Cook's high pay reflects not only Apple's size and profitability, but also his 10th anniversary as CEO.

We all look forward to that yearly Christmas bonus, but when it goes above and beyond what is expected, it can generate internal and external strife. According to an SEC filing issued on Thursday, Apple CEO, Tim Cook got $98.73 million in salary in fiscal 2021.

Reportedly, the compensation announcement follows Apple's outstanding year, in which the company claimed a 33 percent revenue increase and sales of more than $365 billion. The information pertains to Apple's fiscal year, which started in September 2020 and ended in September 2021.

Institutional Shareholder Services, a proxy advice business specializing in all things related to responsible governance, recommended its clients to reject Cook's high salary plan in 2021.

The consulting company expressed "serious worry" in a client letter seen by the Financial Times over Cook's $82 million in stock awards as part of his pay. For a total of $98.7 million, the package comprised a $3 million salary, a $12 million cash bonus, and a little under $1.5 million in personal security and private plane fees.

Cook's high pay reflects not only Apple's size and profitability (shares have risen by 31.88 percent in the previous year) but also his 10th anniversary as CEO after taking over following Steve Jobs' death.

While Apple has not commented on this specific ISS proposal, Cook's leadership has already been credited with helping the business attain a market worth of $3 trillion in January, making it the first corporation in the United States to accomplish so. In reality, during Cook's tenure, Apple's market cap increased by more than 90%. When he took control in August 2011, the stock was trading at $13.34. It ended at $172.55 on Wednesday.

Much of the current outrage is symbolic because even if shareholders vote against Cook's pay, Apple's board of directors makes the final decision. The board is not compelled to respond to shareholder complaints, but it may choose to do so to prevent backlash and unwanted publicity.