Here are the ten most powerful brands in the world brought out by Millward Brown research company, which takes into account the measure of brand equity combined with the performance of the company. According to the report, the top five remained the same, with all the five companies showing an increase in brand valuation between 15% and 30% when compared to 2007, but there are several changes with the rest of the list.
As expected, Google tops the list. Google is the most powerful brand in the world with a current brand value estimated at $86 billion, and it has achieved all this in just ten short years. This global search engine giant had its beginnings in 1996 and was just a research project started by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, two Stanford University Ph.D. students. The incorporation of Google Inc. took place on September 7, 1998 at their friend’s garage in California. The company experienced stupendous growth in a short time and went public on Aug 19, 2004. Google’s rank is based on the equity value and the fantastic financial performance.
General Electronics (GE)
GE is a giant US multinational engaged in technology and services industries. It has its headquarters in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is now the second largest company in the world, in terms of market capitalization. The brand value of this company is estimated at $71.4 billion.
Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft is the world’s largest software company and the third most powerful brand on the globe, with annual revenue of $44.28 billion and a brand value of $70.89 billion. This veteran software company was started by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975 and has its headquarters in Washington. The company went public in 1986. It manufactures computer technology for business and personal computing, offering a wide range of software products.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola makes carbonated soft drinks and has a brand value of $58.2 billion. It was started in 1885 as a patent medicine by Dr. John Stith Pemberton in Covington, Georgia. It was named Pemberton’s French Wine Coca back then.
China Mobile
This is the world’s largest mobile phone operator with the maximum number of subscribers (about 296 million). Vodafone owns 3.3 percent of the China Mobile. This company has a 65% share of the most competitive Chinese mobile market and commands a brand value of $57.2 billion.
IBM
IBM once had the distinction of being the largest computer company in the world but Hewlett-Packard took that spot in 2006. However, IBM is currently the largest information technology employer in the entire world. Its brand value is reported to have shown a 65% increase to $55.3 billion and this moved the company up to sixth place.
Apple
Apple Computer Company was formed in the year 1977 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniac and Ronald Wayne. It was initially called Apple Computer Inc. but then the world “computer” was dropped from its name in keeping with the expansion from a computer maker to consumer electronics and software. The well-known Apple creations and designs are Mac laptop and desktop computers, iPod and iTunes, the OS X operating system and the very popular iPhone. The company has seen a 123% rise in its brand value because of these innovative products. Fortune magazine called Apple the most admired company in the United States and it has a brand value of $55 billion.
McDonalds
The fast food giant McDonald’s brand value grew more than 49% and is currently estimated to be at $49.49 billion. This restaurant chain is one of the most recognizable on earth being the most popular food outlet in the world. It had the most basic beginnings when Dick and Mac McDonald created the brand. But the story goes that much of the success is owed to a salesman of a milk-shake maker, Ray Croc, who made a trip to California to check out McDonald’s hamburger stand, only to enter into a well-known business relationship with the McDonald brothers.
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational company with its headquarters in Keilaniemi, Espoo. This communications company is focused on wired and wireless telecommunications. It is the world’s largest manufacturer of mobile telephones and employs thousands of people worldwide. It has achieved its goal of connecting the world and has a brand value of $43.9 billion.
Marlboro
Marlboro had its share of problems initially and reaped rewards after the introduction of a new cowboy image for the brand. With this change, sales shot up by 5000 percent with an estimated brand value of $39.2 billion, which is an increase in value by 2 percent from last year.
It is interesting to note that all these powerful brands had humble beginnings but soon reached the top with their imaginative and innovative approaches to business, customer satisfaction and to achieving their goals.
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I guess things have changed, the last time I saw a list of the most powerful brands, Coke was number 1 and Microsoft was number 2. Hmmmmmmm.
I seriously doubt the validity of this list. And cigarettes? Really? Yes, Marlborough is a brand, successful, but their product KILLS THEIR OWN CUSTOMERS. Surely, this would be seen as a detriment to any other brand on the list. Really people. Cigarettes in 2011.
Most of Marlboro's new profits are coming from other countries with new found $$ and no one saying how bad it is for you.