Fortune’s 2026 Global 500 Highlights the World’s Leading Companies
TECHNOLOGY
Amazon Executive Chair Jeff Bezos Graces the Cover of Fortune's August/September 2026 Issue, Photographed by Spencer Lowell.
Fortune has officially released the 2026 Fortune Global 500 list, the annual ranking of the world’s largest corporations by revenue for the 2025 fiscal year. This year marks a major shift at the top: Amazon has claimed No. 1, ending Walmart’s 12‑year reign and becoming the world’s largest company by revenue. Amazon surpassed $700 billion in revenue in 2025, a 12% year‑over‑year increase.
Record Revenue, Rising Profits, and Expanding Global Influence
The 2026 list reflects one of the strongest years in global corporate performance. Collectively, Fortune Global 500 companies generated:
$43.1 trillion in revenue (up 3%)
$3.4 trillion in profits (up 14%)
Employment of 70.2 million people worldwide
These companies represent nearly two‑thirds of global GDP, underscoring their outsized influence on the world economy.
The top 50 companies alone account for 33% of total revenue and 39% of total profits, highlighting the continued concentration of corporate power at the highest levels.
The 2026 Fortune Global 500 Top 10
Amazon.com (U.S.)
Walmart (U.S.)
State Grid (China)
UnitedHealth Group (U.S.)
Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia)
Apple (U.S.)
McKesson (U.S.)
Alphabet (U.S.)
CVS Health (U.S.)
China National Petroleum (China)
The U.S. reached an 18‑year high with 141 companies on the list, the most of any country. Greater China followed with 122 companies, marking its lowest count since 2018.
Women CEOs Reach a Record High
Representation among women CEOs continues to rise. The 2026 list includes 34 women CEOs, the highest number ever recorded and representing 6.8% of all Fortune Global 500 leaders.
Notable leaders include:
Jane Fraser (Citigroup)
Gail K. Boudreaux (Elevance Health)
Sarah M. London (Centene)
Meg O’Neill (BP)
Mary Barra (General Motors)
Sandy Ran Xu (JD.com)
The U.S. leads with 16 companies headed by women CEOs.
Tech Dominates Profit Growth
Technology was the standout sector of 2025:
38 companies (up four from last year)
$4 trillion in revenue
$835 billion in profits
Alphabet became the most profitable company in the world, earning $132 billion, the second‑highest profit ever recorded for a Fortune Global 500 company.
Four U.S. tech giants, Alphabet, Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, each exceeded $100 billion in profits, reflecting the sector’s extraordinary momentum.
New Entrants and Global Shifts
The 2026 list includes 24 newcomers, including first‑time entrants:
EP Group (Czech Republic)
Galaxy Digital
WT Microelectronics
Advanced Micro Devices
Coupang
EP Group marks the Czech Republic’s first‑ever appearance on the Fortune Global 500.
A Year Defined by Reinvention
In her foreword, Fortune Editor‑in‑Chief Alyson Shontell notes that the companies rising fastest are those embracing transformation. Amazon’s climb to No. 1 reflects its aggressive reinvention, including a $200 billion capital commitment focused on AI and cloud computing.
The full list is available on Fortune.com and will appear in print on August 18.
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