Apple became the first company to reach a US$1 trillion market capitalization.
Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. Its early success came from personal computers such as the Apple II and Macintosh, while later growth was driven by the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and services.
Apple crossed the US$1 trillion threshold in August 2018, based on its share price and outstanding shares. Market capitalization changes constantly, so the milestone refers to the company’s value at that trading moment rather than a permanent ranking.
A common mix-up is confusing market capitalization with annual sales or cash reserves. Apple’s market cap reflects the combined market value of its publicly traded shares.