Apple held the largest market capitalization at the end of 2021.
Apple finished 2021 with a market value of roughly $2.9 trillion, placing it ahead of Microsoft and Saudi Aramco in commonly reported year-end rankings. Its share price benefited from strong demand for iPhones, Macs, iPads, and connected devices, as well as continuing expansion in services.
Year-end rankings are snapshots. They can differ from rankings based on an intraday peak, a company’s fiscal year, or a different share class. Currency conversions and the treatment of publicly traded versus government-held shares can also affect comparisons.
Apple’s position in 2021 continued a pattern that began when it became the first company to reach $1 trillion in 2018 and $2 trillion in 2020. Large technology companies dominated global market-cap tables during this period, although leadership changed in later years as semiconductor and artificial-intelligence shares rose sharply.