In Memoriam: Fortune 500 Companies | Fortune

1,497 views · Published 6 May 2013 · 1:35 · Indexed 6 November 2026

Channel: Fortune Magazine · 2013 · News & Politics

Watch on YouTube

Fortune's first 500 list, published in 1955, was a different animal than today's franchise. The text introducing the inaugural list describes it as "a unique and distinguished roster" ranking, in order of sales, the 500 largest industrial corporations in the United States. In 1955, utilities, financial, transportation, trade and service companies didn't make the cut.  Still, the first list contains many icons of American manufacturing, several of which have since dissolved.

More from this channel

• 16:43 Dr. Linton Wells on the New Diplomacy

  Fortune Magazine

  1,463 views · 10 March 2010

• 32:53 John Donahoe on the revitalization of eBay

  Fortune Magazine

  2,629 views · 11 March 2010

• 41:31 Beyond the Browser: Kevin Lynch, Aaron Patzer, Kevin Hamilton, with Josh Quittner

  Fortune Magazine

  542 views · 1 April 2010

• 32:07 Barry Diller of IAC at Fortune Brainstorm TECH 2009

  Fortune Magazine

  4,984 views · 28 April 2010

• 32:25 Mark Hurd and Jeffrey Katzenberg at Fortune Brainstorm TECH 2009

  Fortune Magazine

  3,410 views · 26 May 2010

• 1:03:01 Archbishop Tutu, Graca Machel, Mary Robinson and Next Gen Leaders at Global Forum 2010

  Fortune Magazine

  776 views · 17 August 2010

• 57:53 Fortune Most Powerful Women Breakfast at The Global Forum 2010

  Fortune Magazine

  2,311 views · 21 August 2010

• 19:55 President Jacob Zuma at Global Forum 2010

  Fortune Magazine

  275 views · 23 August 2010