America Tops the Fortune Global 500 — But the Lead Is Shrinking
The numbers speak for themselves:
Walmart is once again the world’s largest company. U.S. firms occupy 8 of the top 10 most profitable spots. And the so-called “Magnificent Seven” tech giants brought in a staggering $484 billion in profits last year.
This year’s Fortune Global 500 confirms what most Americans already experience every day — from healthcare to highways, broadband to banking — that large U.S. companies continue to power not just our economy, but the global economy.
But this lead isn’t guaranteed.
While the United States still edges out Greater China in total Global 500 companies (138 to 130), that gap is narrowing. And at a moment when the global business landscape is shifting rapidly — with AI disruption, conflict, and tariffs reshaping the rules — the question is no longer whether U.S. firms can compete at the highest level. It’s whether U.S. policymakers will let them.
Every time lawmakers propose sweeping new antitrust action, layer on redundant regulations, or vilify “big business” in the media, they chip away at the scale advantages that make America’s economy the most dynamic in the world.
We should be proud that Walmart, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, and CVS Health aren’t just thriving — they’re delivering jobs, innovation, and affordable access to millions of Americans. These are the companies building supply chain resilience, lowering costs through vertical integration, and funding the R&D that keeps the U.S. globally competitive.
But staying on top requires intention. It requires an environment that rewards scale, efficiency, and investment — not one that punishes success for short-term political points.
Let’s not forget:
The top 10 companies alone generated over $4.7 trillion in revenue last year.
Fortune Global 500 firms employed 70 million people worldwide.
U.S.-based companies continue to lead in profitability, innovation, and reach.
That’s a record of impact worth protecting.
If we want to stay on top of next year’s list — and more importantly, if we want to ensure that the benefits of scale continue to reach working families — our policies should reflect that. That means resisting anti-business legislation and recommitting to the principles that made us a leader in the first place: competition, efficiency, and growth.
The world is watching. Let’s give them something to keep watching.