Things you don’t know about Tim Cook: Powerful CEO of the Apple empire, worth 2.1 billion USD but not married for a reason

Tim Cook (Timothy Donald Cook) was born on November 1, 1960 in Mobile, Alabama, USA. As the CEO of Apple Corporation, Tim Cook has long been not an unfamiliar name in the technology world. Although he is often compared to his predecessor, Steve Jobs, reality has proven that Cook has a different way of thinking and this has made Apple one of the largest companies in the world, with a Market capitalization is currently more than 2.3 trillion USD.

Besides work-related information, this billionaire who owns assets of up to 2.1 billion USD has an extremely mysterious private life and rarely shares about his personal life. And below are little-known things about Tim Cook.

CEO Tim Cook 

1. Education level

In 1978, Cook graduated from Robertsdale High School. Then in 1982, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from Auburn University. Six years later, Tim Cook completed his MBA (Master of Business Administration) in 1988 at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and was in the top 10% of his class at school.

2. Used to work for an Apple competitor

One of Cook’s first jobs after graduating from college was working for IBM (International Business Machines), a multinational computer technology corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York. There, Cook assumed the role of chief operating officer for the company’s North American division, where he managed manufacturing and distribution for 12 years.

After working at IBM and serving as vice president for six months at Compaq Computer, Cook joined Apple in 1998, when the company was on the brink of bankruptcy.

Sharing about his decision, Cook said: “The most important discovery in my life to date is the decision: Join Apple.”

3. Private life is private, not married

If Steve Jobs or other technology CEOs are famous for having a happy family, Tim Cook is extremely secretive about his personal life and is said to have never been married.

In October 2023, Tim Cook confirmed he was gay in a Bloomberg commentary.

“While I have never denied my sexuality, I have also not publicly acknowledged it until now. So let me be clear: I am proud to be gay and I consider being gay Calculation is one of the greatest gifts God has given me,” Cook wrote.

Cook stated that going public is an important step in helping promote human rights and quality for all. He said he does not consider himself a gay rights activist but hopes that it can inspire others.

“If knowing that Apple’s CEO is gay can help someone who is struggling to accept who they are, bring comfort to those who feel lonely or inspire For those who want equal rights, it’s worth the trade-off with my personal privacy,” he said.

4. Turning point in life

With an MBA in hand, he began building a career in an extremely lucrative field at that time: Computer technology.

Auburn University – where CEO Tim Cook once studied

Because of his excellent academic achievements, he caught the “eyes” of many employers and finally he chose to “join” IBM – short for International Business Machines, a computer technology corporation. multinational company headquartered in Armonk, New York (USA).

During his 12 years at IBM, Cook rose through the ranks to become director of order processing in North America. There, he held the position of manager of the manufacturing and distribution function for IBM Personal Computer Company in North and Latin America.

In 1994, Cook became an executive in the Dealer Division at Smart Electronics and joined Compaq Computer Corporation. Working here for 6 months, he has found a new turn in his life.

“The most important discovery of my life to date was the result of a single decision: The decision to join Apple,” Cook said in his commencement speech at Auburn University.

Working at Compaq Computer Corporation for 6 months, CEO Tim Cook turned to Apple

This journey looks glamorous, but behind it is extremely difficult. He joined the Apple company in 1998 – before the iconic iPhone, iPod or iPad were invented. In fact, the company continuously lost money and was on the brink of bankruptcy in 1997.

A year after Cook joined Apple, the company began reporting profits and quickly raked in large profits. Helping the company successfully turn around the company, Cook quickly assumed the role of Executive Vice President, managing worldwide sales, leading the Macintosh division and fostering the growth of the relationship. dealer and supplier network.

5. “I am a product of public school education”
Although there is a lot of success behind him, Tim Cook never denies that he is a “product” of the public school system.

“Education is everything to me. That is the foundation that helps me be able to do everything in the future, including this job now. I am very lucky to have parents who always focus on education. I was very lucky to have teachers who were close enough to let me try a little harder, do a little more than I thought I could. It is the combination of all these things that make me who I am,” Cook shared during the FIRST Inspire 2022 Gala.

In Cook’s words, education is the great equalizer for everyone because “it gives everyone equal opportunity.”

CEO Tim Cook always promotes education

Cook is also a famous philanthropist and has donated millions of dollars to charities. A few years ago, he announced that Apple would partner with education activist Malala Yousafzai to expand the foundation’s reach to empower girls globally with access to equitable education. class.

Apple also provides technology as well as support for curriculum development and policy creation. Cook himself supports localities that offer computer science classes to students.

More than anyone else, Cook understands the importance of coding skills and that the demand for them will increase.