In the dynamic world of today's global economy, an extraordinary group of companies has achieved a remarkable milestone: achieving trillion-dollar valuations. These exceptional companies stand at the forefront of success and influence, leaving an incredible impact on industries and economies around the globe. From groundbreaking technological innovators to game-changing industry disruptors, these companies serve as living proof of the limitless possibilities that business holds in the modern era.
In this article, we'll explore the list of trillion-dollar companies in the world, exploring their incredible achievements.
What Is a Trillion-Dollar Company?
Which was the First Trillion-Dollar Company?
List of Trillion-Dollar Companies in the World
Companies That Touched the Trillion-Dollar Mark
Which Companies Are Next to Join the Trillion Dollar Club?
What Is a Trillion-Dollar Company?
A trillion-dollar company is a remarkable achievement in the business world. It refers to a company that has surpassed a market capitalization or valuation of $1 trillion. This milestone represents immense size, exceptional success, and significant influence within the global economy. Companies like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet symbolize trillion-dollar entities that have achieved remarkable financial success, transformed industries, and impacted our daily lives. Being a trillion-dollar company signifies an extraordinary level of accomplishment and places these companies in a league of their own.
Which was the First Trillion-Dollar Company?
PetroChina was the first trillion-dollar company in the world. On its first day of trading on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on November 5, 2007, it reached a market capitalization of $1 trillion. However, the corporation only held the level for a short time.
The first trillion-dollar US company was Apple, which hit that level on August 4, 2018. Since then, other companies have joined the club: Amazon, Microsoft, Saudi Aramco, and Alphabet. Saudi Aramco is a notable exception on an otherwise primarily American-dominated leaderboard.
List of Trillion-Dollar Companies in the World
Below is the list of all the trillion-dollar companies in the world:
Apple
| Company Name | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Cupertino, California, United States |
| Founder | Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Market Cap | $2.82 trillion (June 2023) |
Apple surprised a few and became the first trillion-dollar company in the US. By 2018, it had already been listed among Fortune's World's Most Powerful 50 companies for several years running; but that didn't last long as Apple sunk below $800 billion by 2019, thanks in part due to the US stock market, which has plagued many American enterprises over that past year. However, the stock rose in 2019, and the company's market capitalization reached $1.3 trillion in early December.
The company became the first one in the United States to reach a valuation of $2 trillion on August 19, 2020; on Jan. 3, 2022, Apple became the first U.S. company to reach $3 trillion. Apple's market capitalization is higher than the GDP of entire countries like Italy, Canada, Australia, and Brazil.
Apple's remarkable journey in the stock market highlights its resilience and ability to bounce back, setting unprecedented market milestones that have solidified its position as a global powerhouse.
Microsoft
| Company Name | Microsoft Corp. |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Redmond, Washington, United States |
| Founder | Bill Gates, Paul Allen |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Market Cap | $2.48 trillion (June 2023) |
In April 2019, Microsoft became a trillion-dollar company, reaching the mark of $1 trillion in valuation. This significant milestone solidified Microsoft's position as one of the most valuable and influential technology companies in the world.
During the last half of 2020, Microsoft became one of only three companies in the trillion-dollar club. Much like its competitors, Amazon and Apple, who also saw great success with their cloud computing services, Azure helped fuel much faster growth rates for them as well.
Alphabet
| Company Name | Alphabet, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Mountain View, California, United States |
| Founder | Larry Page, Sergey Brin |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Market Cap | $1.62 trillion (June 2023) |
Alphabet, the parent company of Google, is another prominent name on the list of trillion-dollar companies in the world. It became the fourth US tech company to reach the $1 trillion club in January 2020. Shortly after, Amazon regained its one trillion-dollar market cap — the first time that four US tech stocks had reached that level at the same time.
Alphabet's journey to trillion-dollar status reflects its unrivaled dominance in the digital landscape, driven by its innovative technologies, diverse portfolio, and extensive global reach. With Google's search engine at its core, Alphabet continues to redefine industries, leverage emerging technologies, and shape the future of information and connectivity.
Amazon
| Company Name | Amazon.com, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Founder | Jeff Bezos |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Market Cap | $1.29 trillion (June 2023) |
Amazon hit the $1 trillion mark a month after Apple, but it was also severely affected by the 2018 market slump. Though, it only took them until January 2020 when they surpassed analyst expectations with their earnings and revealed that Amazon has 150 million members in its Prime subscription service.
Over the past few years, Amazon's value has experienced exponential growth, and its success has propelled the company founder Jeff Bezos's net worth towards surpassing $100 billion.
Amazon has solidified its position among the top companies with its trillion-dollar market cap, thanks to its relentless growth, unparalleled customer service, and an ever-growing catalog with products from nearly every genre imaginable.
