Isn’t it strange how Apple CEOs are known for their sneakers? I mean, if anyone just mentions the name Steve Jobs, you’ll remember what shoe he had on his feet. Strangely, the same thing can be said about Tim Cook. And now that he’s stepping down as CEO of Apple and transitioning to an Executive Chairman role, sneakerheads are finally recognizing his sneaker game.
There were plenty of memes that went around after John Ternus was announced as the new CEO of Apple (starting September 1, 2026). Most of them were pointing out how they’ll miss Cook’s new iPhone announcements.
On the opposite side of the internet, however, sneakerheads were taking a long look back at some of the fire Tim Cook has worn over the years, including those limited Travis Scott sneakers, like the Fragment Design x Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Sail Military Blue.” Even as one of the world’s most famous tech giants, he looked mighty cool wearing the sneakers while giving presentations and announcing their latest tech.
The shoe was a three-way collab between Hiroshi Fujiwara’s Fragment, Travis Scott’s backward Swoosh signature and, of course, Jordan Brand. And it’s pretty clean too: white leather, muted blue touches here and there, and, of course, that aged midsole. Everyone wanted a pair. Cook had them. And he rocked them often.
Scott himself also reposted images of Cook wearing them. Somehow, this unusual friendship worked. And the rapper always made sure that Apple’s CEO had the latest and the best.
Remember the unreleased Travis Scott “Shy Pink” Jordan 1 Low at Apple’s 50th celebration? Or how about the sashiko-style Nike Vomero Plus in Japan?
Yes, Tim Cook was a sneakerhead. He even had a one-of-one Air Max 1 ’86 stitched with Apple’s rainbow logo. That pair alone would probably sell for millions if they were ever auctioned off.
Oh, and yeah, it probably helps that Cook has been on Nike’s board since 2005, too. So he’s not only wearing them, but helping to shape the future of the brand too.
Cook took Apple to a new level in every way… including improving their image. Tech wasn’t just for guys who wore New Balance dad shoes. It’s also for the sneakerhead, the fashion designer, and the business guy.
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