Apple introduced the Macintosh computer in 1984 and became one of the world’s highest-market-cap firms.
The Macintosh launched on January 24, 1984, after a famous Super Bowl advertisement directed by Ridley Scott. Its graphical interface and mouse helped make personal computing more approachable, although the product initially sold less strongly than Apple hoped.
Apple’s later growth came from a broader product ecosystem. The iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and services such as the App Store connected hardware, software, and subscriptions. The iPhone, introduced in 2007, became the company’s most important product.
Apple is sometimes confused with Apple Records, the Beatles’ recording label. They are unrelated organizations. Apple’s market capitalization can change daily with its share price, so rankings among the world’s richest companies are not permanently fixed.