Apple became the first company to reach a $2 trillion market capitalization in 2020, crossing the threshold on August 19.
Apple achieved the milestone just over two years after becoming the first company valued at $1 trillion. Its share price had risen sharply as investors anticipated resilient demand for its devices and continued growth in services revenue. The COVID-19 pandemic also changed technology-use patterns, increasing attention on devices, software, and digital services.
Apple completed a four-for-one stock split shortly after reaching the milestone. A stock split multiplies the number of shares and reduces the price of each share proportionally; it does not by itself create economic value or change total market capitalization.
The company’s ranking has shifted over time as other technology firms and energy companies gained value. Nevertheless, Apple’s 2020 achievement remains a precise historical milestone in the development of mega-capitalization companies.