Apple's Ternus Takes Reins with $148 Million Stock Potential

John Ternus has taken over as CEO of Apple, with a compensation package that could push his stock holdings to $148 million.

The Apple board has given Ternus a new salary of $3 million and granted him restricted stock units worth $2.5 million, prorated for the few weeks he'll serve as CEO before the end of Apple's 2026 fiscal year.

For fiscal year 2027, the board has approved an annual equity award with a target value of $55 million. This award will be heavily tied to performance, with 75% vesting based on Apple's total shareholder return relative to other S&P 500 companies, and the remaining 25% vesting over four years.

Ternus' existing Apple holdings add significantly to the new salary package. He currently holds about 34,000 Apple shares in a trust, which roughly amounts to $11.1 million at Tuesday's stock price. Additionally, he has seven restricted stock grants covering around 305,000 shares, currently worth at least $99 million.

The value of these performance units could range from about $50 million to $148 million, depending on their payout.