Apple CEO Tim Cook has offered up a coffee meeting for a charity auction benefitting the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights. Estimated to go for US$50,000, the auction earned 54 bids in just the first few hours and is sitting at $190,000 as of this writing.
Apple CEO Tim Cook
The auction is being handled by Charitybuzz, an online auction service designed specifically to allow celebrities, icons, and bigwigs to donate their time, attention, or stuff for fans to bid on. The proceeds go a number of charities, and Charitybuzz said it has raised more than $60 million.
Mr. Cook's charity, the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights is an organization set up in Robert F. Kennedy's name to promote human rights around the globe.
From the organization's website, "The RFK PARTNERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS bolster the efficacy of human rights defenders through sustained, strategic partnerships, extending their reach to legislators, diplomats, international institutions, and corporations."
An hour with Tim Cook is something many people would apparently enjoy. Bidders so far have included app developers, case makers, tech execs, and a photographer wanting to talk about human rights in Asia. the current winner is Kerb Karma, who may be a Bluetooth developer.
$190,000 is a lot of money, and much more than any of the other current auctions. Charitybuzz noted to The Guardian that a backstage meeting with Sir Paul McCartney went for $70,000.
"The highest bid we've had in our history," the organization said, "was the winning $610,000 bid for a 2013 Lamborghini Aventador roadster this past March 2013 to benefit One Drop. The highest bid for an experience at Charitybuzz was a $255,000 winning bid to spend a day shadowing President Bill Clinton to benefit the Clinton Foundation."
If you were considering bidding just for fun or to help boost the price, you'll still need deep pockets. Bids must be made with a valid credit card with a high enough credit limit to match your bid.
Still, with 19 days left in the auction, we expect Tim Cook's coffee date to go much, much higher. The meeting is expected to last an hour and will take place at Apple's headquarters.