Tech Dominates Top of Most Valuable Brands List

Interbrand launched its annual Best Global Brands ranking, marking a quarter of a century of brand valuation analysis. Since 2000, Interbrand’s longitudinal study has tracked and reported on the value of the world’s biggest brands.

A quarter century of analysis reveals that while performance marketing tactics can drive short-term financial gains, a lack of investment in long-term brand strategy has left the Best Global Brands with at least $3.5 trillion of unrealized value. For this last year, this equates to $200 billion of lost revenue. The cumulative value of the world’s most valuable brands has increased 3.4x since Interbrand first published its ranking (from $988 billion to $3.4 trillion).

“If these brands had been treated and managed as strategic growth assets, then this table could be worth as much as $6.9 trillion. The growth we see hides a staggering missed opportunity,” said Gonzalo Brujó, Global CEO of Interbrand. Apple remained the most valuable brand, but its brand value has dropped for the first time in over two decades (at -3%).

“While others rushed into AI, Apple took a more deliberate path to ensure its AI releases matched its values. This slower-moving act of leadership has put long-term trust ahead of short-term revenue gains. Following these brand moves, Apple’s stock has moved up 20% YTD and we anticipate that Apple’s value will increase in the 2025 rankings,” said Greg Silverman, Global Director of Brand Economics at Interbrand.

The top of the list is once again dominated by tech companies. The ICT sector grabbed the first five places (Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Samsung) with 5 out of the top 10 places and 11 out first 20 spots. 14 of the top 100 brands of 2024 are automotive. Three auto brands (Toyota at 6, Mercedes-Benz at 8, and BMW  at 10) appear in the top 10. However, not all auto brands have achieved such success. Tesla has one of this year’s largest declines in brand value (-9%). Meanwhile, Kia, Hyundai, and Toyota achieved double-digit growth.