Tim Cook’s final words of warning as Apple CEO: US now at risk from ‘hundred-year flood’ — even Elon Musk is worried

Tim Cook’s final words of warning as Apple CEO: US now at risk from ‘hundred-year flood’ — even Elon Musk is worried Jing Pan Thu, September 3, 2026 at 2:45 PM GMT+2 9 min read SPCX MSFT TSLA AAPL Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. The Tim Cook era at Apple is officially over — at least in the CEO's office. After 15 years at the helm of one of the world's most valuable companies, Cook stepped down as chief executive on Sept.

1, handing the reins to longtime hardware chief John Ternus. Cook isn't leaving Apple entirely: He has moved into the role of executive chairman. Must Read Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one JPMorgan sees gold hitting $5,000/oz by Q4 — and savvy investors are protecting their wealth with a tax-advantaged Gold IRA.

Get your free guide from Priority Gold The tax breaks in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' expire after 2028. Here are 4 moves to make before the window closes But before closing the book on his historic run as CEO, the supply-chain mastermind left Americans with a warning that was difficult to ignore. During his final earnings call, Cook warned (1) that Apple was caught in what he called a "100-year flood" in memory-chip pricing — a crisis fueled largely by the enormous appetite of AI data centers.

It echoed the chilling assessment he had delivered weeks earlier. "This is a hundred-year flood," Cook told The Wall Street Journal (2). "I've never seen anything like it in any area in over 40 years.

" That is no small admission from the executive who helped build Apple's famously sophisticated global supply chain. Cook said the company had tried to shield its customers from soaring memory and storage costs, but the pressure had become "unsustainable. " "Unfortunately, price increases are unavoidable," he said.

And Cook wasn't the only tech leader sounding the alarm. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk publicly agreed (3) with the outgoing Apple CEO, calling it the "biggest price jump in anything I've ever seen. " Musk also shared a Wall Street Journal article (4) titled "The Data-Center Boom Is Sparking a Third Wave of Inflation.

" The article warned that America's artificial intelligence buildout is pushing up prices on everything from smartphones to electricity. One chart in the article showed consumer prices for computer software and accessories have surged about 15% from a year earlier. Apple subsequently raised prices across numerous Mac and iPad models.

But this is hardly an Apple-only problem. Other major device makers, including Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Dell and Nintendo, have also raised prices. Story Continues Remember, Cook and Musk are not new to this world.

They are tech industry veterans who have lived through shortages, cost spikes, shipping chaos and economic shocks. Yet Cook is calling this a "hundred-year flood. " Musk says it is the "biggest price jump" he has ever seen.

For investors, that warning carries a deeper message: Headline inflation may have eased from its 2022 peak, but inflation is still a force that can move through supply chains, squeeze companies, raise prices and quietly erode the value of money. Your paycheck may stay the same. Your bank balance may look unchanged.

But the cost of maintaining your lifestyle can keep climbing. That is the broader risk for Americans. And you don't need a "hundred-year flood" to see it.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (5), $100 in 2026 has the same purchasing power as just $11. 61 did in 1970. Cook's flood may be hitting the tech supply chain for now, but the steady erosion of purchasing power has been hitting U.

S. savers for decades. That's why many Americans are looking beyond cash and traditional savings when thinking about how to protect their purchasing power.

Here's a look at three time-tested strategies. Own something the Fed can't print When it comes to preserving wealth and fighting inflation, few assets have stood the test of time like gold. Its appeal is simple: unlike fiat currencies, the yellow metal can't be printed at will by central banks.

This inherently limited supply can help it store value. Gold is also considered the ultimate safe haven. It's not tied to any one country, currency or economy.

In times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors often flock to it — driving prices higher. Ray Dalio, founder of the world's largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, has repeatedly highlighted gold's role in a resilient portfolio. "People don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio," Dalio told CNBC last year.

"When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier. " Over the past five years, as inflation continued to chip away at the purchasing power of the dollar, gold has climbed 137%. Other prominent voices see further potential.

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has said that in this environment, gold can "easily" rise to $10,000 an ounce. One way to invest in gold that can also provide significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Goldco . Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold , making it a compelling potential option for those wanting to ensure their retirement funds are diversified during rough economic times.

Goldco offers free shipping and access to a library of retirement resources. Plus, the company will match up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver . If you're curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download your free gold and silver information guide today .

Just keep in mind the gold is usually best deployed as one part of a portfolio. Read More: Millionaires under 43 hold only 32% of their wealth in stocks. Here's where their money is actually going An income-producing inflation shield But gold isn't the only asset investors turn to during inflationary times.

Real estate has also proven to be a powerful hedge. When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts for inflation.

Over the past ten years, the S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U. S. National Home Price NSA Index (6) has jumped by 87%, reflecting strong demand and limited housing supply.

Of course, high home prices can make buying a home more challenging, especially with mortgage rates still elevated. And being a landlord isn't exactly hands-off work — managing tenants, maintenance and repairs can quickly eat into your time (and returns). The good news?

You don't need to buy a property outright — or deal with leaky faucets — to invest in real estate today. Crowdfunding platforms like mogul offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class. As a real estate investment platform offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties , mogul gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — without the need for a hefty down payment or midnight maintenance calls.

Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team hand-picks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. In other words, you gain access to institutional-quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost. Each property undergoes a rigorous vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios.

Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18. 8%. Offerings often sell out in under three hours , with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.

Sign up for an account and browse available properties here to start investing today. Another option is Bonaventure , which offers accredited investors access to institutional-grade multifamily real estate investments in high-growth markets with a minimum investment of $25,000. Bonaventure focuses on income-producing apartment communities, offering potential tax advantages through structures like 1031 exchanges and UPREITs, allowing you to build passive income and wealth while the company manages the properties.

Plus, Bonaventure has a fully-loaded resource center that teaches you everything you need to evaluate multifamily investments. Sign up today, explore your options and construct your real estate portfolio . Build a strategy for uncertain times Real assets can offer a way to hedge against rising prices.

But the right strategy depends on your broader financial picture, including your income, debt, retirement savings, investment goals and tolerance for risk. For investors with substantial portfolios, those decisions can become increasingly nuanced. Managing withdrawals, minimizing tax exposure and keeping a long-term plan on track often require greater coordination and strategic planning.

In these cases, working with a financial advisor can help reduce costly mistakes. If you have a portfolio of $250,000 or more, platforms like WiserAdvisor can connect you with vetted professionals who specialize in this kind of planning. Simply answer a few questions about your savings, retirement timeline and overall investment portfolio.

From there, WiserAdvisor reviews its network to match you — for free — with up to three vetted, reputable advisors aligned with your specific needs. You can then schedule no-obligation consultations with your matches to determine who is the best fit for your long-term goals. WiserAdvisor is a matching service and does not provide financial advice directly.

All matched advisors are third parties, and specific financial results are not guaranteed. You May Also Like A single line on your car insurance policy could be inflating your premium by up to 30% — here's what to change Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake.   Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP Your Social Security 'Trump Bump' in 2027 will be one of the biggest in 25 years — but there's a serious catch no one's talking about Dave Ramsey says this 1 indulgent purchase stops Americans from becoming wealthy.

Here's what he recommends instead Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise's best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now . Article Sources We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting.

For details, see our ethics and guidelines . Yahoo Finance ( 1 ); The Wall Street Journal ( 2 ), ( 4 ); @elonmusk/ X ( 3 ); Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis ( 5 ); S&P Global ( 6 ) This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.