Everyone knows the big names. Apple. Amazon. Microsoft. They show up on every "best of" list like clockwork, often making the whole concept of corporate rankings feel a bit like a popularity contest. But when you look at the Fortune magazine world’s most admired companies list, there is a weird, internal logic to it that goes way beyond just who has the most money. It’s a reputational "beauty contest," sure, but it’s one judged by the most critical audience possible: their own competitors.
Honestly, it's kind of fascinating. While the Fortune 500 tells us who is the biggest, and the "Best Companies to Work For" tells us who has the nicest snacks, the "Most Admired" list is about respect. It’s about which CEO makes other CEOs sweat. It's about which company has a culture that rivals want to steal.
How the ranking actually works
You can't just buy your way onto this list. And you definitely don't get there just by having a viral TikTok account. The process is a massive undertaking handled by Korn Ferry and Fortune. They start with a pool of roughly 1,500 candidates. These are basically the 1,000 largest U.S. companies and non-U.S. firms from the Global 500 that pull in $10 billion or more in revenue.
Then they narrow it down to the highest-revenue companies in each of the 52 industries. For 2025, that was about 670 companies across 30 countries.
Now, here is the kicker. To figure out who is actually "admired," they ask 3,700-plus executives, directors, and analysts to rate companies in their own industry. They use nine specific criteria:
- Innovation (Are they doing something new or just copying?)
- People Management (Can they keep their talent?)
- Use of Corporate Assets
- Social Responsibility
- Quality of Management
- Financial Soundness
- Long-Term Investment Value
- Quality of Products and Services
- Global Competitiveness
To even be listed as "most admired" within an industry, a company has to rank in the top half of its peer group. The "All-Star" list—the Top 50—is a different beast. To get there, the voters choose the 10 companies they admire most, regardless of industry. That’s why you see tech giants dominating the top spots; everyone, from airline execs to hedge fund managers, watches what Apple does.
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The 2025 heavy hitters
It's 2026 now, but looking back at the 2025 data, Apple managed to snag the #1 spot for the 18th year in a row. That is an insane streak. Think about where you were 18 years ago. Most of us were still carrying flip phones or maybe the very first iPhone. Since then, the world has changed completely, but the collective corporate respect for Apple has remained a constant.
The rest of the 2025 Top 5 was equally formidable:
- Apple
- Microsoft
- Amazon
- Nvidia
- Berkshire Hathaway
Nvidia’s rise is probably the most dramatic story of the decade. They were ranked #45 in 2023. By 2024, they hit #10. In 2025, they were sitting pretty at #4. That shift is a direct reflection of the AI explosion. It shows that the voters for the Fortune magazine world’s most admired companies are highly reactive to whoever is providing the literal "engine" for the next era of business.
Newcomers and Surprises
The Top 50 isn't just a gated community for Big Tech. In the 2025 cycle, we saw some fresh faces break through. Caterpillar (#40) made a comeback, likely due to its role in the global infrastructure push. ServiceNow (#42) and Taiwan Semiconductor (#45) also landed in the elite tier.
Perhaps the most culturally relevant addition was Novo Nordisk at #46. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know why. Their success with Ozempic and Wegovy didn't just change healthcare; it changed the stock market. Peers admire that kind of market-shifting power.
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Why some "successful" companies fail the test
You might notice some massive, profitable companies are missing. Why? Because the methodology is designed to weed out firms that make money but lose respect. A company might have a stellar balance sheet but a toxic internal culture that's common knowledge in the industry. Or maybe their product quality has tanked, and while the general public hasn't noticed yet, their competitors certainly have.
For instance, a company like Lockheed Martin has occasionally fallen off the All-Star list while still being #1 in its specific "Aerospace and Defense" category. This happens because while their peers in defense respect their technical dominance, executives in other sectors might not find their business model or public profile particularly inspiring.
The "All-Star" vs. Industry rankings
It is important to distinguish between being "Most Admired" in an industry and being an "All-Star."
Take Delta Air Lines. They’ve been a staple on the list for over a decade, often ranking as the #1 airline. In 2025, they held a strong position at #11 overall. They are admired for their operational reliability and the way they've navigated the chaotic post-pandemic travel landscape.
Then you have Whirlpool, which has made the list for 15 consecutive years. They aren't in the Top 10 All-Stars, but within the "Home Equipment, Furnishings" category, they are essentially the gold standard.
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The regional divide
The list is undeniably U.S.-heavy. In 2025, 229 of the top companies were based in the U.S. Europe had 59, and the Asia/Pacific region had 26. This has led to some criticism that the list has a "Western bias," but supporters argue it simply reflects where the world's most influential, globally-scaled corporations are currently headquartered.
What this means for you
If you're an investor or a job seeker, the Fortune magazine world’s most admired companies list is a pretty solid filter. It’s essentially a peer-reviewed seal of approval.
If a company is on this list, it means the people who know the industry best think they are doing things right. It’s a trailing indicator of health. Companies like Costco Wholesale (#6) or JPMorgan Chase (#7) aren't just there because they're big; they're there because their competitors think they are better managed than everyone else.
Nuance matters here. A company can be "admired" for its financial soundness while being criticized for its social responsibility. The list is an average of those nine criteria. If you're looking for a job, you might want to look at the "People Management" and "Innovation" scores specifically. If you're an investor, "Long-Term Investment Value" and "Financial Soundness" are your north stars.
Actionable takeaways from the 2025-2026 data
- Watch the "Moat": Companies that stay on this list for 10+ years (like Marriott, Disney, or Coca-Cola) usually have what Warren Buffett calls a "moat." They have something—brand, scale, or tech—that is incredibly hard to replicate.
- Identify the "Enablers": Look at companies like Accenture (#30) or Microsoft. They are admired because they provide the tools that allow other companies to function. They are the infrastructure of the modern economy.
- Don't ignore the industry leaders: You don't have to be a Top 50 All-Star to be a powerhouse. Companies like Wesco International (ranked #3 in Wholesalers: Diversified) or PPG (ranked #2 in Chemicals) are dominant in their niches and often provide more stability than high-flying tech stocks.
The reality of the Fortune magazine world’s most admired companies list is that it’s a snapshot of corporate ego and excellence. It tells us who the "cool kids" are in the boardroom, but more importantly, it shows us which business models are actually sustainable when the hype fades away.
To keep track of shifts for the upcoming year, pay close attention to the industry-specific rankings released each February. These often signal which companies are about to break into the All-Star Top 50 before the rest of the market catches on. If you're looking to align your career or portfolio with the best-of-the-best, checking the individual scores for "Quality of Management" and "Innovation" on the Fortune website is your best first step.