eddycueAs revealed in a new filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Apple has awarded Eddy Cue an additional 100,000 shares of company stock in the form of restricted stock units. The stock units were issued on November 2nd and will vest in September 2014 (25,000 shares) and September 2016 (75,000 shares) if Cue remains employed by Apple at those milestone dates.

At Apple's present stock price, the stock would be worth $40 million, although the final value will be determined as of the dates that the different portions vest.

This is the second such grant Cue has received since being promoted to senior vice president for Internet software and services two months ago. The first batch of 100,000 restricted stock units was awarded on September 2nd following his promotion, and those units will vest in two equal portions in August 2013 and August 2015. Cue also holds a number of other restricted stock units that he had been awarded prior to his promotion.

Cue has been at Apple for 22 years, and played an integral role overseeing the iTunes Store and App Store. His role has significantly expanded over the past year or so, adding oversight of Apple's iCloud service and iBookstore. Just this past August, Cue also took over leadership of the iAd program following the departure of Andy Miller.

Top Rated Comments

firestarter Avatar
182 months ago
give it a pass because it's Apple

Why not just put that in your signature? It would save you a lot of typing.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
firestarter Avatar
182 months ago
Well this link has more details. In fact, other executives are getting 60 million dollar bonuses as well:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-57318938-248/apple-gives-most-of-its-top-execs-$60m-bonuses/?tag=TOCmoreStories.0 (http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-57318938-248/apple-gives-most-of-its-top-execs-$60m-bonuses/?tag=TOCmoreStories.0)

I'm not saying these guys don't provide a great deal of value to Apple--they do and deserve to be rewarded. I have a problem with obscene amounts of money being paid to *individuals*. 60 million? That's the yearly operating budget of many struggling public universities. We distribute our resources foolishly and we will pay the price someday.
There's another way to look at this... and it's potentially an indication that Tim Cook feels his senior execs are currently at risk of leaving, following Jobs' death.

These aren't bonuses for work done - they're 'golden handcuffs' to stop them from leaving for 2 years (they all seem to vest in mid 2013).

For a bunch of rich guys who were highly motivated by Jobs presence, I would have expected a few to leave pretty quickly. Apple is great 'n' all, but if you take away Jobs' charisma, it's just a job - and there are plenty of other exciting challenges in the valley.

Depending on how you see things, this is good news, because it buys stability for the company for the next two years - or it's bad news, because it's an indication of Tim Cook's weakness as a leader and motivator that he feels this is necessary.


Edit: In my personal experience, working in companies that have a 'bonus culture' - bonus is rarely about a job well done, it's more judging a person's greed/sense of self-worth and the risk of them leaving if they feel undervalued.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Anaemik Avatar
182 months ago
I would have hoped that somebody getting his 2nd $40M windfall in <3 months would be doing an awesome job of things like not screwing up the iCloud rollout, not breaking MobileMe for days at a time, and allowing users to merge Apple IDs. Obviously I live in some kind of dream world.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TwinCities Dan Avatar
182 months ago
Couldn't agree more. Reward those who perform well but this is just insane.

What about the $100,000,000 contract for Michael Vick. ;) :p
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fabian9 Avatar
182 months ago
No, Steve Jobs made Apple money and unfortunately he's gone now. These guys will leave Apple shortly after they are fully vested.

Hey, its not like Apple is different in this regard than any other corporation -- but publicizing someone getting a 40 million dollar bonus is hard for the average unemployed Joe to understand -- and underscores the tragic gulf between the ridiculously rich and the majority who are struggling.

He's been with apple for 22 years, in that time he's worked for a number of different CEOs and went through some of apples hardest and most successful times.

