Apple has grown to become one of the biggest and most influential tech companies in the world.
From initial founders to going public to changes in leadership, who owns Apple has changed over the years.
The California-based firm has an globally known brand that is known for quality and design. Beyond that Apple is also known for its consistently strong financial performance, Apple has a $3 trillion market capitalization making it the world’s most valuable corporation.
Apple was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in April 1976 when the personal computer market was new and in its infancy. But PC’s caught on quickly and the market rapidly became a lucrative revenue stream.
After going public in 1980, Apple became hugely successful but Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak left in 1985. Steve Wozniak became an honorary employee, while Steve Jobs went onto to found NeXT.
Steve Jobs rejoined Apple in 1997 when Apple it brought NeXT. By 2000, Steve Jobs had risen to CEO and went onto lead the company and subsequently launch the iPhone, open Apple stores and create the number one brand in the world.
The Apple Business model though is facing some tough times these days. The SWOT analysis of Apple demonstrates that while it has some big opportunities, there are some major weaknesses to overcome. A further resource is the Apple Mission Vision and Values.
Table of Contents
Key Facts About Apple
Useful Apple Links
Apple Products and Services
Apple Inc. specializes in the design, manufacture and marketing of computer hardware and music supports. Net sales broken down by product family as per Apple’s financial report:
- telephone products (52.1%): iPhone brand;
- peripheral devices (10.5%): screens, storage systems, printers, video camera, memory cards, server, switches, etc.;
- computers (10.2%): laptops (MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro brands) and PCs (iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro and Xserve);
- music support (7.4%): music readers iPod and iPad and accessories;
- other (19.8%): software, maintenance service and Internet access service, etc.
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: Americas (43%), China/Hong Kong/Taiwan (18.8%), Japan (6.6%), Asia/Pacific (7.5%) and Europe/India/Middle East/Africa (24.1%).
Number of employees: 161,000
Who Has Shares In Apple?
Approximately 48.90% of the company’s stock is owned by Institutional Investors, 0.11% is owned by Insiders and 50.99% is owned by Public Companies and Individual Investors.
After Jobs was ousted from Apple in 1985, he purchased Pixar from LucasFilm for $5 million. Then in 2006 Pixar studios was sold to Disney, and as a result of the deal, Steve Jobs received an 8% share in Disney. In 1997, Jobs purchased shares in Apple and was granted further shares in the form of stock options upon his appointment as CEO.
Upon Steve Job’s untimely death in 2011, Laurene Powell Jobs inherited his the 7.3% of shares he owned in in Disney, estimated to worth $11.1 billion. She also inherited his remaining 38.5 million shares in Apple.
Who Owns Apple Now?
Institutional vs Private Split of Apple Shares
Founders / Original Owners
Does Steve Jobs still own Apple’s stocks?
In 1980, Steve Jobs sold his stocks at the initial public offering. Had he maintained his 11% of shares he would have been u003ca aria-label=u0022worth more than Bill Gates (opens in a new tab)u0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022 href=u0022https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/02/19/heres-why-bill-gates-was-so-much-richer-than-steve.aspxu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 class=u0022rank-math-linku0022u003eworth more than Bill Gatesu003c/au003e.
Does Steve Wozniak still own Apple’s stocks?
Steve Wozniak was the co-founder of Apple and critical in developing the Apple II. Wozniak used to own owned u003cstrongu003e34.6%u003c/strongu003e of Apple while Steven Jobs had the majority of 65.4% of Apple. u003cbru003eIn 1980, shares were offered at $22 each at the IPO at in total delivered a market capitalization of $1.38 billion. Prior to the IPO, Wozniak owned u003cstrongu003e8.7% u003c/strongu003eof the company. At the time of the IPO, he sold down his u003cstrongu003e7.1%u003c/strongu003e and since then it has reduced further. At the IPO, this 7.1% stake equated to approximately 3,989,231 shares equivalent to 87.8 million.u003cbru003e
There are both institutional investors and individuals that own shares in Apple. Needless to say, individual investors with a significant amount of shares are either current and former Apple executives.
