Fortune Global 500

Gail Boudreaux, CEO of Elevance Health, began her career as a professional basketball player in France before joining Aetna. She is now the highest-ranking female CEO on the 2026 Fortune Global 500, leading Elevance Health with $199.1 billion in revenue. Boudreaux attributes her leadership style to her athletic background, emphasizing teamwork and adaptability.

Jeff Bezos once warned in 2018 that Amazon might not survive beyond 30 years, but the company has now become the world's largest by revenue after surpassing Walmart. Amazon reported $716.9 billion in revenue for 2025, with a market capitalization of $2.5 trillion, despite initial doubts about its longevity.

TSMC and Tencent entered the Fortune Global 500 top 100 in 2026, driven by AI-related revenue growth. TSMC rose to No. 82 with $122.3 billion in 2025 revenue (up 35.6%), while Tencent reached No. 97 with $104.6 billion (up 14%). Asian hardware firms like Wistron and SK Hynix also saw significant ranking jumps due to AI-driven demand.

The 2026 Fortune Global 500 list shows increased consolidation of power among top companies, with the top 50 firms accounting for a third of total revenue and 39% of profits. U.S. companies dominate with 141 entries and $15.5 trillion in revenue, while tech sector profits rose 36% to $835 billion. Women lead 38 companies, a record high, and Amazon remains the top company despite Jeff Bezos stepping down as CEO.

Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos in 1995 as an online bookshop, has become the world's largest company by revenue, topping Fortune's Global 500. The company's growth is attributed to customer-centric strategies, AWS dominance in cloud computing, and significant investments in AI and silicon technology.

Wistron's strategic partnership with Nvidia eight years ago positioned it as a key player in the AI boom, driving revenue growth to $70.2 billion in 2025 and a 298-spot rise on the Fortune Global 500. The company shifted from low-margin PC manufacturing to building servers for Nvidia's AI chips, with servers accounting for 70% of its 2025 sales.

CEO confidence in the economy dropped to 47 in Q2, a 12-point decline, driven by the ongoing Iran war and regulatory uncertainties. The survey by The Conference Board and The Business Council found 47% of CEOs reported worsening economic conditions, with optimism eroded despite some recovery after Trump's tariff policy shifts.