Skip to search.
  • New User? Register
  • Sign In
  • Help
Make Yahoo! Your Homepage
  •  
    Notifications Help
  • Mail
    • My Y!
    • Yahoo!

    Yahoo! India Movies

    • Home
      • Jolly LLB
      • Himmatwala
      • Holi in Bollywood
      • Iron Man 3
      • The Reluctant Fundamentalist
      • Aurangzeb
    • Movie Reviews
    • Photos
    • Blogs
    • Movieplex
    • Video
    • News
    • OMG!
    • Weekend Magazine
    • Indian Cinema @ 100

    Most valuable companies in history, adjusted for inflation

    When Apple surpassed Exxon-Mobil as the world’s most valuable company in August 2012, it ignited a debate over what, precisely, “most valuable” means--and how inflation influences the calculation. Apple’s 2012 market valuation topped out at $661 billion U.S., the highest absolute-value figure in history, but a longer-term view of other corporate giants shows it has a ways to go before it can claim the all-time, inflation-adjusted top prize. Here are history's 9 most valuable companies, adjusted for inflation.

    • Show thumbnails
    • Hide thumbnails
    1 - 8 of 11
    PrevNext
    1. Most valuable companies in …
    2. Most valuable companies in …
    3. World's 25 best global …
    4. History's most valuable …
    5. Most valuable companies in …
    6. Most valuable companies in …
    7. Most valuable companies in …
    8. Most valuable companies in …

    Gallery View:Most valuable companies in history, adjusted for inflation
    CLOSE

    1 - 11 of 11
    PrevNext
    1. Most valuable companies in …
    2. Most valuable companies in …
    3. World's 25 best global …
    4. History's most valuable …
    5. Most valuable companies in …
    6. Most valuable companies in …
    7. Most valuable companies in …
    8. Most valuable companies in …
    9. Most valuable companies in …
    10. Most valuable companies in …
    11. Most valuable companies in …
    4 of 11 photos
    PrevNext
    1. previousHistory's most valuable …next
    PrevNext
    1. 7. Microsoft in 1999
      Value then: $620.6 billion // Adjusted to 2012 dollars: U.S. $851 billion

      HOW IT GOT SO BIG: Instead of selling its DOS operating system outright to IBM when it released its original Personal Computer in 1981, Microsoft struck a licensing deal with the computing giant. As PC and clone sales took off, Microsoft earned revenue for every machine sold, and its growth exploded atop the ensuing revenue stream. The process continued ... more 
      7. Microsoft in 1999
      Value then: $620.6 billion // Adjusted to 2012 dollars: U.S. $851 billion

      HOW IT GOT SO BIG: Instead of selling its DOS operating system outright to IBM when it released its original Personal Computer in 1981, Microsoft struck a licensing deal with the computing giant. As PC and clone sales took off, Microsoft earned revenue for every machine sold, and its growth exploded atop the ensuing revenue stream. The process continued as the market transitioned to Windows a decade later.

      WHAT HAPPENED: The world changed – mobile devices slowly took over from PCs as industry growth drivers – and Microsoft didn’t adapt as quickly as it could have. As a result, the company’s value has languished for much of the last decade as PC growth flattened out. The company has struggled to carve out a presence in smartphones and tablets, and now looks to Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 to plot a path toward a post-PC future.

      VALUE TODAY: $273.5 billion ( #42 on the Forbes Global 2000 list)

      Image: Wikimedia Commons less 

    PrevNext
    1. Fri 2 Nov, 2012 1:30 AM IST

    You Might Like »

