Tim Cook Charity Lunch Auction Ends, Earns $200,000 for RFK Center

[MacRumors]

Tim Cook's third annual CharityBuzz auction ended this afternoon, earning $200,000 for the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. The auction, which had more than 20 bids, includes a one hour lunch date with Tim Cook at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino and two VIP passes to an Apple keynote event to watch Apple unveil new products.

Though the auction earned an impressive $200,000 for the RFK Center, it brought in less money than previous auctions held in 2013 and 2014. In 2013, the inaugural CharityBuzz auction for a coffee date with Cook brought in an impressive $610,000, and 2014's lunch auction ended at $330,001.

Today's auction winner will be able to bring one additional person to have lunch with Cook, with the cost of lunch being included in the auction price. Transportation and accommodations to Cupertino are not included, however, and the exact date of the lunch will be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time.

This year's event, like last year's, included two VIP tickets to an upcoming Apple keynote event -- WWDC is on the horizon, so the auction winner may be invited to attend the WWDC keynote. WWDC promises to be quite exciting this year, as rumors have suggested a whole slew of products could see an unveiling, including a new streaming music service, a new streaming television service, and a new Apple TV. We'll also see iOS 9 and OS X 10.11.

Proceeds from today's auction benefit the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, a charity that Tim Cook has now supported for three years running. The RFK Center aims to achieve "a just and peaceful world by partnering with human rights leaders, teaching social justice, and advancing corporate responsibility."

Article Link: Tim Cook Charity Lunch Auction Ends, Earns $200,000 for RFK Center

 

[sampaul]

How do people have so much money?? Gosh

 

[Boatboy24]

How do people have so much money?? Gosh

And why is the value of lunch with Tim dropping by roughly 40% each year?

 

[SixtyK]

"This year's event, like last year's, included two VIP tickets to an upcoming Apple keynote event"​

Ooh... ooh... pick me! Pick me! *raises an arm, propping it up with the other for a strategic height advantage*

 

[DavidTheExpert]

I wonder why the amount raised has been declining every year.... Maybe he's just not a very interesting conversationalist?

 

[asmodeo1]

I wonder why the amount raised has been declining every year.... Maybe he's just not a very interesting conversationalist?

I will the you after the lunch

 

[AngerDanger]

To Whoever Won

It's time to get some real answers from ol' Tim. Just where is the bluetooth port on my Mac? And how do they fit an entire apple into each product?

 

[TXCherokee]

And why is the value of lunch with Tim dropping by roughly 40% each year?

At 40% per year, I'll be able to afford lunch with him sometime around 2022-3.

 

[whit2891]

Zero correlation to stock

 

[2457282]

And why is the value of lunch with Tim dropping by roughly 40% each year?

Maybe people are realizing that they are getting no insider information, and are able to provide zero influence.

Winner - Hi tim
Tim - hello winner
Winner - So when will you finally get a TV out
Tim - this is a great salad, dont you think
Winner - Are you really working on a car
Tim - would you like some more ice tea
Winner - Can you please add more ports to your devices
Tim - check please

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

I'm surprised (but not really) there were only 20 bids, and that only $200K went to charity. That speaks volumes.

@Cuban Missiles -- that's hilarious!

 

[Rogifan]

Odd that the price keeps dropping. Perhaps it got out that he's not that interesting of a lunch date.

 

[ttss6]

Dang, I can't imagine someone spending that much money just to eat with me. That's all that would happen since Tim likely won't spill the beans on Apple's plans for this year or take any input. If that were the case, ol' Carl Icahn would be on that!

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Includes a ticket to WWDC but you have to cover transportation.

I always find this weird - why is transportation so rarely included in auctions for events that will happen at specific places? Oh, you've spent $200K for lunch, but no transportation included!

I realize that for anyone paying that much to talk with a guy for half an hour, money is no object, so they can easily afford the transportation, but still... that would irritate me.

I especially see that on Kickstarter a lot. $5000 to be a VIP at the release event of the project, but the $200 plane ticket isn't included?

 

[Hustler1337]

Today's auction winner will be able to bring one additional person to have lunch with Cook, with the cost of lunch being included in the auction price.

Damn right it better include lunch.

 

[kodos]

At this rate, having a lunch with Tim will soon cost as much as it does to have lunch with me!

But he's probably a better and more interesting host than I am. LOL.

 

[69650]

The RFK Center aims to achieve "a just and peaceful world by partnering with human rights leaders, teaching social justice, and advancing corporate responsibility."

