When you think of Apple, you probably think of Steve Jobs, the visionary behind its revolutionary designs, or Tim Cook, the soft-spoken man who turned Apple into a global business powerhouse. But in the company’s 50-year history, seven people have held top jobs. The list ranges from Apple’s first CEO, Michael Scott (no, not that one), who once banned typewriters from the office, to John Sculley, an executive who famously fired jobs in the 1980s.
As Apple celebrates its 50th anniversary today (April 1), it remains one of the most important and influential technology companies in the world, a far cry from its humble beginnings in 1976 in a California garage. Whoever becomes the eighth CEO will receive a large inheritance.
Here’s a look back at all the leaders who have shaped Apple over the past fifty years:
Michael Scott (1977-1981)
Michael Scott was Apple’s first CEO, appointed because co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were seen as too inexperienced to lead. Mike Markkula, one of Apple’s early investors and Scott’s former colleague at Fairchild Semiconductor, hired him for the role.
Leaving his position as director of manufacturing at National Semiconductor, Scott set the tone for disruption—famous for blocking typewriters in Apple’s offices—and oversaw the company’s rapid growth and internal strife. He is best remembered for “Black Wednesday,” a mass layoff in 1981 that cut nearly half of the Apple II engineering team.
Scott left soon after, later heading to Starstruck and re-establishing himself as a legendary treasure collector. His collection is expensive tens of millions of dollarsit was exhibited in museums and documented Light and Stone: Highlights from the Scott Collection. Scott died on April 12, 2025, aged 80.
Mike Markkula (1981-1983)
After working at Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel, Markkula became one of Apple’s first believers and its first major investor after visiting Steve Jobs’ garage. He invested $250,000 to help launch the company, served as its first chairman in 1977, and succeeded Michael Scott as CEO in 1981.
Markkula stepped down two years later but remained on Apple’s board until 1997. He later founded businesses such as the Echelon Corporation and supported many causes, including the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University.
John Sculley (1983-1993)
When Steve Jobs hired PepsiCo’s John Sculley, then fresh off the highly successful Pepsi Challenge campaign, he closed the deal with the now famous question: “Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life, or come with me and change the world?Sculley accepted, becoming Apple’s CEO in 1983.
His ten-year tenure brought milestones, including the introduction of the first Macintosh, but also internal conflict. Sculley’s power struggle with Jobs led to the founder’s removal from the Macintosh division in 1985 and, indirectly, his exit from the company.
Amid rising costs and a series of product missteps, Sculley left Apple in 1993. He now serves as the chairman and chief marketing officer of the health technology company RxAdvance.
Michael Spindler (1993-1996)
German executive Michael Spindler succeeded John Sculley as Apple’s CEO in 1993 after rising through the company’s European ranks to become its regional president. A former DEC and Intel veteran, he oversaw both bright wins, such as the introduction of the PowerPC, and setbacks, such as the Newton and Copland applications.
Before his departure in 1996, Spindler it is said that there have been discussions to take over and potential buyers, including Sun Microsystems. He died on September 5, 2016, at the age of 73.
Gil Amelio (1996-1997)
Gil Amelio’s tenure as Apple’s CEO was the shortest in the company’s history—just one year, starting in 1996. The former National Semiconductor executive oversaw the launch of Mac OS 8 and orchestrated Apple’s $400 million acquisition of NeXT, bringing Steve Jobs back into the fold.
After Apple’s stock hit a 12-year low, Amelio was forced out. He later founded the acquisitions firm Acquicor Technology with Steve Wozniak and focused on the finance business.
Steve Jobs (1997-2011)
The man most like Apple didn’t become CEO until 1997. After being fired in the 1980s, Steve Jobs founded NeXT and served as CEO of Pixar Animation Studios before returning to rescue the company he helped build. One of his first steps was to cut Apple’s bloated product line and refocus on innovation and design.
Recognized for his black turtleneck and demanding leadership style, Jobs oversaw the creation of landmark products such as the iPod, iPhone, iPad and iTunes, transforming Apple from near-bankruptcy to a global technology powerhouse. He resigned as CEO in August 2011 due to cancer and died two months later, on October 5, 2011, at the age of 56.
Tim Cook (2011 to present)
Tim Cook took over as CEO in 2011, succeeding Steve Jobs after more than a decade at Apple. He joined the company in 1998 as global executive vice president, later leading the Macintosh division and serving as chief executive. Before Apple, Cook worked at Compaq, Intelligent Electronics and IBM.
Under Cook’s leadership, Apple launched major products like the Apple Watch and AirPods, switched to in-house silicon, and launched its AI program, “Apple Intelligence.” The company’s market value has increased from $350 billion in 2011 to more than $3.7 trillion today.
Cook’s soft-spoken style is often compared to Jobs’ hard-line style, but longtime Apple executive Phil Schiller sees them as more similar than different. “Both Steve and Tim are two of the hardest working people I’ve ever met in my life—24/7, 365, they work,” Schiller said at SXSW this month. “They put the company first, not themselves.”
What’s next?
As Cook approaches 66 this year, speculation about his successor is mounting. Hardware manager John Ternus is considered the leading candidatedue to Apple’s two decades and increasingly public presence at product launches. Other possible contenders include head of software Craig Federighi, head of services Eddy Cue and chief marketing officer Greg Joswiak. Whoever steps into the role will face the challenge of guiding Apple through the age of AI, global supply chains, and another half century of innovation.