    1 - 5 of 11
    prevnext
      • The art of living narrow

        The art of living narrow

      • 12 unconventional homes inspired by nature

        12 unconventional homes inspired by nature

      • Award-winning micro-apartment

        Award-winning micro-apartment

      • 10 cool shipping container homes

        10 cool shipping container homes

      • Midcentury modernism

        Midcentury modernism

    • 13 popular websites, then and now
      13 popular websites, then and now
    • Most valuable companies ever
      Most valuable companies ever
    • Inside Google's bizarre Tel Aviv office
      Inside Google's bizarre Tel Aviv office
    • Apple is better without him
      Apple is better without him
    • Evolution of the cell phone
      Evolution of the cell phone
    • How 25 tech firms got their names
      How 25 tech firms got their names
    • Coolest corporate headquarters
      Coolest corporate headquarters
    • Oddball inventions from China
      Oddball inventions from China
    • Top 10 women in technology
    • 10 best innovations of 2012
      10 best innovations of 2012
    • Inside Google's vivid Munich office
      Inside Google's vivid Munich office
    • Name that conglomerate!
      Name that conglomerate!
    • Most valuable companies ever
      Most valuable companies ever
    • World's biggest oil producers
      World's biggest oil producers
    • World's greatest debtors
    • World's 10 biggest defence contractors
      World's 10 biggest defence contractors
    • World's most honest people
      World's most honest people
    • World's richest sports teams
      World's richest sports teams
    • World's 10 most influential women
      World's 10 most influential women
    • World's 10 most powerful militaries
      World's 10 most powerful militaries
    • World's 10 biggest employers
      World's 10 biggest employers
    • An homage to world heritage sites
      An homage to world heritage sites
    • World's 10 ugliest buildings
      World's 10 ugliest buildings
    • World's 10 biggest oil companies
      World's 10 biggest oil companies
    • World's most expensive cities
      World's most expensive cities
    • World's strongest civic economies
      World's strongest civic economies
    • World's cheapest gasoline
      World's cheapest gasoline
    • World's most expensive hotel rooms
      World's most expensive hotel rooms
    • London's poshest luxury hotels
      London's poshest luxury hotels
    • Conde Nast's 10 best resorts
      Conde Nast's 10 best resorts
    • Abu Dhabi's best business hotels
      Abu Dhabi's best business hotels
    • Favourite suites around the world
      Favourite suites around the world
    • World's first panda hotel
    • Ritz-Carlton opens large in Abu Dhabi
      Ritz-Carlton opens large in Abu Dhabi
    • Dubai to debut underwater hotel
      Dubai to debut underwater hotel
    • New budget hotel concept takes root in NYC
      New budget hotel concept takes root in NYC
    • Luxury hideouts of Belize
      Luxury hideouts of Belize
    • Amsterdam's rustic Lloyd Hotel
      Amsterdam's rustic Lloyd Hotel
    • Bizarre hotels around the world
      Bizarre hotels around the world
    • All-new resorts of Asia
      All-new resorts of Asia
    • 6 curious tree-house hotels
      6 curious tree-house hotels
    • Art Deco hotels fit for Jay Gatsby
      Art Deco hotels fit for Jay Gatsby
    • Le Corbusier's 'Cabanon'
      Le Corbusier's 'Cabanon'
    • A Zen California retreat
      A Zen California retreat
    • How a real estate tycoon lives II
      How a real estate tycoon lives II
    • Priciest celebrity homes on the market
      Priciest celebrity homes on the market
    • World's most expensive residential property
      World's most expensive residential property
    • Frank Sinatra's party pad
      Frank Sinatra's party pad
    • Amazing nano-sized homes
      Amazing nano-sized homes
    • $8-million piece of Park Avenue
      $8-million piece of Park Avenue
    • Jolly good seaside villas
      Jolly good seaside villas
    • At home, in a Shanghai shipping container
      At home, in a Shanghai shipping container
    • The New York castle house flippers can't unload
      The New York castle house flippers can't unload
    • Famous son lists $100M penthouse
      Famous son lists $100M penthouse
    • Palatial Toronto condo lists for $18.5 million
      Palatial Toronto condo lists for $18.5 million
    • A shocking price for 2 bedrooms
      A shocking price for 2 bedrooms
    • Homes with London's best views
      Homes with London's best views
    • Coldest village on earth
    • World's top 10 beach cities
      World's top 10 beach cities
    • Absorbing the Paris of the South
      Absorbing the Paris of the South
    • Australia, National Geographic-style
      Australia, National Geographic-style
    • World's most romantic destinations
      World's most romantic destinations
    • Abscond to Thailand's resort islands
      Abscond to Thailand's resort islands
    • 10 magical destinations
      10 magical destinations
    • NatGeo favourite photos
