Special Report

The Biggest Company the Year You Were Born

Robert Nickelsberg / Getty Images

To succeed in the U.S. economy, companies must constantly adapt to changing conditions. Though some of the nation’s largest corporations — companies such as General Electric, Exxon Mobil, and Walmart — have always dominated their industries, for many American consumers the landscape of companies has shifted over the course of their lifetimes

To identify the largest companies in the year you were born, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed annual revenue figures for companies on the Fortune 500 each year from 1955 through 2020. General Motors was the nation’s largest company throughout the 1950s, ‘60s, and part of the ‘70s. The company now known as Exxon Mobil edged out the automaker in 1975, but GM returned to the No. 1 position periodically in subsequent years. 

Since 2001, either Walmart or Exxon Mobil has occupied the top spot. While Exxon Mobil took a hit in 2020 because of the pandemic, and was not among the top five largest companies,  Walmart reported revenue of over $520 billion in its most recent fiscal year. The global retailing giant is the world’s largest company by revenue — and the largest employer in 18 states.

Though industrial companies used to be among the largest in terms of revenue, internet and tech giants like Alphabet, Apple, and Amazon are decisively making their way toward the top of the list.

These large companies tend to pay their executives well and have some of the highest paid CEOs in the country

Click here to see the biggest company the year you were born.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.

General Motors, 1955
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $9.82 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $5.66 billion
3. U.S. Steel: $3.25 billion
4. General Electric: $2.96 billion
5. Esmark: $2.51 billion

General Motors, 1956
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $12.44 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $6.27 billion
3. Ford Motor: $5.59 billion
4. U.S. Steel: $4.10 billion
5. Chrysler: $3.47 billion

General Motors, 1957
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $10.80 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $7.13 billion
3. Ford Motor: $4.65 billion
4. U.S. Steel: $4.23 billion
5. General Electric: $4.09 billion

General Motors, 1958
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $10.99 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $7.83 billion
3. Ford Motor: $5.77 billion
4. U.S. Steel: $4.41 billion
5. General Electric: $4.34 billion

General Motors, 1959
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $9.52 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $7.54 billion
3. Ford Motor: $4.13 billion
4. General Electric: $4.12 billion
5. U.S. Steel: $3.47 billion

General Motors, 1960
sv1ambo / Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $11.23 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $7.91 billion
3. Ford Motor: $5.36 billion
4. General Electric: $4.35 billion
5. U.S. Steel: $3.64 billion

General Motors, 1961
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $12.74 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $8.04 billion
3. Ford Motor: $5.24 billion
4. General Electric: $4.20 billion
5. U.S. Steel: $3.70 billion

General Motors, 1962
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $11.40 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $8.44 billion
3. Ford Motor: $6.71 billion
4. General Electric: $4.46 billion
5. Mobil: $3.32 billion

General Motors, 1963
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $14.64 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $9.54 billion
3. Ford Motor: $8.09 billion
4. General Electric: $4.79 billion
5. Mobil: $3.93 billion

General Motors, 1964
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $16.50 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $10.26 billion
3. Ford Motor: $8.74 billion
4. General Electric: $4.92 billion
5. Mobil: $4.35 billion

General Motors, 1965
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $17.00 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $10.82 billion
3. Ford Motor: $9.67 billion
4. General Electric: $4.94 billion
5. Mobil: $4.50 billion

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Ex-Rose City Transit bus 575 r113f24b
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $20.73 billion
2. Ford Motor: $11.54 billion
3. Exxon Mobil: $11.47 billion
4. General Electric: $6.21 billion
5. Chrysler: $5.30 billion

General Motors, 1967
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $20.21 billion
2. Ford Motor: $12.24 billion
3. Exxon Mobil: $12.19 billion
4. General Electric: $7.18 billion
5. Chrysler: $5.65 billion

General Motors, 1968
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $20.03 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $13.27 billion
3. Ford Motor: $10.52 billion
4. General Electric: $7.74 billion
5. Chrysler: $6.21 billion

General Motors, 1969
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $22.76 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $14.09 billion
3. Ford Motor: $14.08 billion
4. General Electric: $8.38 billion
5. Chrysler: $7.45 billion

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General Motors, 1970
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $24.30 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $14.93 billion
3. Ford Motor: $14.76 billion
4. General Electric: $8.45 billion
5. International Business Machines: $7.20 billion

General Motors, 1971
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $18.75 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $16.55 billion
3. Ford Motor: $14.98 billion
4. General Electric: $8.73 billion
5. International Business Machines: $7.50 billion

General Motors, 1972
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $28.26 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $18.70 billion
3. Ford Motor: $16.43 billion
4. General Electric: $9.43 billion
5. International Business Machines: $8.27 billion

General Motors, 1973
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $30.44 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $20.31 billion
3. Ford Motor: $20.19 billion
4. General Electric: $10.24 billion
5. Chrysler: $9.76 billion

General Motors, 1974
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $35.80 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $25.72 billion
3. Ford Motor: $23.02 billion
4. Chrysler: $11.77 billion
5. General Electric: $11.58 billion

ExxonMobil, 1975
Wikimedia Commons

1. Exxon Mobil: $42.06 billion
2. General Motors: $31.55 billion
3. Ford Motor: $23.62 billion
4. Texaco: $23.26 billion
5. Mobil: $18.93 billion

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Offshore drilling platform
Wikimedia Commons

1. Exxon Mobil: $44.87 billion
2. General Motors: $35.73 billion
3. Texaco: $24.51 billion
4. Ford Motor: $24.01 billion
5. Mobil: $20.62 billion

Oil Storage Tanks
Wikimedia Commons

1. Exxon Mobil: $48.63 billion
2. General Motors: $47.18 billion
3. Ford Motor: $28.84 billion
4. Texaco: $26.45 billion
5. Mobil: $26.06 billion

General Motors, 1978
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $54.96 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $54.13 billion
3. Ford Motor: $37.84 billion
4. Mobil: $32.13 billion
5. Texaco: $27.92 billion

General Motors, 1979
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $63.22 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $60.34 billion
3. Ford Motor: $42.78 billion
4. Mobil: $34.74 billion
5. Texaco: $28.61 billion

Hulton Deutsch / Getty Images

1. Exxon Mobil: $79.11 billion
2. General Motors: $66.31 billion
3. Mobil: $44.72 billion
4. Ford Motor: $43.51 billion
5. Texaco: $38.35 billion

William Nation / Getty Images

1. Exxon Mobil: $103.14 billion
2. Mobil: $59.51 billion
3. General Motors: $57.73 billion
4. Texaco: $51.20 billion
5. Chevron: $40.48 billion

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Sergio Dorantes / Getty Images

1. Exxon Mobil: $108.11 billion
2. Mobil: $64.49 billion
3. General Motors: $62.70 billion
4. Texaco: $57.63 billion
5. Chevron: $44.22 billion

William Nation / Getty Images

1. Exxon Mobil: $97.17 billion
2. General Motors: $60.03 billion
3. Mobil: $59.95 billion
4. Texaco: $46.99 billion
5. Ford Motor: $37.07 billion

Robert Nickelsberg / Getty Images

1. Exxon Mobil: $88.56 billion
2. General Motors: $74.58 billion
3. Mobil: $54.61 billion
4. Ford Motor: $44.46 billion
5. International Business Machines: $40.18 billion

Robert Nickelsberg / Getty Images

1. Exxon Mobil: $90.85 billion
2. General Motors: $83.89 billion
3. Mobil: $56.05 billion
4. Ford Motor: $52.37 billion
5. Texaco: $47.33 billion

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Ben Martin / Getty Images

1. General Motors: $96.37 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $86.67 billion
3. Mobil: $55.96 billion
4. Ford Motor: $52.77 billion
5. International Business Machines: $50.06 billion

Bettmann / Getty Images

1. General Motors: $102.81 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $69.89 billion
3. Ford Motor: $62.72 billion
4. International Business Machines: $51.25 billion
5. Mobil: $44.87 billion

General Motors, 1988
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $101.78 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $76.42 billion
3. Ford Motor: $71.64 billion
4. International Business Machines: $54.22 billion
5. Mobil: $51.22 billion

