacturing, corporate taxation, cybersecurity, and environmental protection. Over the years he has received a significant number of awards; in 2014 he was named Person of the Year by the Financial Times. The following year, he received the Ripple of Change Award, Fortune Magazine’s award for the world’s greatest leader, was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor and received the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award.
Tim’s awards never stopped coming, in 2017 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science from the University of Glasgow. The following year he also received the Anti-Defamation League’s Prize for Courage against Hatred.
Tim Cook Net Worth
According to records, Tim Cook is currently worth $625.37 million accrued from his salary, stock, and stock options with Apple. Apart from being Apple’s CEO, Cook also serves on the board of directors of Nike, where he holds stock options allegedly worth $3.4 million. These and his other investments bring his net value to the above figure. This number will most likely increase as Apple’s status has now been elevated to that of a trillion-dollar company.
Is He Gay, Who Is The Partner, Husband Or Boyfriend?
Tim is simply known as a private person who hid his private life from the media for many years until rumors spread that he was gay. In 2014 Cook openly declared himself gay in an editorial for Bloomberg Business. He values his sexuality and considers it one of the greatest gifts God has given him.
He further revealed that he has always spoken openly about his sexuality “for years” and that many people at Apple were aware of this. When asked what inspired him to publicly reveal his sexual orientation, he told Stephen Colbert of The Late Show Stephen Colbert that he felt that he valued his privacy too much over what he could do for other people, so he wanted to tell everyone his truth.
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After he officially came out as gay, everyone wanted to know who his partner was, and he no longer waited to announce Benjamin Ling, an American Asian, as his boyfriend at the time. The duo has since split up and gone their separate ways. While Ling has continued his love life with another partner, Tim Cook still seems to be looking for the perfect partner.
Other Facts
The CEO loves to hike, ride his bike, and work out in the gym. He even goes to a private gym, although Apple Inc. has its own fitness center. He only does this to avoid advertising.
Tim was told by his doctors in 1998 that he suffered from multiple sclerosis, but that turned out to be wrong. However, the impact of this news caused a remarkable change in his life. He is now known for his involvement in fundraising activities in support of people suffering from the disease.
He is also known for his inspiring speeches. He once said that he put more emphasis on his intuition in all life-changing decisions.
Tim Cook is known for his contributions to the Giving Pledge, a charity founded by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet.
