As of my knowledge cutoff date of 2021, the top 5 biggest companies in the world, based on market capitalization, were:
Apple Inc. - A technology company that designs and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services. As of 2021, Apple had a market capitalization of over $2.2 trillion.
Microsoft Corporation - A technology company that develops, licenses, and sells computer software, consumer electronics, and personal computers. As of 2021, Microsoft had a market capitalization of over $2.1 trillion.
Amazon.com, Inc. - An online retailer that sells a variety of consumer goods and digital media, as well as providing web services and artificial intelligence solutions. As of 2021, Amazon had a market capitalization of over $1.7 trillion.
Alphabet Inc. - The parent company of Google, which is primarily known for its search engine, but also offers a variety of other services and products such as cloud computing, hardware, and operating systems. As of 2021, Alphabet had a market capitalization of over $1.6 trillion.
Facebook, Inc. - A social media platform that enables users to connect and share content with friends and family, as well as businesses and organizations. As of 2021, Facebook had a market capitalization of over $900 billion.
Apple Inc.
Apple Inc. is a multinational technology company based in Cupertino, California, that designs, develops, and sells a range of consumer electronics, computer software, and online services. It is one of the world's largest technology companies, with a market capitalization of over $2 trillion as of 2021.
Apple's products include the iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, Apple Watch, and Apple TV, among others. The company's software offerings include the macOS and iOS operating systems, the iTunes media player, the Safari web browser, and the iLife and iWork creativity and productivity suites. In addition, Apple offers a variety of online services such as the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, and Apple Pay.
Apple is known for its focus on design and innovation, as well as its closed ecosystem of hardware and software. The company has a large and dedicated customer base, and is frequently ranked among the world's most valuable and admired brands.
Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft Corporation is a multinational technology company based in Redmond, Washington, that develops, licenses, and sells computer software, consumer electronics, and personal computers. It is one of the largest technology companies in the world, with a market capitalization of over $2 trillion as of 2021.
Microsoft is best known for its Windows operating system, which is used by millions of computers around the world. The company also offers a range of other software products, including the Microsoft Office productivity suite, the Microsoft Edge web browser, and the Microsoft Teams communication platform.
In addition to software, Microsoft produces a variety of hardware products, including the Xbox gaming console, the Surface line of tablets and laptops, and various other accessories such as keyboards and mice. The company also offers a range of online services such as the Microsoft Azure cloud computing platform, the Bing search engine, and the Microsoft Store.
Microsoft is known for its focus on innovation and research, as well as its strong presence in the enterprise market. The company has a large and loyal customer base, and is frequently ranked among the world's most valuable and influential brands.
Amazon.com, Inc
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational technology company based in Seattle, Washington, that is primarily known as the world's largest online retailer. It was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos and has since grown to become one of the largest and most influential companies in the world, with a market capitalization of over $1.7 trillion as of 2021.
Amazon's core business is its e-commerce platform, which allows customers to purchase a wide range of products and services online. The company also produces its own consumer electronics, including the Kindle e-reader, the Amazon Echo smart speaker, and the Fire TV streaming media player.
In addition to its retail and consumer electronics businesses, Amazon also offers a range of online services such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), a cloud computing platform used by businesses and organizations around the world. Amazon also owns a number of subsidiaries, including Whole Foods Market, an upscale grocery store chain, and IMDb, a popular online database of movies, TV shows, and celebrities.
Amazon is known for its focus on innovation and customer service, as well as its aggressive expansion into new markets and industries. The company has a large and dedicated customer base, and is frequently ranked among the world's most valuable and admired brands.
Alphabet Inc.
Alphabet Inc. is a multinational technology conglomerate based in Mountain View, California, that was created in 2015 as a restructuring of Google Inc. Alphabet is primarily known as the parent company of Google, which is one of the largest and most influential technology companies in the world.
Google is best known for its search engine, which is used by millions of people around the world, but the company also offers a range of other products and services such as the Google Chrome web browser, the Android operating system for mobile devices, and the Google Cloud Platform, a cloud computing service used by businesses and organizations.
In addition to Google, Alphabet owns a number of subsidiaries, including Waymo, a self-driving car company, and Verily, a life sciences research and development company. Alphabet also invests in a range of other technology companies through its venture capital arm, GV.
Alphabet is known for its focus on innovation and research, as well as its emphasis on user privacy and data protection. The company has a large and dedicated customer base, and is frequently ranked among the world's most valuable and admired brands.
Facebook, Inc
Facebook, Inc. is a multinational social media and technology company based in Menlo Park, California. It was founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and has since grown to become one of the largest and most influential technology companies in the world, with a market capitalization of over $900 billion as of 2021.
Facebook is primarily known for its social networking platform, which allows users to connect with friends and family, share content, and join groups and communities. The company also owns a number of other popular social media platforms, including Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger.
In addition to its social media businesses, Facebook also offers a range of other products and services, including virtual and augmented reality products through its Oculus brand, and advertising and business tools through its Facebook Business platform.
Facebook is known for its focus on innovation and user engagement, as well as its impact on society and privacy concerns. The company has a large and dedicated user base, and is frequently ranked among the world's most valuable and influential brands.