Tim Cook, the executive who led Apple to become a $4 trillion company and defined its identity in the post-Steve Jobs era, has stepped down as CEO.

Cook, formerly Apple's chief operating officer, took over as CEO shortly before Jobs died in 2011. He was responsible for pushing Apple beyond the handful of products the company was initially known for, such as the Mac, iPod and iPhone.

Under Cook’s leadership, Apple became a significant player in new areas like entertainment, health and wearables.

From left, then-Apple COO Tim Cook, Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Phil Schiller, executive vice president for product marketing, answer questions after Jobs introduced new versions of the iMac and the iLife software applications at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California, in 2007.
From left, Cook, Steve Jobs and Phil Schiller answer questions after Jobs introduced new versions of the iMac and the iLife software applications at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California, in 2007. Cook was chief operating officer at the time, as Jobs was the CEO.
David Paul Morris/Getty Images
Cook speaks in front of an image of an iPhone 4S at Apple headquarters in 2011.
Cook speaks in front of an image of an iPhone 4S at Apple headquarters in 2011.
Reuters/Alamy
Photographers use iPhones to take photos of Cook during a break in a Senate hearing held by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations in 2013. Cook and other Apple officials were on hand to explain the company's filings after the subcommittee accused Apple of tax avoidance.
Photographers use iPhones to take photos of Cook during a break in a Senate hearing held by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations in 2013. Cook and other Apple officials were on hand to explain the company's filings after the subcommittee accused Apple of tax avoidance.
Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/AP
Cook, holding an iPhone 6 Plus and wearing an Apple Watch, discusses the new products during an event in Cupertino in September 2014.
Cook, holding an iPhone 6 Plus and wearing an Apple Watch, discusses the new products during an event in Cupertino in September 2014.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Cook greets the crowd with U2 singer Bono as U2 guitarist The Edge looks on during an Apple special event at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino in September 2014.
Cook greets the crowd with U2 singer Bono as U2 guitarist The Edge looks on during an Apple special event in Cupertino in September 2014.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Cook takes a photo with an Apple employee during the launch of the iPhone 6 at an Apple store in Palo Alto, California, in September 2014.
Cook takes a photo with an Apple employee during the launch of the iPhone 6 at an Apple store in Palo Alto, California, in September 2014.
Tony Avelar/AP
Cook opens the door to an Apple Store in Palo Alto to begin sales of the new iPhone 6 in September 2014. Hundreds of people lined up to purchase the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus that went on sale that day.
Cook opens the door to an Apple Store in Palo Alto to begin sales of the new iPhone 6 in September 2014. Hundreds of people lined up to purchase the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus that went on sale that day.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Cook stands in front of a MacBook display after an Apple special event in San Francisco in March 2015.
Cook stands in front of a MacBook display after an Apple special event in San Francisco in March 2015.
Stephen Lam/Getty Images
Cook takes a photo with his iPhone while addressing graduates during George Washington University's commencement exercises on the National Mall in May 2015. The university awarded Cook with an honorary doctorate of public service.
Cook takes a photo with his iPhone while addressing graduates during George Washington University's commencement exercises in May 2015. The university awarded Cook with an honorary doctorate of public service.
Alex Brandon/AP
Cook appears as a guest on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in September 2015.
Cook appears as a guest on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in September 2015.
Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS/Getty Images
Cook is greeted by Pope Francis at the Vatican in January 2016.
Cook is greeted by Pope Francis at the Vatican in January 2016.
Serviziofotograficoor/Cpp/Shutterstock
Cook shows an iPhone 7 to performer Maddie Ziegler during an event to announce new products in San Francisco in September 2016.
Cook shows an iPhone 7 to performer Maddie Ziegler during an event to announce new products in San Francisco in September 2016.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Cook speaks during the launch of Apple's AirPods in September 2016.
Cook speaks during the launch of Apple's AirPods in September 2016.
Monica Davey/EPA/Shutterstock
Cook is with James Corden and Pharrell during a taped comedy bit shown on a projection screen during an Apple event in San Francisco in September 2016.
Cook is with talk-show host James Corden, right, and musician Pharrell, center, during a taped comedy bit that was shown during an Apple event in San Francisco in September 2016.
Beck Diefenbach/Reuters
Cook spends time with students at Woodberry Down Community Primary School in London in February 2017. Cook was visiting to see how the school had incorporated Apple's iPad and related software in its curriculum.
Cook spends time with students at Woodberry Down Community Primary School in London in February 2017. Cook was visiting to see how the school had incorporated Apple's iPad and related software in its curriculum.
Yui Mok/PA Images/Getty Images
Tim Cook puts on a Boston Red Sox jersey before a baseball game between the Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers in June 2017.
Cook puts on a Boston Red Sox jersey before a baseball game between the Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers in June 2017.
Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images
President Donald Trump listens as Cook speaks during an American Technology Council roundtable at the White House in June 2017.
