Key facts
- The Fortune 500 ranks the 500 largest U.S. companies by revenue.
- Companies must be incorporated and operated in the U.S. and file financial statements with a government agency.
- The revenue threshold for the 2026 list was $7.5 billion.
- The list was first launched in 1955 by Edgar P. Smith.
- Texas has the most Fortune 500 companies, with 57 listees.
- In 2025, Fortune 500 companies achieved a combined revenue of $21 trillion.
The Fortune 500 list, Fortune's flagship ranking, measures the success of U.S. companies by ranking the largest 500 public and private entities based on revenue. First launched in 1955 by Edgar P. Smith, the list was initially conceived by Henry Luce as a way to reflect industrial life. Companies must be incorporated and operated in the U.S. and file financial statements with a government agency to be eligible. For the 2026 list, the revenue threshold was $7.5 billion, and the list was released online on June 3, 2026.
Historically, companies like General Motors, which topped the list in 1955 with over $9.8 billion in revenue, and ExxonMobil have consistently appeared. Amazon, which debuted at No. 492 in 2002, has now surpassed Walmart to take the top spot. In 2025, Fortune 500 companies collectively generated $21 trillion in revenue and $2.1 trillion in profits, with a combined market value exceeding $55 trillion. A small group of fewer than 50 companies have been on the list every year since its inception.
Diversity among CEOs has increased over the decades. Katharine Graham became the first woman CEO in 1972, followed by Clifton Wharton as the first Black CEO in 1975, and Ursula Burns as the first Black woman CEO in 2009. Currently, 11% of Fortune 500 companies are led by women, and 2% by Black CEOs. Texas leads the nation with 57 Fortune 500 companies, generating approximately $2.8 trillion in revenue last year, unseating California.