Nvidia was the first semiconductor manufacturer to become the world’s most valuable publicly traded company by market capitalization.
Nvidia reached the top position in June 2024 as demand for its graphics processing units drove an extraordinary rise in its share price. Its chips became central to data centers developing generative artificial intelligence, including the training and operation of large language models. Nvidia’s market value temporarily exceeded those of Microsoft and Apple during the shift.
The company was founded in 1993 by Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky, and Curtis Priem. It originally became known for graphics processors used in personal computers and games, then expanded into professional visualization, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence.
The phrase “most valuable” refers to market capitalization, not annual revenue or the physical value of Nvidia’s factories. Nvidia’s share price was later affected by stock splits and market movements, so historical rankings are tied to specific dates and should not be treated as permanent.