On August 1, 2025, Tim Cook officially surpassed Steve Jobs as the longest-serving CEO of Apple, marking a significant milestone with 5,091 days of leadership. This event symbolizes a major turning point in the company’s history.
Two Visions, Two Legacies
Under Steve Jobs, Apple was a company focused on disruptive innovation and creativity. In contrast, Tim Cook transformed Apple into a more structured and predictable organization, emphasizing operational efficiency and management. This approach allowed Apple to double its revenue and achieve historic milestones.
Economic Growth and Diversification
Under Tim Cook’s leadership, Apple expanded its portfolio beyond hardware, introducing services such as Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Pay, and iCloud, which generate billions of dollars annually. By August 2025, the company had sold over 3 billion iPhones, underscoring its continued success.
Challenges and Future Outlook
Despite these successes, some argue that Apple has not launched a product as revolutionary as the iPhone or iPad in over a decade. The lack of major innovations raises questions about the company’s future direction. Additionally, integrating artificial intelligence into its products could pose a challenge to maintaining its brand image.
In conclusion, while Tim Cook has surpassed Steve Jobs in terms of tenure as Apple’s CEO, it remains to be seen how his legacy will compare to that of his predecessor in terms of innovation and long-term impact.
