Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook lead most valuable global brands

U.S. tech giants Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook are the five most valuable global brands, according to rankings released on Tuesday by WPP and Kantar Millward Brown.

The BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands ranking saw Google retain its top spot with a brand value of more than US$245 billion. Amazon rose three places to number four after achieving the highest dollar value growth. The online retailer increased by US$40.3 billion to US$139.3 billion. Other brands making the top ten included AT&T, Visa, Tencent, IBM and McDonald’s.

“Strong brands continue to deliver value for the companies that own them, regardless of economic, political and category disruption,” Peter Walshe, global BrandZ director at Kantar Millward Brown, said in a statement.

“The BrandZ Global Top 100 is now dominated by the internet giants — brands that have operated on a global stage since day one, and which are built on powerful, innovative technology platforms,” Walshe added. “This has enabled them to transcend regional and sector boundaries and grow their value at an unprecedented rate.”

In the U.K., Vodafone headed the top ten, followed by HSBC, Shell, BT and BP. Adidas was found to be the world’s fastest growing brand, with its value increasing by 58 per cent to US$8.3 billion.

The agility and innovative nature of the top tech brands was seen as a core strength.