Apple Tops 'World's Most Admired Company' List for 14th Consecutive Year

Apple continues to dominate Fortune's list of the "World's Most Admired Companies" for 2021, taking the top spot for the 14th consecutive year.

aapl logo banner

Technology and entertainment held the top four rankings, with Amazon claiming second place, followed by Microsoft in third, and Disney in fourth.

After a year in which humanity leaned more heavily than ever on tech giants—to connect, entertain, and even feed us in a time of isolation — it's fitting that Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft hold the top three spots in Fortune's ranking of corporate reputation. Apple, the premier personal-tech provider, tops the roster for the 14th year in a row, based on our poll of some 3,800 corporate executives, directors, and analysts.

Elsewhere, Netflix returned to the top ten, placing ninth, and Walmart and Target earned their highest rankings since 2011 and 2008. Nvidia and PayPal also earned a place in the top 50 for the first time.

The 50 companies selected for the 2021 Fortune rankings were narrowed down from an initial list of the 1,000 largest companies in the U.S. ranked by revenue and 500 non-U.S. companies from Fortune's Global 500 database with revenues of $10 billion or more.

Management consulting firm Korn Ferry then asked executives, directors, and analysts to rate companies in their own industry based on nine criteria, from investment value and quality of management and products to social responsibility and ability to attract talent, and select the ten companies they admired most.

While the result is not indicative of financial performance, the list does provide an interesting insight into how some of the world's best-known companies are perceived relative to each other.

Tag: Fortune

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. In his Powe...
Apple Logo Black

Apple's Next Launch is 'Imminent'

Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models. "All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3

Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
iOS 26 Home Feature

Apple Gives Final Warning to Home App Users

Tuesday February 3, 2026 8:55 am PST by
In 2022, Apple introduced a new Apple Home architecture that is "more reliable and efficient," and the deadline to upgrade and avoid issues is fast approaching. In an email this week, Apple gave customers a final reminder to upgrade their Home app by February 10, 2026. Apple says users who do not upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automations, or lose access to their smart...

Top Rated Comments

mi7chy Avatar
65 months ago
My top 8:

#1 AMD
#2 Microsoft
#3 Google
#4 Tesla/Starlink/SpaceX
#5 Nvidia
#6 Lenovo
#7 TSMC
#8 Samsung Semiconductor
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roland.g Avatar
65 months ago

For those looking for Tesla, it's at 294.
Or at $803 depending on how you look at it.

Hey - woohoo, a front page article that isn't a 'deal' and isn't PRSI. :eek:
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArtOfWarfare Avatar
65 months ago

No surprise here! Apple is still setting the trend.

✅Multitouch
✅Touch ID
✅Removing DVD-drives in Macbook Airs
✅FaceID
✅Removal headphone jack
✅Wireless headphones
✅Tablets
✅Removal charger

and the list goes on.
Apple did Multitouch 14 years ago, Touch ID 8 years ago, removed DVD drives from the Air 13 years ago, FaceID and wireless headphones were both done a decade before Apple added it, the iPad is 11 years old, and Apple removed the charger on the Apple Watch 6 years ago.

So Apple's newest innovation on your list is 6 years old. That in no way justifies Apple being at the top of the list today. Also of note - almost that entire list was done by Steve Jobs, not Tim Cook.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kennyt72 Avatar
65 months ago

For those looking for Tesla, it's ranked at 294th.
From 52nd place they're just placed in alphabetical order so any "rank" past 51st is meaningless.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Edsel Avatar
65 months ago
I'm old. I remember when IBM was on top, and Apple Computer was just a joke. One day, you "young'uns" will remember Apple, Inc as I do of IBM. Corporate culture is little different from the culture of the World Wrestling Federation.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ken88 Avatar
65 months ago
SURPRISE!?? not really..wonder which company was #1 15 years ago. Sorry I didn’t read the whole article. Meanwhile Mark Zukerberg’s Facebook rank #1 overrated..it’s true. Hey Mark if you’re read this congratulations you finally BEAT Apple at something?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)