The executives, including software chief Scott Forstall, Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer, and marketing lead Phil Schiller, each received 150,000 restricted Apple shares that would fully vest in 2016, according to Reuters.

The grant amounts to about $60 million based on the closing price of Apple shares on Friday. The shares closed down $2.83 at $400.24.

An Apple spokesman said the stock grant was meant to "reward them down the road" for their continued work in keeping Apple innovative.