There are different ways to determine the largest corporations in the world, the most authoritative ranking of Forbes Global 2000 determines the company's place in terms of an integral indicator. At the same time, there are ratings on other indicators, including the level of capitalization. The proposed list of the largest corporations in the world includes the most valuable of them.
1. Apple Inc
The corporation is at the top of various ratings, despite the scandals of recent years associated with the deliberate slowdown of older smartphone models. Litigation continues in many countries around the world. Apple remains number one among the world's largest corporations by capitalization, which also leads by brand value.
The company's market value exceeded $1 trillion on August 1, 2018, the first company in the world to achieve this value.
The company was founded in 1976 by Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne and Steve Jobs, who had previously sold several homemade computersdevelopment. The company was the first in the world to mass-produce personal computers. In total, more than 5 million PCs of the first model, the Apple II, were sold. Then the company offered the market a number of pilot gadgets, releasing the first smartphones and tablet computers. That determined the success of the corporation in the global market. Today, Apple is in the top ten among the largest corporations in the world, by almost any rating.
2. Alphabet Inc
Corporations, one might say, only three years old, before that it was known to everyone as Google. Sometimes the company, though not for long, overtakes Apple in market capitalization. The first time in February 2016 was the leader for only two days. More than once it was recognized as the largest media corporation in the world, overtaking such monsters of the film industry as the W alt Disney Company and 21st Century Fox.
The company's capitalization is $782.68 billion
In 1996, Larry Page and Sergey Brin were doing a research project to develop a search engine they called BackRub. In search of funding, they turned to Andy Bechtolsheim (Sun Microsystems). During the presentation, he said that everything was very interesting, but I was in a hurry and wrote a check for $100,000 to Google Incorporated. To receive investments, they had to register such a company. Google is a misspelling of googol (number of one and one hundred zeroes). In addition to the search engine, the holding offers many more popular services, including Android and YouTube. In recent years, Alphabet Inc. has invested in mobile phone companiesMotorola and HTC devices.
3. Microsoft
One of the largest multinational software companies in the world. Pioneer and absolute global monopoly - most computers in the world use the Windows operating system.
Capitalization of the company amounted to $681.58 billion
In 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded the Microsoft software company. In 1985, in collaboration with IBM, Microsoft Windows was developed, which made Gates one of the richest people in the world. The company was the first to offer a package of user programs that made using the computer easy and straightforward. In addition to software, the corporation produces mobile devices, accessories, audio and office equipment, game consoles. In recent years, Microsoft has been investing in gaming and cloud technology companies.
4. Amazon Inc
In front of our very eyes, a small online bookseller has grown into a global online platform offering a wide range of everyday products. In 2018, the founder of the company, Jeff Bezos, became the richest man on the planet with a fortune of $139.6 billion.
The company is worth $628.78 billion
The small firm was founded in 1994 with an initial investment of $300,000. Bezos named the company after a river in Latin America. Since 1998, the company began to expandrange. Music discs and video production were added to the books. Soon the range consisted of 34 product groups. Amazon Inc. also invests in the production of organic products, space technology and robots.
5. Berkshire Hathaway Inc
The name of the company says nothing to most people, unlike its widely publicized owner Warren Buffett, who has been called the world's best investor more than once. Among the largest corporations in the world, it has the highest value per share: approximately $315,225.
The company is currently worth $518.55 billion
Corporation, founded in 1929, engaged in the production of cotton fabrics. By 1960, Buffett had taken control of the company. In those years, the textile industry fell into a period of crisis and began to disqualify its activities. Several insurance companies were bought by the owner, now the corporation ranks second in the insurance market.
Recent major deals: in 2010, a railway company was bought for $44 billion, in 2015, an aircraft engine manufacturer was bought for $31.7 billion.
In addition, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. provides services in the field of public utilities, produces a large range of industrial products and consumer goods. In 2015, over 40,000 people participated in the annual shareholder meeting, for which the event was called "Woodstock for the capitalists."
6. Facebook
Scandals,associated with a large-scale leakage of personal data continue to put pressure on one of the most powerful corporations in the world. In March of this year, in two days of March, the founder of the largest social network, Mark Zuckerberg, lost $ 8.1 billion, and the company's value decreased by 36.7 billion. The "Delete your Facebook" movement is gaining momentum, which is joined by more and more famous people, including Elon Musk and Brian Acton, creator of the WhatsApp messenger.
The company's capitalization is $518.37 billion
The site was developed by Zuckerberg for students at Harvard University, which was then gradually opened to all American students, and since 2006 to everyone over 16 years old. 1,968 billion people use the social network a month, advertising revenue exceeds $8 billion. Facebook also owns the popular services Instagram and WhatsApp.
7. Johnson & Johnson
The company is familiar to many thanks to annoying advertising of goods for children. It produces goods related to pharmaceuticals, medicine and hygiene under several dozen brands. Is a leader in the production of medical equipment.
The company is worth $394.54 billion
Although the company is called Johnson & Johnson, it was founded in 1887 by three members of the Johnson family - brothers Robert, James and Edward. They were engaged in the production of dressings and plaster, a little later they began to produce baby powder. As part of one of the largest corporations in the world, about 250 enterprises in many countries of the world are engaged inproduction of medicines, hygiene products and medical equipment. In 2012, the Swiss manufacturer of orthopedic equipment was bought for $19.7 billion and Johnson & Johnson became the world leader in this market segment.
8. JPMorgan Chase
The American financial holding, owned by the Rockefeller family, operates in many regions of the world. For almost 200 years of history, as a result of a whole chain of mergers and acquisitions, it has become one of the largest corporations in the world. About 235,000 people work for the financial conglomerate in more than 60 countries.
The capitalization of the holding is $389.55 billion
In 1823, the Chemical Manufacturing Company was formed, engaged in chemical production. A year later, a bank was organized under her, which soon became independent. In 1996, Chemical Bank acquired another bank (Chase Manhattan), then several more, and as a result of a series of name changes, JPMorgan Chase became.
Corporation provides virtually the entire range of financial services, including retail banking (US only): insurance, asset management, investment management and advisory. More than $2 trillion in assets under management.
