Apple Posts Record iPhone Quarter with 69% Market Share; Musk Reveals EV Recruiting
Apple posted its largest iPhone sales quarter ever, capturing a 69% market share and boosting Qualcomm’s holiday-quarter sales outlook. Elon Musk said Apple offered Tesla engineers double-pay recruiting calls during its abandoned EV project and markets assign a 33% probability to Tim Cook stepping down before 2027.
1. Record iPhone Quarter
Apple achieved its most significant iPhone revenue quarter to date, driving global smartphone market share up to 69%, the highest level on record, fueled by strong demand across premium and mid-tier models.
2. Aggressive EV Recruiting Claims
Elon Musk disclosed that during Apple’s discontinued electric vehicle project, the company made persistent recruiting calls to Tesla engineers offering double their current salaries to join Apple’s EV efforts.
3. Tim Cook Succession Odds
Prediction markets now assign a 33% probability that Tim Cook will step down as CEO before the end of 2026, reflecting rising speculation around potential leadership changes at Apple.
4. Qualcomm Holiday Boost
Robust holiday-quarter iPhone sales are expected to lift near-term chipset revenue for Qualcomm, as Apple increases orders for Qualcomm’s custom wireless components to support high volume shipments.