The Biggest Companies in the US by Revenue Each Year Since 1955—What Entrepreneurs Can Learn
The Biggest Companies in the US by Revenue Each Year Since 1955—What Entrepreneurs Can Learn
February 13, 2024
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Have you ever wondered what it takes for a company to stay at the top for decades? Many of today’s business giants—like Amazon—weren’t even on the radar fifty years ago, while some of the biggest companies of the past have disappeared entirely.
If you're an entrepreneur ready to form your LLC, this evolution of business success is something to pay attention to. Companies rise and fall based on innovation, consumer demand, and economic shifts. The Fortune 500 list has been tracking the biggest companies in Americafor 70 years, offering a fascinating look at how industries change over time.
What does it take to build a lasting, profitable business? Which industries have dominated over the years? And what lessons can small business owners learn from these shifts? Let’s dive into the history of America’s biggest companies and see how business success has evolved over the decades.
Click below to explore the infographic and discover how the biggest names in business have changed from 1955 to today.
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<a href="https://llcattorney.com"
title="LLCAttorney.com">By LLCAttorney.com</a>
What is the Fortune 500 list?
The Fortune 500 companies list is America’s oldest continuously published ranking of the biggest companies by revenue in the US. It highlights only publicly traded companies that have a foundation in the US. Because of the lack of readily available revenue figures, the list excludes private companies, the largest of which are currently Cargill, Koch Industries, Publix Super Markets, and Mars, Inc.
When did the Fortune 500 companies list start?
The first-ever Fortune 500 list was published in May 1955. Since then, competitor Forbes created their own list in 1959. Today, the Fortune lists have expanded to the Global 500, Future 50, and others.
In 1995, the criteria changed to include service companies, from McDonald’s to AT&T. Before that point, industrial companies dominated the list.
What were the top 10 largest companies in the United States by decade?
Below, we’ve highlighted the biggest American companies by decade year, starting with the earliest in 1960. So, what were the top 10 on the Fortune 500 list sixty years ago?
Top 10 Biggest US Companies by Revenue in 1960
General Motors (GM)
Exxon Mobil
US Steel
General Electric (GE)
Esmark
Chrysler
Armour
Gulf Oil
Mobil
DuPont
Top 10 Biggest US Companies by Revenue in 1970
General Motors (GM)
Exxon Mobil
Ford Motor
General Electric (GE)
IBM
Chrysler
Mobil
Texaco
ITT Industries
Gulf Oil
Top 10 Biggest US Companies by Revenue in 1980
Exxon Mobil
General Motors (GM)
Mobil
Ford Motor
Texaco
ChevronTexaco
Gulf Oil
IBM
General Electric (GE)
Amoco
Top 10 Biggest US Companies by Revenue in 1990
General Motors (GM)
Ford Motor
Exxon Mobile
IBM
General Electric (GE)
Mobil
Altria Group
Chrysler
DuPont
Texaco
Top 10 Biggest US Companies by Revenue in 2000
General Motors (GM)
Wal-Mart
Exxon Mobile
Ford Motor
General Electric (GE)
IBM
Citigroup
AT&T
Altria Group
Boeing
Top 10 Biggest US Companies by Revenue in 2010
Walmart
Exxon Mobil
Chevron
General Electric (GE)
Bank of America
ConocoPhillips
AT&T
JPMorgan Chase
HP
Top 10 Biggest US Companies by Revenue in 2020
Walmart
Amazon
Exxon Mobil
Apple
CVS Health
Berkshire Hathaway
UnitedHealth Group
McKesson
AT&T
Cencora
The Fortune Top 10 in 2024
Walmart
Amazon
Apple
UnitedHealth Group
Berkshire Hathaway
CVS Health
Exxon Mobil
Alphabet
McKesson
Cencora
The Complete List of the Top 10 Fortune 500 Companies Every Year Since 1955
Jonathan is admitted to practice law in Colorado and Wyoming. In this position, he helps business owners at nearly every level and in nearly every industry with asset protection, estate planning, and business formation. Beyond business owners, Jonathan also helps activists of all political persuasions to legally protect themselves.