President Donald Trump listens as Cook speaks during an American Technology Council roundtable at the White House in June 2017.
Alex Brandon/AP
Cook speaks during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple Park campus in September 2017. Apple held its first special event at the company's new Apple Park campus in Cupertino and unveiled a new iPhone.
Cook speaks during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre in September 2017. Apple held its first special event at the company's new Apple Park campus in Cupertino and unveiled a new iPhone.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Cook and Apple chief design officer Jonathan Ive look at the new Apple iPhone X during an Apple special event in September 2017.
Cook and Apple chief design officer Jonathan Ive look at the new Apple iPhone X during an Apple special event in September 2017.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Tim Cook signs the box of a new iPhone X at an Apple Store in Palo Alto in November 2017. The highly anticipated iPhone X went on sale around the world that day.
Cook signs the box of a new iPhone X at an Apple Store in Palo Alto in November 2017. The highly anticipated iPhone X went on sale around the world that day.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Cook and Oprah Winfrey hug during an Apple special event in Cupertino in March 2019.
Cook and Oprah Winfrey hug during an Apple special event in Cupertino in March 2019.
Stephen Lam/Reuters
Cook welcomes customers to the opening of a new Apple Store at the historic Carnegie Library building in Washington, DC, in May 2019. The location represented Apple's most extensive restoration project to date, renovating what was once the city's Central Public Library.
Cook welcomes customers to the opening of a new Apple Store at the historic Carnegie Library building in Washington, DC, in May 2019. The location represented Apple's most extensive restoration project to date, renovating what was once the city's Central Public Library.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Cook speaks about the new iPhone Pro during an event in Cupertino in September 2019.
Cook speaks about the new iPhone Pro during an event in Cupertino in September 2019.
David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Cook speaks with Singapore Paralympian Theresa Goh about the Apple watch she uses for training in December 2019.
Cook speaks with Singapore Paralympian Theresa Goh about the Apple watch she was using for training in December 2019.
Edgar Su/Reuters
Cook is seen on a laptop as he speaks during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2020. The conference was held remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Cook is seen on a laptop as he speaks during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2020. The conference was held remotely because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Cook speaks via video conference at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on online platforms and market power in July 2020.
Cook speaks via video conference at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on online platforms and market power in July 2020.
Graeme Jennings/Pool/Getty Images
Cook leaves a federal building in Oakland, California, in May 2021 after testifying in a federal lawsuit brought by Epic Games. Epic, the maker of the video game Fortnite, charged that Apple has transformed its App Store into an illegal monopoly.
Cook leaves a federal building in Oakland, California, in May 2021 after testifying in a federal lawsuit brought by Epic Games.
Noah Berger/AP
Cook reacts after seeing a Macintosh SE computer held by Sajid Moinuddin, a fan of Apple products, during the inauguration of India's first Apple retail store in Mumbai in April 2023.
Cook reacts after seeing a Macintosh SE computer held by Sajid Moinuddin, a fan of Apple products, during the inauguration of India's first Apple retail store in Mumbai in April 2023.
Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters
Cook speaks under an image of Vision Pro, a new mixed reality headset that the company unveiled in June 2023.
Cook speaks under an image of Vision Pro, a new mixed reality headset that the company unveiled in June 2023.
Brooks Kraft/Apple Inc.
Cook and Britain's King Charles III meet young people as they tour Apple's UK headquarters in London in December 2024.
Cook and Britain's King Charles III meet young people as they tour Apple's UK headquarters in London in December 2024.
Aaron Chown/PA Images/Getty Images
Cook, speaking from the White House Oval Office in August 2025, announces a $100 billion investment in US manufacturing. Apple was expanding its operations in the United States as Trump said he would levy a large import tax on chips coming into the country.
Cook, speaking from the White House Oval Office in August 2025, announces a $100 billion investment in US manufacturing. Apple was expanding its operations in the United States as Trump said he would levy a large import tax on chips coming into the country.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Cook, second from left, arrives at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House in Washington, DC, in September 2025. He and other tech leaders were in town to attend a dinner hosted by President Trump.
Cook, second from left, arrives at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House in Washington, DC, in September 2025. He and other tech leaders were in town to attend a dinner hosted by President Trump.
Eric Lee/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Cook wipes a tear during his final Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2026.
Cook wipes a tear during his final Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2026.
Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images
Cook and John Ternus, Apple's next CEO, attend the annual Allen and Co. Sun Valley Media and Technology Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, in July 2026.
Cook and John Ternus, Apple's next CEO, attend the annual Allen and Co. Sun Valley Media and Technology Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, in July 2026.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters