Nvidia became the first semiconductor maker to join the world’s three most valuable public companies in 2024.
Nvidia’s market capitalization surged in 2024 as investors responded to extraordinary demand for graphics processing units used in artificial-intelligence systems. In June 2024, Nvidia briefly surpassed Apple and entered the top three global public companies by market value, behind or alongside Microsoft depending on the exact trading moment.
The company began as a specialist in graphics processors for computer games. Its CUDA software platform and data-center chips later made Nvidia a central supplier for machine-learning and generative-AI workloads. That transition expanded its importance far beyond traditional gaming hardware.
Rankings depend on the exact date, exchange closing time, share count, and currency conversion used. Nvidia’s position therefore changed during 2024, but its entry into the top tier was a clear sign of how strongly financial markets valued AI infrastructure.