MUMBAI: The band of top brands globally continues to be dominated by tech giants. At least that’s what Brand Finance’s top 500 Global Brands report for 2025 has revealed. Apple has retained its position as the world's most valuable brand, with a brand value of $574.5 billion. The tech giant is followed closely by Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, which occupy the second, third, and fourth spots, respectively.

The top 10 most valuable brands are dominated by US-based companies, with Walmart, Facebook, and Nvidia also featuring in the list. However, Chinese brands such as TikTok/Douyin, State Grid Corp of China, and China Construction Bank are rapidly gaining ground, with significant increases in their brand values.

The report highlights the growing influence of Asian brands, with 17 Chinese companies featuring in the top 100, including newcomers such as Moutai and Wuliangye. Japanese brands such as Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi Group also make significant appearances in the list.

European brands, meanwhile, are struggling to keep pace, with only 12 companies from the continent featuring in the top 100. German brands such as Deutsche Telekom, Mercedes-Benz, and SAP are among the notable exceptions.

The report also notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on brand values, with many companies experiencing a decline in their brand worth. However, tech giants such as Apple, Microsoft, and Google have been largely immune to the pandemic's effects, thanks to their diversified revenue streams and strong brand recognition.

The top 10 most valuable brands in the world are:

1. Apple (USA) - $574.5 billion
2. Microsoft (USA) - $461.1 billion
3. Google (USA) - $412.9 billion
4. Amazon (USA) - $356.4 billion
5. Walmart (USA) - $137.2 billion
6. Samsung Group (South Korea) - $110.6 billion
7. TikTok/Douyin (China) - $105.8 billion
8. Facebook (USA) - $91.5 billion
9. NVIDIA (USA) - $87.9 billion
10. State Grid Corporation of China (China) - $85.6 billion

Brand Finance also analysed what brands have grown the most since 2020, plus TikTok – although Brand Finance began valuing the brand in 2022, its 79 per cent growth in four years puts it in the same league as the other high-growth brands. 

1. TikTok/Douyin: USD105.8 billion, up from USD59.0 billion (in 2022)
2. DraftKings: USD5.1 billion, up from USD18 million
3. FanDuel: USD7.0 billion, up from USD56 million
4. NVIDIA: USD87.9 billion, up from USD4.7 billion
5. AMD: USD11.0 billion, up from USD1.4 billion
6. Pinduoduo: USD13.0 billion, up from USD2.5 billion
7. BYD: USD14.0 billion, up from USD3.1 billion
8. Apple: USD574.5 billion, up from USD140.5 billion
9. TSMC: USD34.2 billion, up from US8.6 billion
10. Microsoft: USD461.1 billion, up from USD117.1 billion
11. Lilly: USD8.0 billion, up from USD2.1 billion

To take a dekko at the Top 100 Global Brands 2025 list click on the word free. Basic data for the top 100 is available for free.