Apple CEO, Tim Cook has become the highest profile leader in the business world to come out of the closet. He came out in an essay originally posted on Bloomberg BusinessWeek.

Cook, who has headed Apple Inc. since the death of Steve Jobs in 2011, is notoriously private and has never acknowledged his sexuality publically until now.

He writes, “For years, I’ve been open with many people about my sexual orientation. Plenty of colleagues at Apple know I’m gay, and it doesn’t seem to make a difference in the way they treat me. Of course, I’ve had the good fortune to work at a company that loves creativity and innovation and knows it can only flourish when you embrace people’s differences. Not everyone is so lucky.

“While I have never denied my sexuality, I haven’t publicly acknowledged it either, until now. So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.”

The 53 year-old added that growing up in a minority has given him a thick skin, which helped him succeed in the business world.

“Being gay has given me a deeper understanding of what it means to be in the minority and provided a window into the challenges that people in other minority groups deal with every day. It’s made me more empathetic, which has led to a richer life.

“It’s been tough and uncomfortable at times, but it has given me the confidence to be myself, to follow my own path, and to rise above adversity and bigotry. It’s also given me the skin of a rhinoceros, which comes in handy when you’re the CEO of Apple.”

The multi-billion dollar tech company has been a strong supporter of LGBT rights, having produced viral videos supporting marriage equality and having LGBT employees march in San Francisco pride parade.

Earlier this week, Tim Cook spoke about gay rights in his home state of Alabama.