Ternus' Record-Breaking Compensation Package Exceeds Cook's Pay
Apple's new CEO John Ternus has received a compensation package worth $58 million for fiscal year 2027. This includes a $3 million annual salary and a $55 million equity award. The majority of his pay, approximately 75%, is tied to Apple's performance-based restricted stock units (RSUs). These RSUs will vest based on the company's total shareholder return compared to other S&P 500 companies.
The remaining 25% of Ternus' compensation consists of time-based restricted stock units (RSUs) that will vest in equal installments every six months over four years. Additionally, he received a prorated RSU award with a target value of $2.5 million for the period he served as CEO during fiscal year 2026.
For comparison, former CEO Tim Cook's total remuneration was around $74.3 million in fiscal year 2025, consisting of a salary of $3 million and stock grants of $57.5 million. Both figures highlight Apple's reliance on equity-based compensation, as they are target amounts that do not guarantee actual cash earnings.