      NatGeo favourite photos
    • Iconic Grand Central Station
      Iconic Grand Central Station
    • World's most expensive hotels
      World's most expensive hotels
    • Revisiting the City of Joy
      Revisiting the City of Joy
    • World's 10 best wine destinations
      World's 10 best wine destinations
    • Award-winning travel photographs
      Award-winning travel photographs
    • World's best B&Bs
      World's best B&Bs
    • Where Europe and Asia intersect
      Where Europe and Asia intersect
    • Island getaways in the Philippines
      Island getaways in the Philippines
    • World's safest airline
      World's safest airline
    • NatGeo selects its favourite travel photos
      NatGeo selects its favourite travel photos
    • Inside Istanbul, a city astride two continents
      Inside Istanbul, a city astride two continents
    • World's most punctual airlines
      World's most punctual airlines
    • Magnificent walled city of Avila, Spain
      Magnificent walled city of Avila, Spain
    • Airline uniforms down the ages
      Airline uniforms down the ages
    • Stunning beauty of salt mines
      Stunning beauty of salt mines
    • Mind-bending wonders of the world
      Mind-bending wonders of the world
    • Best new restaurants
      Best new restaurants
    • 2013 NatGeo Traveler photo contest
      2013 NatGeo Traveler photo contest
    • 13 extraordinary places to see before you die
      13 extraordinary places to see before you die
    • Stunning vacation villas of Santorini
      Stunning vacation villas of Santorini
    • Travelers' 10 favourite islands in 2013
      Travelers' 10 favourite islands in 2013
    • Dream escapes in the Philippines
      Dream escapes in the Philippines
    • DXB International, then and now
      DXB International, then and now
    • Tree-shaped tower to preside over Mumbai
      Tree-shaped tower to preside over Mumbai
    • Monaco tower home to world's priciest penthouse
      Monaco tower home to world's priciest penthouse
    • Toyo Ito claims architecture's biggest prize
      Toyo Ito claims architecture's biggest prize
    • World's most majestic skyscrapers
      World's most majestic skyscrapers
    • Stunning new waterfront for an ancient capital
      Stunning new waterfront for an ancient capital
    • Most spectacular corporate headquarters
      Most spectacular corporate headquarters
    • Great mosques of the world
      Great mosques of the world
    • Award-winning micro-apartment
      Award-winning micro-apartment
    • 6 best architectural projects of 2012
      6 best architectural projects of 2012
    • London's tallest building
      London's tallest building
    • Mumbai's amazing "water droplet" tower
      Mumbai's amazing "water droplet" tower
    • The great egg of Mumbai
      The great egg of Mumbai
    • World's great cathedrals
      World's great cathedrals
    • Abu Dhabi's stunning new terminal
      Abu Dhabi's stunning new terminal
    • A sensual (?) bachelor pad
      A sensual (?) bachelor pad
    • 10 cool shipping container homes
      10 cool shipping container homes
    • The world's narrowest home
      The world's narrowest home
    • On design: The reading life
      On design: The reading life
    • 12 unconventional homes inspired by nature
      12 unconventional homes inspired by nature
    • Award-winning micro-apartment
      Award-winning micro-apartment
    • Midcentury modernism
      Midcentury modernism
    • A barn, cleverly converted
      A barn, cleverly converted
    • The art of living narrow
      The art of living narrow
    • Midcentury Vidal Sassoon
      Midcentury Vidal Sassoon
    • Unconventional and ultramodern
      Unconventional and ultramodern
    • The hot (and merely lukewarm) models of the Shanghai Auto Show
      The hot (and merely lukewarm) models of the Shanghai Auto Show
    • Finally, an invitation from a handsome stranger that just feels right
      Finally, an invitation from a handsome stranger that just feels right
    • Mercedes debuts super-sleek GLA concept
      Mercedes debuts super-sleek GLA concept
    • Porsche 911 Turbo and Turbo S
      Porsche 911 Turbo and Turbo S
    • The incredible world inside Audi A8 L W12
      The incredible world inside Audi A8 L W12
    • Porsche's weird, possibly great, Panamera GTS
      Porsche's weird, possibly great, Panamera GTS
    • The new face of Porsche
      The new face of Porsche
    • Jaguar's C-X16 takes it upmarket
      Jaguar's C-X16 takes it upmarket
    • Hot photos of BMWs, Hong Kong-style
      Hot photos of BMWs, Hong Kong-style
    • A 21st-century E-Type for the moneyed Jag fan
      A 21st-century E-Type for the moneyed Jag fan
    • John Lennon's immaculate 330GT heads to auction
      John Lennon's immaculate 330GT heads to auction
    • Jaguar's graceful XF Sportbrake
      Jaguar's graceful XF Sportbrake
    • Bugatti 16 C Galibier
      Bugatti 16 C Galibier
    • Mercedes is confident this is the world's best car
      Mercedes is confident this is the world's best car
    • Bekal - Kerala's new tourism treasure-house
      Bekal - Kerala's new tourism treasure-house

