Silicon Valley power dressing: from Jobs to Bezos, fashion as a statement

Tim Cook will step down as Apple CEO in September 2026 after 15 years, succeeded by John Ternus, the engineer behind the iPad. The article uses this transition to analyze the symbolic meaning of clothing among Silicon Valley billionaires. Steve Jobs set the template with his Issey Miyake turtlenecks, Levi's 501s, and New Balance sneakers. Cook maintained a sober, recognizable look with blue polos and dark jeans, adding Nike sneakers as a board member. Ternus is expected to follow the minimalist tech style. Mark Zuckerberg epitomizes 'zero decision fatigue' with neutral t-shirts, hoodies, and jeans. Jeff Bezos evolved from anonymous corporate suits to a curated, expensive visibility, culminating in his 2025 Venice wedding and being a top donor for the 2026 Met Gala; his Bezos Earth Fund granted $34 million for biodegradable textile fibers. Elon Musk oscillates between formal wear and tech-bomber jackets, cultivating a visionary-entrepreneur myth. Peter Thiel sticks to traditional Silicon Valley minimalism with classic suits and sneakers. Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir, is the most unconventional, with unkempt salt-and-pepper hair and colorful technical sportswear, even in formal settings. Palantir, founded in 2003 with CIA venture capital, moved from Palo Alto to Denver in 2020 and launched an online store in 2025 selling t-shirts, hoodies, and caps, signaling a shift from tech company to cultural brand.