Apple maintained its position at the top of the global branding hierarchy in 2026, once again earning the title of the world’s most valuable brand, according to Brand Finance’s Global 500 2026 report scheduled for publication on Tuesday.
The technology giant behind the iPhone claimed the number-one spot with a brand valuation estimated at $607.6 billion, marking a notable increase from the $574.5 billion recorded a year earlier.
Trailing Apple were Microsoft and Google, which ranked second and third with brand values of $565.3 billion and $433.1 billion, respectively. Both companies posted gains year over year, as Microsoft rose from roughly $461.1 billion and Google climbed from $413 billion.
Amazon secured fourth place with a brand value of $369.9 billion. It was followed by Nvidia at $184.3 billion, TikTok at $153.3 billion, Walmart at $141 billion, Samsung at $119.2 billion, Facebook at $107 billion, and China’s State Grid Corporation (SGCC) at $102.4 billion, rounding out the top ten.
In terms of geographic distribution, US-based companies dominated the rankings, accounting for 192 brands. China followed with 68 entries, while Japan and France each contributed 33 brands. Germany had 26 brands on the list, and the UK accounted for 25.
Speaking to Anadolu, Muhterem Ilguner, Brand Finance’s Türkiye director, said that although global economic momentum has remained weak, brand valuations tell a more optimistic story.
“The value of the world’s 500 most valuable companies increased 10 percent compared to the previous year, totaling $10.4 trillion,” he said, adding that the growth rate of the Global 500 brands outpaced overall global economic expansion of 3.2 percent, based on UN figures.
Ilguner pointed out that US brands represented more than half of the total value, accounting for 53.4 percent of all brands included. China, meanwhile, held a 15 percent share of the Global 500 2026, with combined brand value reaching $1.6 trillion.
According to Ilguner, Germany captured a 5.6 percent share this year, equivalent to $580.2 billion, while Japan held 4.7 percent worth $490 billion. France followed with a 4 percent share valued at $426.5 billion. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Argentina had the smallest presence, represented by a single brand valued at $6 billion.
From a sectoral perspective, banking emerged as the most valuable industry, featuring 79 brands with a combined brand value of $1.3 trillion, accounting for 12.5 percent of the total Global 500 value. Media ranked second with 25 brands worth $1.1 trillion, followed by electronics with 17 brands valued at $835.4 billion. Internet and software brands totaled $759.4 billion across 11 entries, while retail included 40 brands worth $707 billion.
Ilguner also noted that the lowest-ranked brand on the list belonged to the mining and iron-steel sector, with a valuation of $5.5 billion.
“The highest rise in brand value was seen in the UK-based fintech firm Revolut with a 239 percent surge year-on-year, while Tesla saw the largest decline with 35.8 percent,” he added.
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