Tim Cook, an American billionaire known as the “quiet genius,” ranks among the highest-paid CEOs globally and has become an icon of innovation and forward-thinking in the digital age.

He became CEO of Apple Inc. in 2011, a multinational American company specializing in the development and sale of electronic devices, computer software, and personal computers.

Cook’s success goes beyond financial achievements; he is committed to environmental issues, sustainability, and philanthropy, inspiring many. This led American author Linder Kahney to write a book titled “Tim Cook: The Genius Who Took Apple to the Top.”

Born on November 1, 1960, in a modest family in a small town in Alabama, southeastern USA, Timothy Donald Cook grew up practicing cycling and shooting, skills he developed at his grandfather’s house.

He excelled academically, earning a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Auburn University in 1982, followed by a master’s degree in business administration from Duke University in 1988.

Cook began his career with notable contributions at IBM, an American computer company, where he worked as an engineer for 12 years.

He then joined Compaq as Senior Vice President for business in North and South America and the Pacific, working there for six months before joining Apple in 1998. He quickly rose through the ranks and became CEO in 2011 after the death of Steve Jobs.

Under his leadership, Apple maintained rapid growth by launching new products like the Apple Watch and wireless speakers, while expanding services such as the App Store and iCloud.

Cook emphasized corporate social responsibility, highlighted in his 2013 speech at the United Nations. Since leading Apple, he has aimed to make it a socially responsible entity. Apple’s market value rose to $2.2 trillion under his management.

Despite challenges like the global chip shortage, Apple posted massive profits of about $95 billion in 2021 and revenues of $97.2 billion in Q1 2022.

A major achievement under Cook was starting in-house manufacturing, enhancing Apple’s independence and overcoming challenges.

Cook’s success inspired Linder Kahney’s book, translated into Arabic, which highlights the core values Cook instilled at Apple from day one, shaped by his childhood, previous career, and tenure at Apple.

In 2022, Cook ranked prominently on Forbes’ billionaire list, reflecting his success and impact in business and technology.

His net worth is estimated at around $2 billion, largely from stock grants, including about $770.5 million in 2021 alone.

His annual salary of $3 million is a small part of his income. Despite his wealth, he lives in a San Francisco home worth about $1.9 million and is known for frugality and shopping during sales seasons.

Cook starts his day very early, before 4 a.m., using the quiet time to check emails and follow updates.

Though described as a strict boss, Cook respects his employees’ opinions and actively participates in daily meetings. His leadership style balances firmness and encouragement, showing strong strategic thinking and team leadership skills.

He builds positive workplace relationships, motivating employees to reach their full potential.

Through a “democratic” management approach, Cook created a motivating and positive work environment, balancing business goals with social responsibility, enhancing his reputation as a leading business figure.

Reflecting his forward-looking vision, Cook broke with tradition by hiring many employees without a four-year college degree.

At the 2019 U.S. Workforce Policy Advisory Board meeting, he noted a gap between college graduates’ skills and what companies need.

He revealed that about half of Apple’s 2018 hires lacked a bachelor’s degree, showing his belief in practical skills and experience over academic credentials alone.

Cook adopted an ambitious vision for a more sustainable future, aiming for all Apple products to be carbon neutral by 2030. He believes this goal is not just marketing but a realistic, economic decision that can inspire other companies to adopt sustainable practices.

In environmental matters, Cook sees Apple as a catalyst for change, investing in clean energy solutions worldwide and striving to balance carbon emissions with clean energy consumption.

Cook was known for criticizing former U.S. President Donald Trump’s environmental policies, especially after the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

However, Trump’s praise of Cook as “one of the best CEOs” and calling him “Tim Apple” during an informal meeting shows mutual respect despite differences.

Cook strongly believes in the words of African-American leader Martin Luther King Jr., who said, “The most persistent and urgent question in life is, ‘What are you doing for others?'” Cook made this quote central to his official X (formerly Twitter) account and challenges himself by it daily.

Known for sacrifice and helping others, Cook once offered to donate part of his liver to Steve Jobs to help him fight cancer, but Jobs declined.

In 1996, Cook was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune nerve disease, which affected his life and increased his philanthropic focus.

This incident motivated Cook to care for his health and fitness; he enjoys cycling, long walks, and mountain climbing in his free time and donates to organizations focused on multiple sclerosis.

Through the “Tim Cook Leadership” scholarship, he shows commitment to providing educational opportunities for financially challenged and academically gifted youth. He also encourages graduates to try new things and make their lives meaningful to reshape the world.

Additionally, Cook has shown interest in global cultural heritage by volunteering to fund part of the Notre-Dame Cathedral restoration in Paris after the 2019 fire.