Apple gay ceo

"Obviously I couldn't talk to each one individually that reached out, but you always know if you have people reaching out to you that there's many more that don't, that are just out there wondering whether they have a future or not, wondering whether life gets better … From there I really decided."

Though Cook said he "didn't worry" about how Apple staff would react to his coming out, he did acknowledge worrying about the reaction "outside of Apple," and noted that "the world is still not friendly to gay or trans people in many countries but also within our country."

In a direct message to kids struggling with their sexual orientation, he said that "life gets better, that you can have a great life filled with joy." He continued: "Gay is not a limitation.

He wrote, "I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me." This declaration made him the first openly gay CEO of a Fortune 500 company, setting a powerful precedent for LGBTQ+ visibility in corporate America.

Since then, Cook has used his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and broader social justice issues.

Cook's career began at IBM, where he spent 12 years in various operational roles. He envisions a future where technology empowers everyone and where corporate responsibility includes advocating for fundamental human rights. During Pride Month, Cook’s story serves as an inspiration, highlighting the importance of authenticity, courage, and advocacy.

Cook’s influence has not only transformed Apple but has also helped to redefine the role of CEOs in championing social change.

Cook has also met with Trump at Trump Tower in New York and the president’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

While Cook has not publicly commented on the decision to donate to Trump, Altman, who has been more vocally pro-Trump than other tech CEOs, has expressed eagerness to work with a future Trump administration, telling The New YorkTimes last month, “President Trump will lead our country into the age of A.I., and I am eager to support his efforts to ensure America stays ahead.”

Several non-tech companies have also contributed large amounts to Trump’s inaugural fund, with financial institutions Goldman Sachs and Bank of America donating seven figures.

Meanwhile, OpenAI and Meta (nor their CEOs) donated no money to Biden’s inauguration.

The tech companies’ donations to Trump come at a time when the president-elect has been harshly critical of companies like Meta and Google, based on the belief that the parent company of Facebook and the popular search engine have censored conservative users.

The donations are viewed as an olive branch of sorts to Trump, hoping to build a more positive relationship with the incoming president, who could potentially issue executive orders or sign into law bills that would drastically impact how tech companies operate.

Two other tech companies, Google and Microsoft, have not yet donated to Trump’s inauguration but did give $337,500 and $500,000, respectively, to Biden’s.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Cook has deliberately cultivated a years-long personal relationship with Trump, dating back to his first term, through face-to-face meetings and dinners.

His meticulous attention to detail and keen business acumen quickly became evident.

In 1998, Cook joined Apple at the behest of Steve Jobs. He graduated from Auburn University with a degree in industrial engineering and later earned an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. This made him the first openly gay CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

In an interview with People en Español published Thursday, the 58-year-old spoke about a range of topics related to sexual orientation and young people.

Discussing his 2014 coming out, he said: "What was driving me was [that] I was getting notes from kids who were struggling with their sexual orientation.

For example, Apple, but not Cook, donated $43,200 to Biden’s inaugural fund, while Amazon gave $276,000. And to the degree that it helps give you a lens on how other people may feel, I think that's a gift in and of itself."

Cook's comments come at a challenging time for Apple and Cook, with the Apple CEO accused of pandering to Chinese state demands.

Earlier this month, Apple removed an app from its App Store that let Hong Kong residents track police movements, with the app having received heavy criticism in Chinese state media the previous day.

Cook and Apple drew heavy criticism from US lawmakers including Sen.

Marco Rubio and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

In a memo sent to Apple employees first obtained by Bloomberg, Cook defended his decision on the grounds that the app was being used to "maliciously target individual officers for violence."

More recently, Cook accepted a chairman role at a prestigious Chinese university whose board members also include Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.