Amazon Claims Top Spot on 2026 Fortune Global 500 List, Ending Walmart's 12-Year Reign
Amazon officially claimed the number one position on the 2026 Fortune Global 500 list, marking a significant shift in global corporate power. The company ended Walmart's 12-year streak at the top of the list, achieving annual revenue exceeding $700 billion. This milestone highlights the growing dominance of the technology sector, which saw a total of 38 companies make the list this year. While Amazon rose to the top, the energy sector experienced a broad decline in rankings. Saudi Aramco fell to fifth place, losing its title as the world's most profitable company to Alphabet, which recorded a net profit of $132.17 billion. The tech sector's profitability remains a major trend, with four U.S. tech firms—Alphabet, Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft—each surpassing the $100 billion profit threshold. These results underscore a transition from a resource-based economy to a digital economy, as tech giants continue to rewrite business history with unprecedented profitability and capital investment.