September 3, 2026, 9:27 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Apple has a new CEO. Since September 1, 2026, John Ternus has been at the helm of the company, succeeding Tim Cook. With the leadership change, his compensation has significantly increased. New documents filed by Apple with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reveal the components of his salary package.
Apple CEO Receives Salary and Stock Package
According to the filing with the SEC, Ternus will receive a fixed annual salary of $3 million (approximately 2.6 million euros) as CEO. Additionally, Apple plans a stock package for the 2027 fiscal year with a target value of $55 million (approximately 50 million euros).
Together, this amounts to a value of $58 million (approximately 50 million euros). For the already commenced period in the 2026 fiscal year, Ternus will also receive a separate, prorated stock package. Its target value is $2.5 million (approximately 2.2 million euros).
Tim Cook Recently Had Higher Compensation
Tim Cook recently received a larger total compensation as Apple CEO. For the 2025 fiscal year, Apple reported this at around $74.3 million (approximately 64 million euros).
Of this, $3 million was the base salary. Stocks accounted for about $57.5 million. Additionally, Cook received $12 million (approximately 10.4 million euros) as a performance-based cash payment. Other benefits totaled nearly $1.8 million (approximately 1.5 million euros).
A direct comparison between Cook and Ternus is difficult, however. Apple has so far only disclosed the base salary and stock package for 2027 for its new CEO. In contrast, Cook’s reported total compensation included additional components. Moreover, Cook had already led the company as CEO for nearly 15 years, while Ternus has just taken on the role.
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A Large Part Depends on Apple’s Success
Whether John Ternus will receive the full stock millions is still uncertain. Apple used a similar compensation model with Tim Cook.
For Cook’s stock package in 2025, 75 percent was tied to specific performance goals. The same proportion applies to Ternus’s package in 2027. The key factor is how Apple performs on the stock market compared to the S&P 500 index.
Also interesting: How John Ternus Made It to the Top of Apple
Not All Stocks Are Performance-Based
The remaining 25 percent of the stock package is awarded to Ternus regardless of stock market performance. Apple distributes this portion according to a fixed schedule.
For Ternus, the allocation occurs semi-annually in equal parts over a period of four years. Therefore, the mentioned $55 million does not represent an amount that is paid out immediately. The actual value also depends on how Apple’s stock performs in the future.