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Microsoft, Alphabet, Anglo American, IBM, Astrazeneca, Unilever and Sainsbury's

Tech giants dominate the world's top 10 most valued brands

  • <p>The US computer giant has been investing heavily in artificial intelligence and its Watson AI service, characterised by a cute robot, is developing everything from diagnosing diseases to crafting movie trailers. Value $47bn (-11%). (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) </p>
    1/10

    10. IBM

    The US computer giant has been investing heavily in artificial intelligence and its Watson AI service, characterised by a cute robot, is developing everything from diagnosing diseases to crafting movie trailers. Value $47bn (-11%). (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

  • <p>The German badge has escaped being tarnished by the fallout from the VW emissions cheat scandal and continues to build a reputation for class. Its F1 title-winning team, fronted by Briton Lewis Hamilton, takes the brand to a huge audience worldwide. Value $48bn (+10%). (Mark Thompson/Getty Images) </p>
    2/10

    9. Mercedes-Benz

    The German badge has escaped being tarnished by the fallout from the VW emissions cheat scandal and continues to build a reputation for class. Its F1 title-winning team, fronted by Briton Lewis Hamilton, takes the brand to a huge audience worldwide. Value $48bn (+10%). (Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

  • <p>The social media behemoth is the highest riser in the Interbrand rankings. It had about 2bn monthly active users in Q2 this year – and is increasingly a key source of news and information for many. Value $48bn (+48%). (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto) </p>
    3/10

    8. Facebook

    The social media behemoth is the highest riser in the Interbrand rankings. It had about 2bn monthly active users in Q2 this year – and is increasingly a key source of news and information for many. Value $48bn (+48%). (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto)

  • <p>The Japanese carmaker vies with VW to be the dominant car marque in the world, both selling about 10.1 million vehicles during 2016. Value $48bn (-6%). (Gerlach Delissen – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) </p>
    4/10

    7. Toyota

    The Japanese carmaker vies with VW to be the dominant car marque in the world, both selling about 10.1 million vehicles during 2016. Value $48bn (-6%). (Gerlach Delissen – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

  • <p>South Korea’s leading smartphone maker is a major challenger to the dominance of Apple in the market. Its flagship Galaxy 8 is widely acknowledged to have raised the bar on mobile tech. Value $56bn (+9%). (Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Samsung) </p>
    5/10

    6. Samsung

    South Korea’s leading smartphone maker is a major challenger to the dominance of Apple in the market. Its flagship Galaxy 8 is widely acknowledged to have raised the bar on mobile tech. Value $56bn (+9%). (Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Samsung)

  • <p>The internet business has come a long way from online books. It recently bought out Whole Foods to give it a ‘bricks and mortar’ presence in the grocery business and its innovative home help echo device, voiced by ‘Alexa’, sent rivals rushing to catch up. Value $65bn (+29%). (David Parry/PA Wire) </p>
    6/10

    5. Amazon

    The internet business has come a long way from online books. It recently bought out Whole Foods to give it a ‘bricks and mortar’ presence in the grocery business and its innovative home help echo device, voiced by ‘Alexa’, sent rivals rushing to catch up. Value $65bn (+29%). (David Parry/PA Wire)

  • <p>The brand that once wanted to teach the world to sing has had to remake itself in the health-conscious Noughties, developing a range of zero-sugar drinks and stripping out caffeine. Value $70bn (-5%). (George Frey/Getty Images) </p>
    7/10

    4. Coca-Cola

    The brand that once wanted to teach the world to sing has had to remake itself in the health-conscious Noughties, developing a range of zero-sugar drinks and stripping out caffeine. Value $70bn (-5%). (George Frey/Getty Images)

  • <p>The first name in computing, Microsoft remains the dominant force in operating systems. Billionaire founder Bill Gates may have stepped back but the company moves forward. Another Christmas console battle between its Xbox One X and PlayStation looms. Value $80bn (+10%). (Christian Petersen/Getty Images) </p>
    8/10

    3. Microsoft

    The first name in computing, Microsoft remains the dominant force in operating systems. Billionaire founder Bill Gates may have stepped back but the company moves forward. Another Christmas console battle between its Xbox One X and PlayStation looms. Value $80bn (+10%). (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

  • <p>The company that his given its name to online searching, Google is branching out into all areas of new tech, advertising, marketing, smartphones, operating systems, gaming. Value $142bn (+6%). (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) </p>
    9/10

    2. Google

    The company that his given its name to online searching, Google is branching out into all areas of new tech, advertising, marketing, smartphones, operating systems, gaming. Value $142bn (+6%). (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

