The global corporate power map has been redrawn.
In a historic shift, Nvidia has surged past both Apple and Microsoft to become the world’s most valuable company in 2025, according to the 2025 Hurun Global 1000 List. Driven by an unprecedented boom in AI demand, Nvidia now sits at the very top of the global market capitalisation rankings.
The latest Hurun report, released on Monday, ranks the 1,000 most valuable companies worldwide, up from 500 earlier. Together, the top 10 companies alone are worth a staggering $26 trillion, roughly equal to the combined stock market value of mainland China and Hong Kong.
A New Global Corporate Order
The 2025 list underlines one powerful trend: technology and AI are now the backbone of the global economy.
About 90 percent of the companies on the list are publicly listed, ranked by market capitalisation. The remaining 10 percent are non-listed giants such as OpenAI, ByteDance, and SpaceX, ranked by valuation.
This year’s Top 10 is dominated by US tech firms, with notable representation from Saudi Arabia and China.
Top 10 Most Valuable Companies in the World (2025)
| Rank | Company | Market Cap | Industry | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nvidia | $4.63T | GPUs, AI Chips | USA |
| 2 | Apple | $4.03T | Consumer Electronics | USA |
| 3 | Microsoft | $3.79T | Software & Services | USA |
| 4 | Alphabet | $3.36T | Media & Internet | USA |
| 5 | Amazon | $2.54T | Retail, Cloud | USA |
| 6 | Saudi Aramco | $1.67T | Energy | Saudi Arabia |
| 7 | Broadcom | $1.62T | Semiconductors | USA |
| 8 | Meta Platforms | $1.54T | Media & Social Tech | USA |
| 9 | TSMC | $1.48T | Semiconductors | China |
| 10 | Tesla | $1.35T | Electric Vehicles | USA |
Cut-off date: 14 November 2025
Nvidia’s Historic Rise to #1
Nvidia climbed two positions to claim the top spot, powered by a 49 percent surge in market value. The explosive demand for AI chips, data centre GPUs, and advanced computing infrastructure has turned Nvidia into the single most critical company in the AI era.
Its $4.6 trillion valuation reflects how deeply AI has embedded itself into global business, cloud computing, and future technologies.
Apple and Microsoft: Still Giants, But Overtaken
Apple retained second place with a market cap of $4 trillion, continuing to benefit from its ecosystem dominance and loyal global user base.
Microsoft, despite growing 13 percent to $3.8 trillion, slipped two positions to third as Nvidia’s AI-led momentum outpaced all competitors.
Big Movers: Broadcom and Tesla Re-enter the Elite
Two names stood out this year.
• Broadcom made its Top 10 debut, with a massive 118 percent valuation jump, reflecting strong demand in semiconductors and infrastructure
• Tesla re-entered the Top 10 after posting a 115 percent surge, reaffirming investor confidence in EVs, energy storage, and autonomous driving
India’s Position: Reliance Slips to #74
Despite India’s growing economic influence, no Indian company made it to the global Top 10 in 2025.
India’s most valuable firm, Reliance Industries, led by Mukesh Ambani, slipped 30 places to rank 74th globally. Its market capitalisation declined 6 percent to $233 billion, and India’s total representation on the list dropped to 40 companies, down from 51 last year.
The Big Takeaway
The 2025 Hurun Global 1000 makes one thing clear.
AI is no longer a sector. It is the economy.
Nvidia’s rise to the top signals a new era where chipmakers, data, and computing power define global corporate leadership. For countries like India, the rankings also highlight the urgency of building global-scale tech champions in the years ahead.
Writer’s View:
The 2025 rankings mark a decisive shift where AI, chips, and computing power now define corporate supremacy, not just consumer reach. For India and other emerging markets, the list is a reminder that building global-scale tech champions is no longer optional it’s strategic.
Source: Hurun Global 1000 List 2025
Keep building. Keep learning. Keep growing with StartupByDoc.