Apple’s no longer the world’s biggest brand

Google has surpassed Apple, securing the top spot in a global ranking that identifies the most valuable world’s leading brands.

With an impressive 40 percent growth compared to the previous year, Google’s total company value soared to a breathtaking $159 billion. This significant achievement positions Google at the forefront of the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands report, an evaluation conducted by the multinational corporation, WPP. The study works out brand value by combining insights from potential and current customers with relevant financial data.

“In the past year, Google has showcased extraordinary innovation through groundbreaking initiatives such as Google Glass, increased advancements in AI, and multiple collaborations. These joint ventures led to the integration of its Android operating system into a wide array of products, even including cars,” commented Nick Cooper, the Managing Director of Millward Brown Optimor.

Even though Apple had held the lead for three continuous years, it lost its position as the world’s top brand following a 20 percent drop in its brand value. Apple’s brand value currently sits at $148 billion. The report indicates that one reason behind this slide could be Apple’s perceived hesitation to introduce trailblazing technology to its customer base, highlighted by a shortage of groundbreaking product launches.

Regardless, the ascendency of tech brands is underscored as Google and Apple hold the first and second spots respectively.

The four most valuable brands– Google, Apple, IBM, and Microsoft– all represent the tech industry. The typical tech brand value is a prodigious $45.9 billion, considerably more than the median brand value of $24.9 billion across all sectors.

In 2014, tech brands dominated the market with a combined total valuation of $841.5 billion, vastly overtaking the telecommunications industry at $330 billion and the retail industry at $280 billion.

Together with valuations of $251 billion for regional banks, $124 billion for global banks, and $111.5 billion for personal banks, tech brands have displayed a robust recovery after the global financial crisis.

This article was revised in 2025 to reflect current information.

This article was updated in 2025 to reflect current trends and insights.