Apple briefly became the world’s most valuable company by market capitalization in August 2018 after its value exceeded $1 trillion.
The milestone made Apple the first publicly traded U.S. company to reach a $1 trillion market capitalization. Its growing iPhone business, services revenue, and strong investor confidence helped drive the rise. Market capitalization measures the value of all publicly traded shares, not the company’s cash holdings or annual sales.
Apple’s story began in 1976, when Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne founded the company. The Apple II helped establish the business, while the Macintosh, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch later broadened its influence.
Apple’s valuation has repeatedly changed places with Microsoft, Saudi Aramco, and other giant companies. Such rankings are snapshots because share prices move every trading day.