Apple’s $5-billion 'spaceship' campus ready for takeoff but some will be left behind

By Kif Leswing

Apple employees are currently moving into Apple Park, the company’s new $5-billion headquarters. However, not all Apple employees will move into what’s called “the ring” by insiders. The campus will hold 12,000 employees. Apple has 25,000 employees in the Bay Area.

Apple’s new $5 billion “spaceship” campus has captivated the world’s attention. But even as Apple celebrates the opening of its gleaming UFO-like headquarters, many company employees are coming to terms with a hard truth: There’s not room on the ship for everyone. Who gets a ticket and who gets left behind has become a subject of speculation, conversation and some grumbling at the world’s largest company.


But in keeping with its penchant for secrecy, Apple has not widely discussed its plans for the move internally, leaving many employees in the dark. Some groups at Apple know they’re moving but are still waiting for their move-in date; others suspect they’re not getting an invite to the “ring” simply because they haven’t been told of any plans to move. “You don’t get told things here unless you need to know, and if you aren’t moving, you don’t need to know,” one Apple employee told Business Insider.

Employees who know they’re headed to Apple Park excitedly chat about the perks awaiting them at their new home, while others commiserate about being excluded, according to Apple insiders Business Insider spoke to.

The split between the movers and those left behind has also created a sense of two classes within Apple. Apple’s most valuable talent will be moving to the ring, including executives like CEO Tim Cook, teams full of software developers, and Apple chief design officer Jony Ive’s design teams, which will get one of the nicest spots on the fourth floor of the building.

But less important divisions, like App Store workers and retail operations, are expected to remain in satellite offices scattered around Silicon Valley. This means those people will often have to travel using Apple’s shuttle service to another office just to attend meetings.

“The rest of us will still be taking silver van after silver van from building to building for all of our meetings, wasting time, gas, and space,” the Apple employee told Business Insider.