I can't imagine him leaving anytime soon!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PowderPC Avatar
182 months ago
I know for some options, you only get the difference between the company's value now and later. So, say u get 1 option and the price is 400 now and goes up to 425 at vesting time, u get 25 dollars, not 425. If its negative u obviously dont have to pay...These aren't options...they're outright grants, albeit with vesting restrictions.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple Event in October? Here's What to Expect

Monday September 29, 2025 9:31 am PDT by
Apple's annual iPhone event is in the rearview mirror, but rumors suggest the company plans to release a handful of additional products before the year ends. Will there be another Apple event this October? We discuss the possibility below. Apple in October Apple's most recent October events were in 2021 and 2023. In 2022 and 2024, Apple did not host an October event. Instead, it...
Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Thursday September 25, 2025 1:11 pm PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system codenamed "Charismatic," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple smart home hub concept based on rumors This is likely Apple's long-rumored "homeOS" operating system. In a report last month, Gurman said both Apple's rumored smart home hub in 2026 and tabletop robot in 2027 will run the new operating system. He said the software platform ...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pro Nears Mass Production, But Four Bigger Upgrades Expected Next Year

Sunday September 28, 2025 2:08 pm PDT by
Apple's next MacBook Pro models will enter mass production soon, according to the latest information shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said he continues to believe the new MacBook Pro models will be released at some point between late 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, meaning they should be available to order by March at the latest. Apple often...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.0.1 With Fixes for Wi-Fi, Cellular, and Camera Issues on iPhone 17 Models

Monday September 29, 2025 10:12 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 26.0.1 and iPadOS 26.0.1, the first updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out earlier this week. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes for the update, iOS 26.0.1 addresses a bug that could cause aberrations in...
iOS 26

Apple Continues to Prepare iOS 26.0.1 With Multiple Bug Fixes Expected

Sunday September 28, 2025 1:30 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions. The account initially said iOS 26.0.1 would have a build number of 23A350, but they now expect the update to have a build number of 23A355. This suggests that the software update will include more bug fixes or changes than initially...
maxresdefault

New iPad Pro With M5 Chip Leaked in Unboxing Video

Tuesday September 30, 2025 8:39 am PDT by
An apparent unboxing video for an unannounced iPad Pro with the M5 chip was uploaded to YouTube today by Russian channel Wylsacom. The same YouTube account leaked the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip before it was announced by Apple last year, so this is likely a legitimate leak. Based on the box shown in the video, this appears to be a 13-inch iPad Pro with an M5 chip, 256GB of...
fcc vision pro leak

FCC Accidentally Leaks Apple's Next Vision Pro

Tuesday September 30, 2025 3:48 pm PDT by
The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has seemingly confirmed Apple's work on an updated version of the Vision Pro headset. One of several documents the FCC shared today references an Apple-designed "Head Mounted Device" with a model number of A3416. An included image confirms the device is a Vision Pro. The FCC's uploads are transmission tests, SAR test reports, and...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro teal 1

Apple's iPhone Driver's License Feature Now Available in 11 U.S. States

Tuesday September 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Apple recently revealed that the feature would soon be available in North Dakota, and starting today, the feature has officially gone...
macbook pro prime day 2025

FCC Leaks Upcoming MacBook Pro and More

Tuesday September 30, 2025 1:58 pm PDT by
The United States Federal Communications Commission has confirmed Apple's work on a new version of the MacBook Pro and several other products, leaking details on the devices ahead of launch. The FCC published documents that reference model numbers that do not correspond with existing devices. A3434, for example, references an unreleased MacBook Pro, while other numbers are likely for...
LG UltraFine 6K Display TB5

LG UltraFine 6K (32U990A) TB5 Display: Pre-Orders Open September 30

Monday September 29, 2025 6:21 am PDT by
Pre-orders for LG's new UltraFine evo 6K display (model 32U990A) with Thunderbolt 5 support will begin on September 30, according to a major U.S. retailer listing. LG first revealed the 32-inch display at CES 2025 in January, teasing its status as the first monitor to support Thunderbolt 5. At the time, LG only provided high-level specs, but left pricing, availability, and full technical...