Apple named 2025’s most valuable brand in the world at $574.5 billion

Apple has once again topped the list of the world's most valuable brands this year. Brand Finance, a leading global brand valuation consultancy, assessed Apple's brand value at $574.5 billion for 2025, allowing it to maintain its lead over its closest competitor, Microsoft, valued at $461 billion. Since 2021, Apple has consistently held the top spot as the world's most valuable brand, except for a brief period in 2023 when it was slightly surpassed by Amazon by a mere 1%.

According to Brand Finance's "Global 500 2025" study, released at the UAE pavilion during the 2025 Davos Forum, three of the top five most valuable brands globally are tech brands: Apple, Microsoft, and Google, with brand values of $574.5 billion, $461 billion, and $413 billion, respectively. Amazon ranks fourth with a brand value of $356.4 billion, while Walmart comes in fifth with a brand value of $137.2 billion.

The United Nations predicts that global economic growth will remain stagnant at 2.8% in 2025, the same as in 2024, and below the pre-pandemic average of 3.2%. In contrast, the world's 500 most valuable brands are thriving, with their total value increasing by 10% year-on-year, from $8.6 trillion in 2024 to nearly $9.5 trillion in 2025.

Brand Finance also analyzed the fastest-growing brands since 2020. While the tech industry is clearly a long-term high-growth sector, Brand Finance's data and research depth reveal a more nuanced perspective. The analysis included TikTok, even though Brand Finance only began assessing the brand in 2022. TikTok has grown by 79% in four years, reaching $105.8 billion, placing it alongside other high-growth brands.

David Haigh, Chairman and CEO of Brand Finance, stated, "Our analysis of the fastest-growing brands since 2020 shows that tech companies are not the sole drivers of sustained brand growth. This longer-term perspective also reinforces another important global trend: Chinese brands like TikTok, Pinduoduo, and BYD are leading the way by creating value and challenging established brand leaders."

As US legislatures and courts legalize online gambling and overturn old gambling bans, US gambling brands DraftKings and Fanduel are profiting from this. Meanwhile, semiconductor brands Nvidia, AMD, and TSMC are advancing new technologies, while tech giants Apple and Microsoft continue to lead innovation with their dominance in constantly evolving and growing markets.

E-commerce brand Pinduoduo is following in the footsteps of Apple and Microsoft, investing in an ecosystem that integrates social networking and online shopping. Electric vehicle manufacturer BYD and pharmaceutical brand Eli Lilly are also meeting the modern needs of evolving consumers. Haigh added, "As China continues to refine its brand-building strategies and focus on quality, we expect to see more Chinese companies entering the global market in 2025."

Although top brands are growing in different ways, their development paths over the past five years have been organic and linear. The ten brands with the largest value growth since 2020 do not belong to the sector with the most value growth (media, up 125%), which reflects the transformation of media brands from news sources to indispensable tools for global daily use.

Google, the world's third most valuable brand, saw its brand value increase by 24% to $413 billion. Continued investment in artificial intelligence has enhanced Google's reputation for innovation while strengthening its appeal and trust with consumers. Amazon's brand value increased by 15% to $356.4 billion, as it continues to integrate AI into its operations, from personalized recommendations to advanced logistics. These efforts have solidified its reputation as a customer-centric brand, driving continued growth.

WeChat has been named the world's strongest brand for the second consecutive year, with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 95.2 out of 100 and a brand strength rating of AAA+. WeChat's comprehensive ecosystem and seamless integration capabilities continue to drive this Chinese brand to global leadership.

e& is the fastest-growing brand in the world this year, with its brand value increasing eightfold to $15.3 billion. This marks the final stage of a three-year group rebranding aimed at transitioning brand assets from Etisalat to e& as a platform for international growth. The brand's value growth is 13% compared to the total value of brands in 2024. Nvidia has the highest organic growth rate at 98% and is the second-fastest-growing brand in brand value for 2025.

Meanwhile, Apple leads the 193 US brands appearing in the ranking, which collectively contribute over half of the total value. China and Germany follow closely, ranking second and third with 69 and 27 brands respectively, accounting for 15% and 6% of the total brand value. From an industry perspective, banking contributes 13% of the value with 79 brands, followed by retail with 45 brands accounting for 11%. The media sector ranks third with 23 brands contributing 10%.

The articles on our website are for informational purposes only. Content that involves financial, investment, tax, or legal matters should not be considered financial advice or recommendations. Please refer to our full disclaimer policy.