Google overtakes Apple to become most valuable brand in the world

Thanks to a particularly busy year,
Google has now shot up to the top
of the list of the 9th “Top 100 Most
Valuable Global Brands” published
by BrandZ, pushing Apple to second
place. Unlike standard top lists that
just take into account a company’s
financials, the BrandZ list considers
a brand’s value to its customers, its
contribution to its parent company’s
value and financial performance. Not
surprisingly, the Top 100 list is
primarily comprised of tech and
consumer brands.
The Top 100 list is lead by Google
with a brand value of almost $160
billion (40% jump from last year)
followed by Apple with a brand
value of almost $150 billion (drop of
20%). The top five companies also
include IBM ($108 billion, 4% drop),
Microsoft ($90 billion, 29% jump)
and fast food giant, McDonald’s ($86
billion, 5% drop). Facebook and
Yahoo have been included in the list
of the brands that had the sharpest
rise in value with the former seeing
a 68% jump and the latter seeing an
equally dramatic 44% jump.
Take a look at the Top 20 brands
below or download the entire Top
100 list PDF document.