Amazon claims No. 1 spot over Walmart on the 2026 Fortune Global 500

For the first time in history, Amazon takes the top spot on the 2026 Fortune Global 500, ending Walmart’s 12-year streak through rapid growth in cloud platforms and AI infrastructure. Fortune’s Vice President of Research, Scott DeCarlo, breaks down the key takeaways from this year's record-setting $43 trillion ranking, highlighting the macro trends, surprise movers, and global shift in economic power toward tech platforms.