Saudi Aramco
| Company Name | Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco or Aramco) |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Dhahran, Saudi Arabia |
| Founder | NA |
| Founded | 1933 |
| Market Cap | $2.09 trillion (June 2023) |
Aramco's foundation dates back to 1933 when the government of Saudi Arabia and the Standard Oil Company of California (SOCAL) signed a concession agreement.
Saudi Aramco broke two records on its first day of trading; the company hit the trillion-dollar mark on its very first day of trading, making it the biggest IPO in history. Aramco's second record-breaking performance came the next day when its market value soared over $2 trillion.
Aramco is the only company in this club with a listing outside the US. It's currently traded on Saudi Arabia's stock exchange, making shares next to impossible for non-institutional investors who would like to invest in this lucrative market opportunity.
Companies That Touched the Trillion-Dollar Mark
Here are the prominent companies that briefly joined the exclusive trillion-dollar club, reaching unparalleled heights of market valuation:
NVIDIA
| Company Name | NVIDIA Corp. |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Santa Clara, California, United States |
| Founder | Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky, Curtis Priem |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Market Cap | $925.6 billion (June 2023) |
NVIDIA, a popular technology giant renowned for its advanced graphical processor units (GPUs), has accomplished an extraordinary feat by entering the exclusive trillion-dollar club on May 30, 2023.
With a strong dedication to its AI-driven business, NVIDIA has witnessed consistent growth in recent years. The surge of interest and investments in the AI sector within the past six months has further boosted NVIDIA's success, increasing its sales to unprecedented heights and playing a pivotal role in achieving its trillion-dollar valuation. However, NVIDIA's position in the trillion-dollar club was short-lived, as its market value has since fluctuated.
Tesla
| Company Name | Tesla, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas, United States |
| Founder | Elon Musk, Martin Eberhard, JB Straubel, Ian Wright, Marc Tarpenning |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Market Cap | $711.8 billion (June 2023) |
Due to a successful trading day on Monday, October 25th, 2021, Tesla's market cap surpassed $1 trillion for the first time. Following the announcement of some exciting news from Hertz and Morgan Stanley, their stock jumped 10%.
Tesla, the renowned electric vehicle manufacturer, briefly joined the exclusive trillion-dollar club in terms of market valuation. However, its journey into and out of the trillion-dollar club has been marked by fluctuations. Despite experiencing moments of surpassing the milestone, Tesla's market value has fallen back. This volatility was evident in April 2022, when Tesla dropped out of the trillion-dollar club. Nonetheless, Tesla's pioneering efforts in the electric vehicle industry continue to shape the future of transportation and solidify its position as a prominent player in the market.
Meta
| Company Name | Meta Platforms, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Menlo Park, California, United States |
| Founder | Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, Chris Hughes |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Market Cap | $675.5 billion (June 2023) |
Meta, formerly Facebook, also experienced a brief stint in the trillion-dollar realm in terms of market valuation. For a period of approximately three months in 2021, Meta proudly joined the exclusive trillion-dollar club. However, similar to Tesla, Meta's valuation has since fallen and it is no longer a member of the trillion-dollar company club. Despite the fluctuation, Meta remains a significant force in the tech industry, driving innovation and shaping the digital landscape with its social media platforms and technological advancements.
Which Companies Are Next to Join the Trillion Dollar Club?
Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway is definitely in the running to join the trillion-dollar club, but there's still quite a distance to cover. As for Visa, they've been around for over 60 years, and they're not afraid to explore new opportunities. Constantly seeking ways to expand their reach, they actively invest in and acquire companies. Interestingly, their seemingly conservative approach has paid off, with recent successes in cryptocurrency investments.
However, it's important to note that being contenders doesn't guarantee them a spot as the next trillion-dollar companies. The race is still wide open, and only time will tell who will ultimately claim that prestigious title.
Conclusion
The planet is quickly becoming a country with trillion-dollar companies. Till now, only eight companies have been able to reach $1 trillion in value on the planet, and it's estimated that this number will more than double in the coming years.
The company that will become the next trillion-dollar juggernaut is set for greatness. It doesn't matter which industry it comes from or where it comes from, and whichever business gets its name on this list will have big shoes to fill because, if history tells us anything at all, it's not easy to reach that level, and not to mention maintain it.
FAQs
How many trillion-dollar companies are there?
As of June 2023, there are five trillion-dollar companies, Amazon, Microsoft, Saudi Aramco, Microsoft, and Alphabet.
Is Tesla a trillion-dollar company?
No, Tesla is no longer a trillion-dollar company. It briefly joined the exclusive trillion-dollar club in terms of market valuation.
Is Meta a trillion-dollar company?
Meta proudly joined the exclusive trillion-dollar club in June 2021. However, Meta's valuation has since fallen, and it is no longer a member of the trillion-dollar company club.
Which was the first trillion-dollar company?
PetroChina was the first company to reach a $1 trillion market value.