On the Apple proxy statement for 2019, the main individuals who own Apple shares are mostly active board members of Apple. As of the 2019 statement, 4,729,803,000 shares of Apple’s common stock exist.
Who Owns Apple?
What Companies Own Apple Shares?
Investment companies that act on behalf of different companies and individuals have a large number of shares in Apple. The top three institutions are the Vanguard Group (7.55%), Blackrock (6.22%) and Warren Buffet (5.86%) – as of February 2024.
The Largest Institutional Shareholders
Who Owns the Most Stock in Apple (Institutional Investors)?
The Top 5 Largest Institutional Shareholders
The Vanguard Group
The Vanguard Group is an American company based in Malvern, Pennsylvania. It has over $6.3 trillion in assets under management. The Vanguard Group has the largest number of Apple shares at 8.524 % of shares valued at $243 B
Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway, under Warren Buffett’s leadership, has demonstrated a remarkable track record of value investing, with significant stakes in companies like Apple showcasing its strategic investment philosophy. It has 5.857 % shares valued at $167 B
Blackrock Inc
BlackRock, Inc.
BlackRock, Inc., founded in 1988 by Larry Fink and others, has grown into the world’s largest asset manager, managing $10 trillion in assets as of December 31, 2023. It operates globally with a significant focus on index fund management through its iShares brand. BlackRock has also been notable for its involvement in environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) initiatives, although it has faced criticism for some of its investments.
It has 5.251 % of Apple shares valued at $150 B.
State Street Corporation
State Street Corporation, rooted in a history that dates back to 1792, has evolved into a major player in investment servicing and management. With the introduction of the SPDR S&P 500 Trust ETF in 1993, it became a pioneer in exchange-traded funds (ETFs). State Street Global Advisors, its investment management division, underscores the firm’s innovation in financial services. As of 2022, it is ranked 316th on the Fortune 500 list
State Street Corporation has 3.790 % shares in Apple valued at $108 B
Geode Capital Management LLC
Geode Capital Management, LLC, established by Fidelity Investments in 2001, has quickly risen to prominence in the asset management field, surpassing $1 trillion in assets under management by the start of 2022. Geode is known for its systematic asset management approach, providing core beta exposures across various equity and niche asset classes. It emphasizes a transparent investment process focused on risk-adjusted performance.
Geode Capital Management, LLC has 1.946 % of Apple shares valued at $847 M
The Top 5 Individual Shareholders
It’s worth remembering that even a small percentage of Apple shares equates to a significant amount of money.
Arthur Levinson
Arthur Levinson’s role as Chairman of Apple and CEO of Calico showcases his leadership across both the technology and biotechnology sectors.
His extensive experience and academic background in biochemistry have undoubtedly contributed to Apple’s strategic direction, particularly in areas intersecting health and technology.
| 4,590,576 ( 0.03% ) | 847 M $ |
Tim Cook
Tim Cook’s tenure as Apple’s CEO since 2011 has been marked by significant product launches and expansion into new markets.
His background in industrial engineering and prior experience at Compaq, along with his MBA from Duke University, have been instrumental in guiding Apple’s operational and strategic initiatives.
| 01/01/2024 | 3,280,053 ( 0.02% ) | 605 M $ |
Al Gore
Al Gore, with his extensive political career and advocacy for environmental issues, brings a unique perspective to Apple’s board, especially in sustainability and environmental policy. His involvement with Apple underscores the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
Al Gore sold 215,437 stocks in 2017 as reported to the SEC for an estimated $29 million.
As of 2024
| 2024-01-31 | 468,995 ( 0.00% ) | 86 M $ |
Key Takeaways
Apple Inc. is owned by over 4,000 institutions the largest being the Vanguard Group and BlackRock, Inc. Institutional investors control over 60% of all shares.
Major individual shareholders are mostly people like Art Levinson, Tim Cook, Al Gore, and other past and present executives.
