Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) chief executive Tim Cook earned US$98mln in 2021 and gained access to US$754mln worth of the iPhone maker’s shares, according to filings to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Cook, who has a net worth of approximately US$1.5bn (making him a rare ‘non-founder’ in the tech billionaire’s list) received US$82mln stock awards in early 2021 representing the majority of his compensation for the year, though they are yet to vest.
As well as his US$3mln salary, Cook received US$12mln bonuses and a further US$1.39mln of compensation.
The payout for 2021 was almost seven times the prior year.
Some US$754mln of shares under a prior share grant vested in August.
Cook’s wealth was boosted by Apple’s strong 2021 which saw the shares rise over 43% with US$365mln of sales marking 33% growth year-on-year.
The Apple boss became a billionaire in August 2020 joining fellow tech giants Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, although unlike the duo Cook did not found Apple.