Fortune Global 500 2026 shows corporate power concentrating at the top

Fortune released the Fortune Global 500 2026 ranking, and its latest list shows the world’s largest companies taking a bigger share of revenue and profit. The 500 companies together generated $43.1 trillion in revenue in fiscal 2025, Fortune said, a figure it described as equal to two-thirds of global GDP.

The ranking, now in its 37th year, orders companies by revenue for the 2025 fiscal year. Fortune said the companies on the list posted $3.4 trillion in profits and employed 70.2 million people.

The concentration is sharpest near the top. Fortune said the 50 largest companies produced one-third of total Global 500 revenue and 39% of profits, underscoring the advantage held by corporations with scale, capital and operations across markets.

What is the Fortune Global 500?

The Fortune Global 500 is an annual ranking of the world’s largest corporations by revenue. The 2026 list covers fiscal 2025 results and compares companies across countries and industries on that single measure.

Fortune said Amazon took the No. 1 position on this year’s list. Jeff Bezos stepped down as Amazon’s chief executive five years ago, but Fortune reported that he remains influential at the company as executive chair.

In an interview with Fortune’s Kristin Stoller, Bezos said many companies claim to focus on customers while focusing more on rivals. “You can’t be customer-obsessed unless you love inventing,” Bezos told Fortune. “You have to do new things.”

Where are the biggest companies based?

U.S. companies increased their presence in the ranking, according to Fortune, with 141 companies on the list and $15.5 trillion in combined revenue. Greater China, which Fortune defines as China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, had 122 companies represented.

Finance remained the largest sector by company count, with 123 companies on the Global 500, Fortune said. Energy followed with 77 companies.

Technology had fewer companies than finance or energy, but Fortune said the sector delivered a strong profit gain. The 38 technology companies on the list generated $4 trillion in revenue and $835 billion in profit, with profits up 36% from the prior year.

How many women lead Global 500 companies?

Women lead 38 companies on the 2026 Global 500, Fortune said, the highest number in the list’s history. Fortune characterized the pace of change as slow and said the top ranks of global corporate power remain mostly male.

The new ranking points to a global economy in which the biggest companies hold a growing share of sales, profits and influence. Fortune said that trend may put more pressure on mid-sized companies to find partners or stand out with a distinct business offering.

This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.