[logicallee]

EDIT:

Even if he wanted to, Cook doesn't have enough power at Apple, practically, to be actually in a position to do that yet.

I mean clout. He literally can't personally decide to do that (yet) and just do it.

The Apple watch is the first category or undertaking of a similar size and novelty, and has yet to be accepted or succeed. (It will.)

My comment is being misinterpreted so I've clarified above. My comment isn't about what Apple can 'afford to do' it's about what Tim Cook can 'afford to do' (politically and in terms of consequences.)

[adventured]

$150 billion in cash says otherwise.

Apple could step in at $1.5 or $2 billion, at twice the valuation, and the deal would be theirs most likely.

If not, then for the same price tag, they could just launch their own network.

[themartorana]

I think Musk keeps control pretty tightly held. A Google investment isn't something SpaceX can take without his say-so. So Apple can't randomly drop $2B and win the day - If SpaceX takes the investment, they likely a) leave most control with Musk, and b) are the right partner, the one Musk was looking for.

[threeseed]

Tim Cook in case you forgot is the CEO of Apple and has been instrumental in its success. He is also ridiculously well respected within Apple. Not sure what more he could do.

That said he isn't stupid enough to invest in something like this. Apple doesn't benefit all that much from having more people on the internet. Google does.

[fpgeek]

Larry Page and Sergey Brin have majority voting control of Google. Tim Cook doesn't have the same at Apple. No matter how well-respected, he's answerable to shareholders in a way Page is not. Arguably we see some of this when Icahn pushes for Apple dividends and share buybacks.