Apple has plowed over $500 billion into stock buybacks since 2012 — more than Visa, JPMorgan, or Exxon are worth

• Apple has spent over $500 billion on stock buybacks since 2012, a Markets Insider analysis shows.
• Only eight S&P 500 companies are worth more than the iPhone maker's total repurchases to date.
• Warren Buffett has welcomed Apple's buybacks as they've boosted his ownership at no cost to him.

Apple has spent upwards of $500 billion on stock buybacks over the last decade, a Markets Insider analysis shows.