Bettmann / Getty Images

1. General Motors: $121.09 billion
2. Ford Motor: $92.45 billion
3. Exxon Mobil: $79.56 billion
4. International Business Machines: $59.68 billion
5. General Electric: $49.41 billion

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Smith Collection/Gado / Getty Images

1. General Motors: $126.97 billion
2. Ford Motor: $96.93 billion
3. Exxon Mobil: $86.66 billion
4. International Business Machines: $63.44 billion
5. General Electric: $55.26 billion

Ralf-Finn Hestoft / Getty Images

1. General Motors: $125.13 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $105.89 billion
3. Ford Motor: $98.28 billion
4. International Business Machines: $69.02 billion
5. Mobil: $58.77 billion

General Motors, 1992
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $123.78 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $103.24 billion
3. Ford Motor: $88.96 billion
4. International Business Machines: $65.39 billion
5. General Electric: $60.24 billion

James Schnepf / Getty Images

1. General Motors: $132.78 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $103.55 billion
3. Ford Motor: $100.79 billion
4. International Business Machines: $65.10 billion
5. General Electric: $62.20 billion

James Leynse / Getty Images

1. General Motors: $133.62 billion
2. Ford Motor: $108.52 billion
3. Exxon Mobil: $97.83 billion
4. International Business Machines: $62.72 billion
5. General Electric: $60.82 billion

pitchal frederic / Getty Images

1. General Motors: $154.95 billion
2. Ford Motor: $128.44 billion
3. Exxon Mobil: $101.46 billion
4. Wal-Mart Stores: $83.41 billion
5. AT&T: $75.09 billion

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Stephen Kim / Getty Images

1. General Motors: $168.83 billion
2. Ford Motor: $137.14 billion
3. Exxon Mobil: $110.01 billion
4. Wal-Mart Stores: $93.63 billion
5. AT&T: $79.61 billion

General Motors, 1997
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $168.37 billion
2. Ford Motor: $146.99 billion
3. Exxon Mobil: $119.43 billion
4. Wal-Mart Stores: $106.15 billion
5. General Electric: $79.18 billion

General Motors, 1998
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $178.17 billion
2. Ford Motor: $153.63 billion
3. Exxon Mobil: $122.38 billion
4. Wal-Mart Stores: $119.30 billion
5. General Electric: $90.84 billion

General Motors, 1999
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $161.32 billion
2. Ford Motor: $144.42 billion
3. Wal-Mart Stores: $139.21 billion
4. Exxon Mobil: $100.70 billion
5. General Electric: $100.47 billion

General Motors, 2000
Wikimedia Commons

1. General Motors: $189.06 billion
2. Wal-Mart Stores: $166.81 billion
3. Exxon Mobil: $163.88 billion
4. Ford Motor: $162.56 billion
5. General Electric: $111.63 billion

Olivier Polet - Corbis / Getty Images

1. Exxon Mobil: $210.39 billion
2. Wal-Mart Stores: $193.30 billion
3. General Motors: $184.63 billion
4. Ford Motor: $180.60 billion
5. General Electric: $129.85 billion

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Walmart, 2002
Wikimedia Commons

1. Wal-Mart Stores: $219.81 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $191.58 billion
3. General Motors: $177.26 billion
4. Ford Motor: $162.41 billion
5. Enron: $138.72 billion

Walmart, 2003
Wikimedia Commons

1. Wal-Mart Stores: $246.53 billion
2. General Motors: $186.76 billion
3. Exxon Mobil: $182.47 billion
4. Ford Motor: $163.63 billion
5. General Electric: $131.70 billion

Walmart, 2004
Wikimedia Commons

1. Wal-Mart Stores: $258.68 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $213.20 billion
3. General Motors: $195.65 billion
4. Ford Motor: $164.50 billion
5. General Electric: $134.19 billion

Walmart, 2005
Wikimedia Commons

1. Wal-Mart Stores: $288.19 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $270.77 billion
3. General Motors: $193.52 billion
4. Ford Motor: $172.23 billion
5. General Electric: $152.36 billion

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Scott Olson / Getty Images

1. Exxon Mobil: $339.94 billion
2. Wal-Mart Stores: $315.65 billion
3. General Motors: $192.60 billion
4. Chevron: $189.48 billion
5. Ford Motor: $177.21 billion

Rusty Clark / Wikimedia Commons adapted by 24/7 Wall St.