      Probably discovered first by filmmakers before tourists found it, Bekal Fort has suddenly become a high-end … More » Bekal - Kerala's new tourism treasure-house

    • See and Sail Affordable, Authentic Alaska
      See and Sail Affordable, Authentic Alaska

      Over a million visitors will view Alaska's spectacular Inside Passage this year, and most will do it … More » See and Sail Affordable, Authentic Alaska

    • Hottest museums to see this summer
      Hottest museums to see this summer

      Read on to see how England unveils Henry VIII's favorite warship for the first time, Sweden dresses ABBA … More » Hottest museums to see this summer

    • Cement silos house an unusual activity
      Cement silos house an unusual activity
    • 5 beautiful, hypermodern wineries
      5 beautiful, hypermodern wineries
    • 100 years on, butcher shop becomes hipster bar
      100 years on, butcher shop becomes hipster bar
    • The truth about sex at work
      The truth about sex at work
    • Surprise: Real estate agent the happiest career
      Surprise: Real estate agent the happiest career
    • 10 best jobs for the future
      10 best jobs for the future
    • This iPhone 5 costs $15 million
      This iPhone 5 costs $15 million
    • If Facebook made real homes, this is what they'd look like
      If Facebook made real homes, this is what they'd look like
    • I find Apple controlling, its products overpriced
      I find Apple controlling, its products overpriced

    Most Popular

    1 - 4 of 4
    prevnext
      • Veena: I love to be called a bold actress

        Veena: I love to be called a bold actress

      • Up,close and personal: Dharmendra

        Up,close and personal: Dharmendra

      • This 'Jawaani' still rocks

        This 'Jawaani' still rocks

      • D-Day: Actors get out of their comfort zone

        D-Day: Actors get out of their comfort zone

    • 13 popular websites, then and now
      13 popular websites, then and now
    • 5 creepiest clothing company scandals
      5 creepiest clothing company scandals
    • Inside Google's bizarre Tel Aviv office
      Inside Google's bizarre Tel Aviv office
    • Best tech toys of 2013
      Best tech toys of 2013
    • Inside Google's vivid Munich office
      Inside Google's vivid Munich office
    • 10 best innovations of 2012
      10 best innovations of 2012
    • Wait—India get the world's coolest Blackberry?
      Wait—India get the world's coolest Blackberry?
    • Coolest corporate headquarters
      Coolest corporate headquarters
    • Inside a Korean Adidas factory
      Inside a Korean Adidas factory
    • Top 10 women in technology
    • Name that conglomerate!
      Name that conglomerate!
    • World's most gay-friendly brands
      World's most gay-friendly brands
    • How 25 tech firms got their names
      How 25 tech firms got their names
    • Stay in the sky: high-altitude hotels
      Stay in the sky: high-altitude hotels

      Sky-scraping hotels in cities like Shanghai, Dubai, and Singapore boast hotel rooms 100 … More » Stay in the sky: high-altitude hotels

    • 10 high-school dropout millionaires
      10 high-school dropout millionaires

      Tumblr co-founder David Karp, 26, just sold his blogging platform to Yahoo! for $1.1 billion. … More » 10 high-school dropout millionaires

    • 6 trends evident in Bloomberg Billionaires Index
      6 trends evident in Bloomberg Billionaires Index

      The Bloomberg … More » 6 trends evident in Bloomberg Billionaires Index

    • Canada's best car deals: May 16
      Canada's best car deals: May 16

      Each week, Yahoo! Autos Canada and Unhaggle.com team up to bring you the best new cars … More » Canada's best car deals: May 16

    • 9 richest billionaires of 2013
      9 richest billionaires of 2013

      Bill Gates reclaimed his title as the world's richest man, according to the More » 9 richest billionaires of 2013

