Apple’s 2014 market capitalization made it the largest publicly traded company in the world at that time.
Apple held the top position in 2014 as investors responded to the strength of the iPhone business and expectations surrounding new products and services. Its market value exceeded that of other major public companies, including oil, financial, and technology leaders.
The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus launched in September 2014 and set new sales records for Apple. The company also introduced the Apple Watch in 2014, although the product went on sale the following year.
Historical rankings must be tied to a date because market capitalization changes whenever share prices move. Apple’s later milestones—$1 trillion in 2018, $2 trillion in 2020, and $3 trillion in 2022—illustrate how quickly the top of the ranking can evolve.