The largest telecoms equipment manufacturer in the world and the second biggest smartphone producer, Huawei operates in 170 countries and has millions of customers worldwide. However, the firm's 5G technology has been banned in numerous countries including the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand due to concerns over the company's links with the Chinese government and potential privacy issues. The controversy doesn't seem to have hit sales too badly, though, with Huawei turning over $124.3 billion (£93.5bn) last year, up 14% on the previous year. 

Marathon Petroleum comes in 48th place on the rankings with revenues of $124.8 billion (£94bn) in 2019. However, since then the coronavirus pandemic and oil price crash has hit the American oil firm. Its stock price plummeted from $61.91 (£46.62) at the start of the year to just $16.72 (£12.59) on Thursday 19 March, although since then it's climbed back up to $35.01 (£26.37). 

Microsoft is the world's largest software company by sales and a leading hardware maker, and its products from Windows and Office to Edge and Xbox are part of the fabric of everyday life for many people. The Washington-headquartered tech giant, which owns big names LinkedIn and Skype, reported revenues of $125.8 billion (£94.6bn) last year.

One of the largest insurance companies in the world, Allianz has offices in 70 countries and provides insurance and financial services to more than 100 million people worldwide, which is more than the population of Germany, the country where the firm is based. A major money-earner, Allianz made annual revenues of $130.4 billion (£98bn), and at the end of 2019 had $2 trillion (£1.5tn) of assets under management. 

This Beijing-headquartered firm provides individual and group life insurance, as well as health and accident insurance products. It's the largest insurer in mainland China, so has a huge customer base, and turned over an impressive $131.2 billion (£98.8bn) last year, earning it 45th place in the rankings.

The Mitsubishi brand name is used by the Mitsubishi Group of Companies, which includes the Mitsubishi Corporation, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Motors and Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, and features on a bewildering array of products, from mortgages and cars to chemicals and household appliances. The company's revenues last year totalled an eye-watering $135.9 billion (£115.7bn).

Ubiquitous pharmacy chain Walgreens has 18,750 stores in 11 countries, and in America 78% of the population lives within five miles of a Walgreens. In 2014, the company completed a merger with Swiss-headquartered health and beauty group Boots Alliance to form Walgreens Boots Alliance. With revenues of $136.9 billion (£103.1bn) the firm comes in 41st place on our ranking. 

American car manufacturer General Motors, which owns brands including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac, is one of the Big Three US automakers and last year it sold 7.71 million vehicles. The company turned over an impressive $137.2 billion (£103.3bn) last year, although the impacts of coronavirus could mean a rocky road ahead, as US auto sales declined 30% in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the same period last year. 

The world's largest motorcycle manufacturer, Japanese conglomerate Honda also produces cars, engines, garden equipment and a whole host of other products that are available in almost every market in the world. Founded in 1946, the Tokyo-based company has assembly plants in four continents and an enormous yearly turnover of $137.3 billion (£121.9bn).

The third largest insurance company in the world by revenue, AXA has 108 million clients in 57 countries. Despite the fact it reaches 34th place on the rankings with $149 billion (£112bn) revenues for last year, things haven't been so rosy lately. The company had to withdraw some of its financial targets and cancel plans for a special dividend after it had to pay out €1.5 billion ($1.78bn/£1.3bn) in claims relating to COVID-19. 

Google's search engine has conquered the world and has become so popular and central to our lives, we use the brand name as a verb. The Google name is now attached to a range of products and services, from cloud storage to social media, that generate serious money. Google's parent company Alphabet Inc, which also owns YouTube and Jigsaw (previously known as Google Ideas), saw revenues of $161.9 billion (£121.7bn) last year.

The Netherlands-headquartered EXOR Group is run by two families: the Italian Agnelli family and Dutch Elkann family. Acting as a holding company for their investments in Fiat Chrysler, The Economist, Ferrari and other big companies, the group turned over a massive $162.8 billion (£123.4bn) last year. 

