Apple Shares Rise More Than 1,900% During Tim Cook's Tenure as CEO

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:11:00 +0200

Apple has been one of the strongest long-term performers in the market during Tim Cook’s nearly 15-year run as chief executive. According to Dow Jones Market Data, the company’s shares have climbed more than 1,900% since Cook became CEO on August 24, 2011. That is an extraordinary gain in absolute terms and reflects Apple’s evolution from a highly successful consumer-tech company into one of the most valuable businesses in the world.

Even so, the article puts that performance in perspective. Apple’s stock return ranks 38th in the S&P 500 over the same period, meaning several other large companies have done even better. Nvidia and Tesla, for example, delivered much larger price gains over that stretch, while the S&P 500 itself also posted a strong overall advance. The piece frames Apple as a durable winner rather than the single standout of the era.

The story also highlights how Cook’s leadership coincided with Apple’s rise into the trillion-dollar market-cap club and later much highe