Tim Cook is not the highest-paid CEO in the US, you will be shocked to know where he features on the list

Tim Cook

For someone who runs the world’s most valuable company, Tim Cook’s pay ranking may come as a surprise. Apple’s CEO, who has overseen the company’s rise to record-breaking valuations and steady growth year after year, is not the highest-paid executive in the United States. In fact, he doesn’t even make the top five.

According to recent data highlighted by AppleInsider, Tim Cook ranks seventh among the highest-paid CEOs in America. His total compensation for the year stood at around $74.6 million, a large sum by any normal measure, but still well below what several other corporate leaders earned during the same period.

Much of Cook’s earnings did not come from a fixed salary. Like many top executives, his pay package is largely tied to company performance, with stock awards making up the biggest chunk. His base salary is relatively modest compared to the headline figure, and bonuses and shares linked to long-term goals form the rest. This structure is meant to reward sustained performance rather than short-term wins.

What makes Cook’s ranking striking is Apple’s position in the global economy. Under his leadership, Apple has expanded far beyond the iPhone, building massive businesses around services, wearables, and subscriptions. The company recently crossed a historic market value milestone, strengthening its position as one of the most powerful corporations in the world. Yet its CEO still earns less than leaders of companies that are far less visible to the public.

At the top of the pay list are executives from industries ranging from software to security and food services. Some of them earned more than double what Cook made in the same year, largely due to large one-time stock grants. These payouts can dramatically shift rankings from year to year, depending on how compensation plans are designed.

Cook’s placement also feeds into the broader debate around executive pay in the US. The gap between what CEOs earn and what the average worker takes home continues to draw attention, especially at a time when many companies, including those in tech, have slowed hiring or carried out layoffs.

Still, Cook’s influence goes far beyond a ranking. Since taking over from Steve Jobs in 2011, he has been known for a quieter, more operational leadership style. He has focused on stability, efficiency, and long-term planning rather than bold public gestures. Apple’s board has also gradually adjusted his compensation to align more closely with shareholder returns over time.

In the end, being seventh on the list hardly diminishes Tim Cook’s standing. But it does challenge a common assumption: that leading the biggest company automatically makes you the highest-paid CEO. In Cook’s case, the numbers tell a different story.