Hon Hai Precision Industry, also known as Foxconn, saw revenues of $172.8 billion (£131.2bn) in 2019 but had a difficult first quarter of 2020 due to the US-China trade war and the impacts of the pandemic on manufacturing. However, it looks like the company is over the worst of it. Its production facilities in Asia, Europe and North America are all operating at normal levels again and the company posted a net profit of $778.55 million (£590.3m) for the second quarter of this year, up 34% compared to the same period last year. 

French energy company Total is one of the country's largest enterprises and among the world's 'supermajor' oil and gas companies. The Paris-based firm has a large network of service stations in scores of countries around the world, and large-scale operations in the chemicals and low-carbon industries. Last year, Total turned over a hefty $176.2 billion (£132.5bn).

Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, is in charge of the most powerful auto brand in the world and its reputation is second to none. The German marque dates back to the 19th century and its three-pointed star logo is iconic. Last year, Daimler AG earned revenues of $193.3 billion (£145.4bn).

Is there anything Samsung doesn't do? The South Korean conglomerate manufactures electronics, ships and cars. The group also operates theme parks, offers insurance and even has its very own ad agency. No wonder the Samsung brand is so recognised worldwide and has a healthy bank balance: the group posted mammoth revenues of $197.7 billion (£148.7bn) in 2019.

Berkshire Hathaway, the multinational holding company which owns well-known brands including Dairy Queen, GEICO, Duracell, Fruit of the Loom and Helzberg Diamonds, is the 14th largest company in the world with revenues of $254.6 billion (£191.6bn). The Omaha, Nebraska-headquartered firm has famous investor Warren Buffet as its CEO, who is currently the world's sixth richest man according to Forbes. 

Apple is one of the most recognisable brands in the world and, on 2 August 2018, it became the first US company to reach a valuation of $1 trillion (£752bn). Two years later it became the first US company to reach a $2 trillion (£1.5trn) valuation. The US tech company that brought us the Mac, iPhone and iPad turned over $260.2 billion (£195.6bn) last year.

The world's largest automotive manufacturer by revenue, Toyota sold just under nine million units in the 2019 financial year according to its annual reports, and its vehicles are everywhere. The Japanese company is also the leading hybrid vehicle producer and manufacturer of vehicle components. Revenues last year hit $275.3 billion (£207bn).

Transforming the way we shop, online retailer Amazon has enjoyed spectacular growth over the last couple of decades and now ships to more than 100 countries worldwide. During the pandemic, Amazon's stock price soared and CEO Jeff Bezos has made more than $90 billion (£67.7bn) since the start of this year, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index (correct at time of writing). Last year, the Seattle-based firm turned over $280.5 billion (£210.9bn).

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As oil and gas companies go, BP is up there with the world's biggest players, the so-called 'supermajor' energy firms. With revenue totalling $282.6 billion (£211.4bn) a year, the London-based company operates in a total of 79 countries and pumps out around 3.8 million barrels of oil a day. Its service stations number some 18,000 and are a familiar sight around the world. 

Automaker Volkswagen has courted controversy after controversy over the years, from its Nazi origins in 1930s Germany to the recent emissions scandal, which has seen it pay $34.69 billion (£26bn) in fines to date. Yet the company has always managed to bounce back and its brand remains rock-solid: last year it reported bumper annual revenues of $282.8 billion (£212.7bn).

Shell is one of the big players in the oil and gas industry with operations in over 70 countries and its simple scallop logo is recognised around the globe. The British-Dutch oil and gas company is one of the largest firms in the world by revenue – last year, the business had a turnover of $352.1 billion (£264.8bn).

China National Petroleum Company, also known as CNPC, is the parent company of PetroChina, the country's second largest oil producer. With oil and gas assets and in over 30 countries across the globe, CNPC one of the most powerful oil and gas companies out there and last year it turned over $379.1 billion (£285.2bn), putting it in 4th place in the rankings. 

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The world's largest company by revenue, Walmart turned over an astonishing $524 billion (£394bn) in 2019. The planet's biggest retailer operates under the Walmart brand in the US, Canada and Mexico, and brands such as Asda elsewhere, but the Walmart name is widely recognised throughout the world.

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