The latest iteration of the Brand Finance Global 500 reveals the world's most valuable and strongest brands
Key highlights include:
- Apple remains the world’s most valuable brand, while Microsoft narrows the gap, becoming only the second brand globally to exceed USD550 billion in brand value
- NVIDIA surpasses Facebook and Walmart in brand value, reflecting the central role of AI infrastructure in global digital transformation
- OpenAI enters the Global 500 for the first time, underlining how rapidly AI-native brands are translating technological leadership into brand equity
- Revolut’s brand value more than triples in 2026, earning the fintech brand its debut in the Global 500 ranking
- YouTube is crowned the world’s strongest brand, with 37 brands achieving an elite AAA+ Brand Strength Index rating
David Haigh, Chairman and CEO, Brand Finance, commented,
“Amid fierce competition to capture value from artificial intelligence innovation, Intel is increasingly perceived as playing catch-up, while the brand values of rivals such as NVIDIA and AMD continue to skyrocket off the back of surging AI demand. This marks a defining moment for Intel: innovate rapidly or risk being left behind. Yet even as brand value comes under pressure, Intel’s brand has strengthened year-on-year. The critical challenge now is translating this strength into tangible performance, or risk losing relevance in 2026’s most significant growth story.”