1. Wal-Mart Stores: $351.14 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $347.25 billion
3. General Motors: $207.35 billion
4. Chevron: $200.57 billion
5. ConocoPhillips: $172.45 billion

dankeck / Wikimedia Commons adapted by 24/7 Wall St.

1. Wal-Mart Stores: $378.80 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $372.82 billion
3. Chevron: $210.78 billion
4. General Motors: $182.35 billion
5. ConocoPhillips: $178.56 billion

ExxonMobil, 2009
Wikimedia Commons

1. Exxon Mobil: $442.85 billion
2. Wal-Mart Stores: $405.61 billion
3. Chevron: $263.16 billion
4. ConocoPhillips: $230.76 billion
5. General Electric: $183.21 billion

Walmart, 2010
Wikimedia Commons

1. Wal-Mart Stores: $408.21 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $284.65 billion
3. Chevron: $163.53 billion
4. General Electric: $156.78 billion
5. Bank of America Corp.: $150.45 billion

Fannie Mae, 2011
Wikimedia Commons

1. Wal-Mart Stores: $421.85 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $354.67 billion
3. Chevron: $196.34 billion
4. ConocoPhillips: $184.97 billion
5. Fannie Mae: $153.83 billion

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ExxonMobil, 2012
Wikimedia Commons

1. Exxon Mobil: $452.93 billion
2. Wal-Mart Stores: $446.95 billion
3. Chevron: $245.62 billion
4. ConocoPhillips: $237.27 billion
5. General Motors: $150.28 billion

PLUM3G
Wikimedia Commons

1. Wal-mart Stores: $469.16 billion
2. Exxon Mobil Corporation: $449.89 billion
3. Chevron Corporation: $233.90 billion
4. Phillips 66: $169.55 billion
5. Berkshire Hathaway Inc.: $162.46 billion

Walmart, 2014
Wikimedia Commons

1. Wal-mart Stores: $476.29 billion
2. Exxon Mobil Corporation: $407.67 billion
3. Chevron Corporation: $220.36 billion
4. Berkshire Hathaway Inc.: $182.15 billion
5. Apple, Inc.: $170.91 billion

Walmart, 2015
Wikimedia Commons

1. Wal-mart Stores: $485.65 billion
2. Exxon Mobil Corporation: $382.60 billion
3. Chevron Corporation: $203.78 billion
4. Berkshire Hathaway Inc.: $194.67 billion
5. Apple, Inc.: $182.80 billion

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slobo / Getty Images

1. Walmart: $482.13 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $246.20 billion
3. Apple: $233.72 billion
4. Berkshire Hathaway: $210.82 billion
5. McKesson: $181.24 billion

Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images

1. Walmart: $485.87 billion
2. Berkshire Hathaway: $223.60 billion
3. Apple: $215.64 billion
4. Exxon Mobil: $205.00 billion
5. McKesson: $192.49 billion

Joe Raedle / Getty Images

1. Walmart: $500.34 billion
2. Exxon Mobil: $244.36 billion
3. Berkshire Hathaway: $242.14 billion
4. Apple: $229.24 billion
5. UnitedHealth Group: $201.16 billion

Courtesy of Walmart

1. Walmart: $511.41 billion
2. Amazon: $280.52 billion
3. Exxon Mobil: $264.94 billion
4. Apple: $260.17 billion
5. Berkshire Hathaway: $254.62 billion

Courtesy of Walmart

1. Walmart: $523.96 billion
2. Amazon: $386.06 billion
3. Apple: $274.52 billion
4. CVS Health: $268.71 billion
5. Exxon Mobil: $178.57 billion

Methodology

To determine the biggest company the year you were born, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed annual revenue figures for companies on the Fortune 500 each year from 1955 through 2018. We also reviewed data from company press releases and SEC financial filings. It should be noted that listed company names came directly from Forbes, and so Forbes’ naming convention is used in all cases as the current name of the company. The company listed as Exxon Mobil from  1999 onward was named Exxon Corporation from 1972 through 1999 and Standard Oil Company of New Jersey prior to 1972

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