What are the most valuable brands? What brands are worth the most?

By Alexander Joe

This article provides a list of the top brands in the world (in terms of value).

The ranking below is determined by evaluating a brand’s financial performance, the role a brand plays in consumer decisions and its competitive strength.

Most valuable brands in the world:

Interbrand’s ranking evaluates brands by taking into account: consumer purchase behavior, a brand’s strength (ability to have consistent demand), and brand loyalty.

Apple beat Coca-Cola as the most valuable brand in the world. Over the past few years Apple has crawled up the rankings, from number 8 in 2011, to number one in 2013. The company increased in value by 28% to $98.3 billion in 2013 – compared to a 2% increase for Coca-Cola.

Below are the most valuable brands in the world, according to Interbrand: 

1. Apple

  • Brand value: 98.3 billion USD (2013)

2. Google

  • Brand value: 98.2 billion USD (2013)

coca cola logo3. Coca-Cola

  • Brand value: 79.2 billion USD (2013)

4. IBM

  • Brand value: 78.8 billion USD (2013)

5. Microsoft

  • Brand value: 59.5 billion USD (2013)

6. General Electric (GE)

  • Brand value: 46.9 billion USD (2013)

7. McDonald’s

  • Brand value: 41.9 billion USD (2013)

8. Samsung

  • Brand value: 39.6 billion USD (2013)

9. Intel

  • Brand value: 37.2 billion USD (2013)

10. Toyota

  • Brand value: 35.3 billion USD (2013)

11. Mercedes-Benz

  • Brand value: 31.9 billion USD (2013)

12. BMW

  • Brand value: 31.8 billion USD (2013)

13. Cisco

  • Brand value: 29.05 billion USD (2013)

14. Disney

  • Brand value: 28.1 billion USD (2013)

15. HP

  • Brand value: 25.8 billion USD (2013)

The Forbes ranking

Another well known ranking of the most valuable brands is compiled by Forbes. 

Find out about the Forbes ranking methodology here. 

Below is the Forbes ranking of the most valuable brands in the world:

1. Apple

  • Brand value: 104.3 billion USD

2. Microsoft

  • Brand value: 56.7 billion USD

coca cola logo

3. Coca-Cola

  • Brand value: 54.9 billion USD

4. IBM

  • Brand value: 50.7 billion USD

5. Google

  • Brand value: 47.3 billion USD

6. McDonald’s

  • Brand value: 39.4 billion USD

7. General Electric

  • Brand value: 34.2 billion USD

8. Intel

  • Brand value: 30.9 billion USD

9. Samsung

  • Brand value: 29.5 billion USD

10. Louis Vuitton

  • Brand value: 28.4 billion USD

11. BMW

  • Brand value: 27.9 billion USD

12. Cisco

  • Brand value: 27.0 billion USD

13. Oracle

  • Brand value: 26.9 billion USD

14. Toyota

  • Brand value: 25.6 billion USD

15. AT&T

  • Brand value: 24.2 billion USD