Nvidia was the first semiconductor maker to become the world’s most valuable company by market capitalization.
Nvidia reached the top global market-cap ranking in June 2024, during a surge of investor interest in artificial-intelligence computing. Its share price reflected demand for graphics processing units and related data-center hardware used to train and run AI systems.
Founded in 1993, Nvidia originally became famous for graphics processors used in personal-computer games. The company later developed CUDA software and specialized accelerator products, helping it become a major supplier for machine-learning workloads. Its data-center business eventually became a much larger part of the company.
Nvidia’s rise is distinct from simply being a large technology company: it was the first chip designer to hold the overall top market-cap position. Market rankings can change quickly, and the company later traded places with other giants as semiconductor and AI expectations shifted.