Tim Cook created a product for Apple that's worth more than entire companies as the historic CEO is replaced by John Ternus
Published on Sep 06, 2026 at 12:05 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Sep 06, 2026 at 12:05 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Tim Cook has officially left his role as CEO of Apple after 15 years, and he was replaced by John Ternus just days ahead of the rumored launch of the foldable iPhone.
Cook did a few important things for Apple.
First, he turned it into a tech giant, and the world’s largest company.
Second, he oversaw the creation of what is arguably one of the most successful products ever.
The key difference between Tim Cook and John Ternus
When Tim Cook took over after the untimely passing of Steve Jobs, very few people knew who he was.
Over the last 15 years, under Cook’s tenure, Apple has grown.
Whichever way you look at it, the company is much bigger than it was.
Higher revenue, higher profits, higher market capitalization.
However, critics sometimes pointed out that, with Cook, innovation was no longer a priority.
Maybe that’s part of the reason why after Cook left, the board of directors unanimously agreed John Ternus was the right person to replace him.
Cook has a corporate background.
He’s an operational logistics and supply chain management guy.
By contrast, Ternus is an engineer.
So maybe the idea is to make sure Apple can innovate again, like it used to.
However, speaking of products, there is one product that Tim Cook launched that’s been massively successful.
If AirPods were a company…
Under Tim Cook, Apple has launched three major new products: AirPods, Watch, and Vision Pro.
The first two have been wildly successful, while the third one hasn’t.
However, AirPods’ success needs to be studied.
A while back, Apple removed the audio jack and began marketing Bluetooth headphones.
As per usual, everyone criticized, but then everyone followed: good luck finding a smartphone with an audio jack these days.
AirPods – now available in three flavors – are arguably one of the most successful tech products of all time.
Even the large, heavy, and hugely expensive AirPods Max ($549) are a bestseller.
Since launch, Apple has shipped around 150 million AirPods, including all three variants: Entry/Standard, Pro, and Max.
If this product were a company, it’d still be large enough to be a Fortune 500 company.
In terms of revenue, AirPods alone raked in an estimated $10 billion – $12 billion in 2025 alone.
For reference, that’s more than Pinterest, Snapchat and Duolingo combined.
And those are companies, whereas AirPods are a product line.
So… no pressure for Ternus, then.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
