It’s been 14 years since Apple’s co-founder and ex-CEO Steve Jobs passed away, leaving a legacy that continues to be respected and celebrated. Under Jobs, Apple became a major force in the technology industry, setting new benchmarks and trends for everyone else to follow. Hence, on his death anniversary, it was Apple’s current CEO and Jobs’ former colleague, Tim Cook, who took to social media to pay his tribute.
Cook paid a heartfelt tribute to the company’s co-founder, Steve Jobs, on his 14th death anniversary, acknowledging the influence of Jobs’ vision on the company and the tech industry. Jobs, who co-founded Apple in 1976 and returned in 1996 to lead its historic turnaround, passed away on October 5, 2011, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
In a touching message shared on X (formerly Twitter), Cook reflected on the clarity and optimism that defined his predecessor’s approach to innovation in tech.
“Steve saw the future as a bright and boundless place, lit the path forward, and inspired us to follow,” Cook wrote. “We miss you, my friend,” he added.
Tim Cook pays tribute to Steve Jobs
Cook’s sentiment underscores the continuing legacy of Jobs, whose emphasis on design, simplicity, and user experience defined industry-shaping products like the Macintosh, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. His bold and uncompromising principles not only saved Apple from the brink of collapse but propelled it to become one of the world’s most valuable and influential companies.
Tim Cook, who succeeded Jobs as CEO shortly before his death, has consistently paid homage to the co-founder’s vision. Cook has previously revealed that Jobs’s preserved office at Apple’s former headquarters remains untouched, serving as a physical reminder of the company’s founding principles.
In a chapter from 2017, Cook emphasised the daily connection of present-day Apple to Jobs’s spirit. “There is not a day that goes by that we don’t think about him,” he said. Cook often credits Jobs’s lasting advice — not to ask what Jobs would do, but to always do what he believed was right — which Cook considers a guiding philosophy for his own leadership.
Apple continues to push innovation
Under Cook’s leadership, Apple has evolved into a multi-billion dollar conglomerate, reaching to the far ends of the world with its iconic iPhones, Macs, iPads, AirPods, and Apple Watch. The recently launched iPhone 17 series takes the innovation a step further, with the iPhone Air setting new standards in mobile phone design. The AirPods Pro is now a health tracking companion in addition to being music gear.