  • <p>For the fifth consecutive year, Apple nudges out Google at the top of the Interbrand list. Its eagerly awaited iPhone X – launched to mark the 10th year of the world’s best-selling smartphone – was unveiled earlier this month, retailing at close to $1,000 for some versions. Value $184bn (+3%). (Qi Heng/VCG) </p>
    10/10

    1. Apple

    For the fifth consecutive year, Apple nudges out Google at the top of the Interbrand list. Its eagerly awaited iPhone X – launched to mark the 10th year of the world’s best-selling smartphone – was unveiled earlier this month, retailing at close to $1,000 for some versions. Value $184bn (+3%). (Qi Heng/VCG)

<p>The US computer giant has been investing heavily in artificial intelligence and its Watson AI service, characterised by a cute robot, is developing everything from diagnosing diseases to crafting movie trailers. Value $47bn (-11%). (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) </p>
<p>The German badge has escaped being tarnished by the fallout from the VW emissions cheat scandal and continues to build a reputation for class. Its F1 title-winning team, fronted by Briton Lewis Hamilton, takes the brand to a huge audience worldwide. Value $48bn (+10%). (Mark Thompson/Getty Images) </p>
<p>The social media behemoth is the highest riser in the Interbrand rankings. It had about 2bn monthly active users in Q2 this year – and is increasingly a key source of news and information for many. Value $48bn (+48%). (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto) </p>
<p>The Japanese carmaker vies with VW to be the dominant car marque in the world, both selling about 10.1 million vehicles during 2016. Value $48bn (-6%). (Gerlach Delissen – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) </p>
<p>South Korea’s leading smartphone maker is a major challenger to the dominance of Apple in the market. Its flagship Galaxy 8 is widely acknowledged to have raised the bar on mobile tech. Value $56bn (+9%). (Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Samsung) </p>
<p>The internet business has come a long way from online books. It recently bought out Whole Foods to give it a ‘bricks and mortar’ presence in the grocery business and its innovative home help echo device, voiced by ‘Alexa’, sent rivals rushing to catch up. Value $65bn (+29%). (David Parry/PA Wire) </p>
<p>The brand that once wanted to teach the world to sing has had to remake itself in the health-conscious Noughties, developing a range of zero-sugar drinks and stripping out caffeine. Value $70bn (-5%). (George Frey/Getty Images) </p>
<p>The first name in computing, Microsoft remains the dominant force in operating systems. Billionaire founder Bill Gates may have stepped back but the company moves forward. Another Christmas console battle between its Xbox One X and PlayStation looms. Value $80bn (+10%). (Christian Petersen/Getty Images) </p>
<p>The company that his given its name to online searching, Google is branching out into all areas of new tech, advertising, marketing, smartphones, operating systems, gaming. Value $142bn (+6%). (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) </p>
<p>For the fifth consecutive year, Apple nudges out Google at the top of the Interbrand list. Its eagerly awaited iPhone X – launched to mark the 10th year of the world’s best-selling smartphone – was unveiled earlier this month, retailing at close to $1,000 for some versions. Value $184bn (+3%). (Qi Heng/VCG) </p>
Mark Dorman

Apple and Google have once again been named as the world’s most valuable brands. For the fifth year in a row, the two tech powerhouses have taken positions one and two in the Interbrand league table, ahead of Microsoft.

The five top growing brands include Facebook (up 48%) and Amazon (up 29%). The most valuable UK brand is HSBC bank, valued at $10.5bn and ranked at 47th. The automotive sector contributed the most with 16 brands, followed by technology, with 15 firms making it into the rankings.

Brands are ranked by financial performance, how they influence consumer choice and ability to command a premium price.

Outside of the top 10, the 11th-50th most valuable brands are: 11 GE; 12 McDonald’s; 13 BMW; 14 Disney; 15 Intel; 16 Cisco; 17 Oracle; 18 Nike; 19 Louis Vuitton; 20 Honda; 21 SAP; 22 Pepsi; 23 H&M; 24 Zara; 25 IKEA; 26 Gillette; 27 American Express; 28 Pampers; 29 UPS; 30 JP Morgan; 31 Budweiser; 32 Hermès; 33 Ford; 34 eBay; 35 Hyundai; 36 Nescafe; 37 Accenture; 38 Audi; 39 Nissan; 40 Volkswagen; 41 Philips; 42 AXA; 43 Kellogg’s; 44 Goldman Sachs; 45 L’Oréal; 46 Citi; 47 HSBC; 48 Porsche; 49 Allianz; 50 Siemens.