Apple CEO Tim Cook Auctions Apple HQ Charity Lunch for Fourth Year in a Row

For the fourth year in a row, Apple CEO Tim Cook is participating in a charity auction through CharityBuzz, offering whoever bids the most the chance to eat lunch with him at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino. As with last year's auction, Cook is also offering tickets to an unspecified Apple keynote event.

Two people will be able to attend the lunch meeting with Cook, with the experience set to last for approximately one hour. Lunch is included in the price of the auction, but travel and accommodations are not. The offer expires on May 5, 2017, and will be scheduled at a "mutually agreed upon date."

timcookcharitylunch2016
With the expiration date set to happen in May of 2017 and the second Apple campus set to be finished in late 2016, there's a chance the auction winner could be invited to the second Apple Campus, though the auction makes no mention of this.

The auction, which will last until May 5, has an estimated value of $100,000, but bids have already reached $110,000. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human rights, a charity that aims to achieve a "just and peaceful world by partnering with human rights leaders, teaching social justice and advancing corporate responsibility." Tim Cook has supported the RFK Center for several years running and was recently elected to the board of directors.

In 2015, Cook's charity lunch raised $200,000, while the 2014 auction brought in $330,001 and the 2013 auction brought in $610,000.

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature Pink

Apple's 2026 Low-Cost A18 Pro MacBook: What We Know So Far

Friday January 2, 2026 4:33 pm PST by
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far. Size Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
Mac Pro Feature Blue

What's Happening With the Mac Pro?

Wednesday December 31, 2025 9:59 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro. Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...

Top Rated Comments

bollman Avatar
127 months ago
2013: $610000
2014: $330001
2015: $200000
2016: $120000?
2017: $70000
2018: $35000
2019: $20000
2020: $10000
2021: $7000
2022: $5000
2023: $3000
2024: $1000
2025: $600
2026: $500 - I'm in!
2027: $300
2028: $200
2029: $100
2030: Free lunch!
2031: Tim will start to pay you to have lunch with him!
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KENESS Avatar
127 months ago
Hey that's great. Lunch with a powerful CEO that only the mega Rich can afford. Awesome. Good plan.
It's for charity. There's really no need for snarkiness.

If I had tons of money, I'd totally be interested. The money will be going to a good cause, and it'd be an interesting lunch!
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
twocents Avatar
127 months ago
Love to imagine the conversation I'd have.
"So I love your products and all, but why is there still 16GB base models for premium products at premium pricing in 2016?"
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MaulRx Avatar
127 months ago
I'll wait for the lunch S next year.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArtOfWarfare Avatar
127 months ago
Why the rapidly declining yield?
Nothing really groundbreaking has come out of Apple since 2010. People see that, realize that that was about when Tim took over full time, and conclude that Apple's success since 2010 was nothing but momentum.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WRX-SRQ Avatar
127 months ago
Hey that's great. Lunch with a powerful CEO that only the mega Rich can afford. Awesome. Good plan.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)