The most valuable companies of all time have been worth unfathomable sums of money at the peaks of their success.

From historic trading enterprises to 21st century tech corporations, the businesses on this list all have one thing in common: monster market caps that, at points, have even exceeded the GDPs of some modern developed countries.

Now that Apple has become the first publicly traded company to close at a value of $3 trillion (£2.4tn), we reveal the 20 firms that have held the highest valuations in history, with pre-2022 figures adjusted for inflation. All dollar amounts in US dollars.