Apple created the iPhone and became one of the first public companies valued above $3 trillion.
Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. Its early success came from personal computers, but the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and related services transformed it into one of the world’s most valuable consumer-technology companies.
The iPhone launched in 2007 and combined a mobile phone, music player, and internet communicator in one touchscreen device. The App Store followed in 2008, creating a large software ecosystem around Apple’s hardware.
Apple crossed the $3 trillion market-capitalization threshold during 2022 trading, although its exact value and ranking fluctuate with its share price. Market cap means share price multiplied by shares outstanding, not annual revenue or cash held by the company.