TSMC became the first company from Taiwan to exceed a $1 trillion market capitalization.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company crossed the $1 trillion valuation threshold in July 2024 as enthusiasm for artificial-intelligence hardware lifted demand for advanced chips. TSMC is the world’s largest dedicated semiconductor foundry.
Founded in 1987 by Morris Chang, TSMC pioneered the pure-play foundry model: it manufactures chips designed by other companies rather than selling a competing branded processor business of its own. Customers have included Apple, AMD, and Nvidia.
The company is often confused with chip designers such as Nvidia or with integrated manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics. TSMC’s distinctive role is contract manufacturing, especially for highly advanced process technologies used in phones, servers, and AI accelerators.