Apple Inc. is a publicly traded company, meaning it's owned by its shareholders. Millions of individual and institutional investors collectively own Apple through their holdings of its publicly traded stock.
Understanding Apple's Ownership Structure
- Publicly Traded: Unlike privately held companies with a few owners, Apple's ownership is widely distributed.
- Shareholders: These shareholders include individuals, mutual funds, pension funds, and other institutional investors.
- Largest Shareholders: While millions own shares, some institutional investors like Vanguard, BlackRock, and Berkshire Hathaway hold significant portions of Apple's stock. Individual large shareholders include Tim Cook (CEO), among others.
- Retail Investors: A substantial portion (approximately 51.28% according to TipRanks) of Apple stock is held by individual retail investors.
Key Players in Apple's Ownership
While no single entity "owns" Apple, these groups hold substantial shares:
- Institutional Investors: These large-scale investors, such as Vanguard, BlackRock, and Berkshire Hathaway, collectively hold a significant percentage of Apple's outstanding shares.
- Individual Investors: Millions of individuals worldwide own Apple stock, representing a significant portion of the overall ownership.
- Insiders: Apple executives, including CEO Tim Cook, also hold significant shares of Apple stock.
In short: Apple is not owned by any single individual or entity. Its ownership is fragmented across numerous shareholders, with institutional investors and retail investors holding the majority of shares.