The making of a tri-trillionaire

Apple's market capitalisation reached an impressive USD 3 trillion, surpassing other tech giants and even the combined value of top American companies

- JAIDEEP GHOSH

It took 42 years for the first trillion. Apple accomplished an astonishing feat in August 2018 when its market capitalisation reached USD 1 trillion.

Surging past USD 2 trillion precisely two years later in 2020, Apple continued its impressive growth. The USD 3 trillion landmark came in January 2022, a remarkable achievement within just 16 months. Unfortunately, the company couldn't sustain that value. Nevertheless, on 30 June 2023, Apple closed at an astounding USD 3 trillion.

HOW LARGE IS USD 3 TRILLION?

To appreciate the magnitude of USD 3 trillion into perspective, it is comparable to the market value of all the stocks listed on the National Stock Exchange of India.

In the highly exclusive trillion-dollar club, which currently consists of only six members, Apple stands tallest alongside tech giants such as Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Nvidia. The sixth member of this elite group is the energy titan, Aramco. At a value of USD 3 trillion, Apple surpasses the next-largest company, Microsoft, by nearly USD 500 billion and is nearly twice as valuable as Alphabet.

Apple's worth is nearly equivalent to the combined value of Tesla, Meta, Berkshire Hathaway, UnitedHealth, and Visa, which are ranked as the sixth through tenth most valuable American companies. It is roughly 25 times greater than General Electric, 20 times larger than Intel, and approximately 14 times more than Reliance Industries. Further, Apple's worth exceeds that of all the world's cryptocurrencies combined.

WHAT FACTORS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO APPLE'S SUCCESS?

While it is challenging to pinpoint the exact reasons behind Apple's continuous triumph, there are several indicative factors related to its superior market and financial performance.