    • 6 creepiest clothing company scandals
      6 creepiest clothing company scandals

      Clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch has not scored a lot of points with the cool … More » 6 creepiest clothing company scandals

    • Tiny, cute, and revolutionary
      Tiny, cute, and revolutionary

      A tiny revolutionary fold-up car designed in Spain's Basque country as the answer … More » Tiny, cute, and revolutionary

    • 10 people who rule the world
      10 people who rule the world

      In their May/June 2013 "Power Issue," Foreign … More » 10 people who rule the world

    • Canada's best car deals: May 2
      Canada's best car deals: May 2

      Each week, Yahoo! Autos Canada and Unhaggle.com team up to bring you the best new cars … More » Canada's best car deals: May 2

    • World's most expensive jewelry on auction
      World's most expensive jewelry on auction

      Christie's is auctioning off some of the world's most rare and precious jewelry … More » World's most expensive jewelry on auction

    • Canadians react to new, "cartoony" $5, $10 notes
      Canadians react to new, "cartoony" $5, $10 notes

      The Bank of Canada has unveiled its latest plastic bank notes this week — but documents … More » Canadians react to new, "cartoony" $5, $10 notes

    • Canada's best car deals: April 25
      Canada's best car deals: April 25

      Each week, Yahoo! Autos Canada and Unhaggle.com team up to bring you the best new cars … More » Canada's best car deals: April 25

    • Roll like a celebrity
      Roll like a celebrity

      When you think celebrities and cars, keep your mind clean of unfortunate Britney limousine … More » Roll like a celebrity

    • World's most honest people
      World's most honest people

      Denmark, Finland and New Zealand are leaders when it comes to the world’s least corrupt … More » World's most honest people

    • World's 10 ugliest buildings
      World's 10 ugliest buildings

      From Thailand to Toronto and both American Washingtons--these 10  office towers and … More » World's 10 ugliest buildings

    • Canada's best car deals: April 18
      Canada's best car deals: April 18

      Each week, Yahoo! Autos Canada and Unhaggle.com team up to bring you the best new cars … More » Canada's best car deals: April 18

    • Canada's best car deals: April 11
      Canada's best car deals: April 11

      This week, it's all about hybrids. … More » Canada's best car deals: April 11

    • Google's Street View equipment
      Google's Street View equipment

      As Google continues to expand to new locations documented in its Street View service, … More » Google's Street View equipment

    • 5 supercars you can buy for the price of a Toyota Corolla in Singapore
      5 supercars you can buy for the price of a Toyota Corolla in Singapore

      Singapore's restrictive quota system for permits and licensing--known locally as COE, … More » 5 supercars you can buy for the price of a Toyota Corolla in Singapore

    • Canada's best car deals: April 4
      Canada's best car deals: April 4

      Each week, Yahoo! Autos Canada and Unhaggle.com team up to bring you the best new cars … More » Canada's best car deals: April 4

    Today on Yahoo!

    1 - 5 of 48
    prevnext
      • OMG! Did Eva forget something at Cannes?

        OMG! Did Eva forget something at Cannes?

      • Revealed: Sreesanth's wild party side

        Revealed: Sreesanth's wild party side

      • 10 deadly mistakes that keep you poor

        10 deadly mistakes that keep you poor

      • What is Sridevi hiding with her hand?

        What is Sridevi hiding with her hand?

      • Vidya Balan's red carpet ruin

        Vidya Balan's red carpet ruin

    YAHOO! MOVIES

    • Home
    • Movie Reviews
    • Photos
    • Blogs
    • Movieplex
    • Video
    • News
    • OMG!
    • Weekend Magazine
    • Indian Cinema @ 100

    Also On Yahoo!

    • Finance
    • Cricket
    • OMG!
    • Weather
    • Lifestyle
    • Answers
    All Yahoo! Services »

    Trending Now

    1. IPL Playoffs
    2. Li Keqiang in India
    3. Heat wave hits North India
    4. Diamonds missing in Mumbai
    5. Jail Bharo campaign
    1. Explosion on Moon
    2. Sunrisers win, RCB out
    3. Food Security Bill Debate
    4. Anti-fixing Law proposed
    5. Karzai Seeks Aid
    Copyright © 2013 Yahoo India Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.
    • Help / Suggestions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Copyright/IP Policy