Apple Inc.'s rise to prominence over the last decade or so represents one of the more spectacular success stories in the tech world.

A favourite pastime among industry pundits is arguing over the importance and impact of the firm's celebrated helmsman, Steve Jobs. These debates began to assume a ghoulish air during Job's prolonged absence following (what has now been disclosed as) his liver transplant. Would Apple survive his loss, many wondered out loud?

While Jobs' importance shouldn't be underestimated, it remains a fact that Apple Inc's stock value has continued to rise in a more or less unbroken arch, steaming from US$89 in January of 2007 to $222) today's value).

On Tuesday, March 9, Apple became one of a select few to cross the US$200 billion barrier.

The firm appears to be crediting its COO Tim Cook with much of its recent success. Cook was recently awarded a US$5 million bonus, along with 75,000 stock options. At today's stock price, that works out to US$16,650,000.

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