Sadly that will never happen no matter how much money they raise. It would make more of an impact if they went to an improvised African village and simply gave every family $1000 cash.

 

[s2mikey]

Sadly that will never happen no matter how much money they raise. It would make more of an impact if they went to an improvised African village and simply gave every family $1000 cash.

Or brought jobs back to the USA where people really need them.

IMO, anything other than completely anonymous charity is simply a PR move and tax write off scheme anyways. Total joke. Rich people donate so it looks good on paper that they "care". It's easy to give away money when it is no object. It's like the common man giving a nickel to charity. "Golf clap".

 

[shareef777]

Includes a ticket to WWDC but you have to cover transportation.

I always find this weird - why is transportation so rarely included in auctions for events that will happen at specific places? Oh, you've spent $200K for lunch, but no transportation included!

I realize that for anyone paying that much to talk with a guy for half an hour, money is no object, so they can easily afford the transportation, but still... that would irritate me.

I especially see that on Kickstarter a lot. $5000 to be a VIP at the release event of the project, but the $200 plane ticket isn't included?

I would imagine it's because of the logistics. Someone that can drop $200k on a lunch has likely got a busy life so why bother with the extra work of getting them there. What if they're flying in from over seas, or they demand a private jet because they can't be 'caged' with us commoners lol.

 

[Redenkeew]

Includes a ticket to WWDC but you have to cover transportation.

I always find this weird - why is transportation so rarely included in auctions for events that will happen at specific places? Oh, you've spent $200K for lunch, but no transportation included!

I realize that for anyone paying that much to talk with a guy for half an hour, money is no object, so they can easily afford the transportation, but still... that would irritate me.

I especially see that on Kickstarter a lot. $5000 to be a VIP at the release event of the project, but the $200 plane ticket isn't included?

People who can spend money like that have their own preferred mode of transportation. Unless Apple offer to fly the winner on a private jet, chances are the winner would never agree to travel using the transportation that Apple provided. Just think, if you can afford a $200k lunch without batting an eye, would you even fly First Class? No.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

Crap!

My $199,999.99 bid didn't make the cut.

 

[Gasu E.]

If I had known the cost of the lunch was actually included, I would have bid. There's nothing worse than paying $200,000 to have lunch with Tim, and then finding out you have to pay for your sammitch.

----------

The auction invitation says "Enjoy lunch."

But the article just before this one is about the "'Enjoy' Launch."

Coincidence?

 

[unplugme71]

And why is the value of lunch with Tim dropping by roughly 40% each year?

Well there's only so many wealthy people who want to meet him. I'm sure next year it'll just break 100k and the year after 60k. And so forth. This is great for small business owners because maybe at 30-50k they can afford to meet him and donate to a great cause. And 10 years from that, I might be willing to pay $850

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People who can spend money like that have their own preferred mode of transportation. Unless Apple offer to fly the winner on a private jet, chances are the winner would never agree to travel using the transportation that Apple provided. Just think, if you can afford a $200k lunch without batting an eye, would you even fly First Class? No.

It's not about the lunch it's about the charity. $200k donation is probably for someone with a net worth of $75-100 mil or more. I can't see someone with less than that making such a large donation.

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Sadly that will never happen no matter how much money they raise. It would make more of an impact if they went to an improvised African village and simply gave every family $1000 cash.

And they will spend it in the first 5 minutes but teach them how to grow and build an economy and that will net them more!

----------

Includes a ticket to WWDC but you have to cover transportation.

I always find this weird - why is transportation so rarely included in auctions for events that will happen at specific places? Oh, you've spent $200K for lunch, but no transportation included!

I realize that for anyone paying that much to talk with a guy for half an hour, money is no object, so they can easily afford the transportation, but still... that would irritate me.

I especially see that on Kickstarter a lot. $5000 to be a VIP at the release event of the project, but the $200 plane ticket isn't included?

Because you most likely have a private jet or fly first class.

It's not like you won a trip on the radio where the average person can't afford a week stay at the local lake hotel never mind a plane ticket for 4.

----------

It's time to get some real answers from ol' Tim. Just where is the bluetooth port on my Mac? And how do they fit an entire apple into each product?

Similar to how they cram all that graham into golden Graham's

 

[Marx55]

Wrong thread. Sorry!

 

[alphaod]

Interesting they picked an Apple Store in Hong Kong (looks like Causeway Bay) for the image.

How do people have so much money?? Gosh

Lots of people have that kind of money. It's just spare change. Also tax deductible.