Apple is Worth More Than...Well, Everything!

Back in July, I reported that Apple had more cash than the U.S. Government. The figures were quite staggering. The amount Apple had in cash in July was $76.2 billion, which was billions more than Uncle Sam had in operating cash balance.

Well on Thursday, more records were broken and more countries, companies (and basically the entire globe) were in awe of the tech company.

Apple's value on the stock market slightly rose to the $400 billion mark for a brief moment on Thursday, which was a record high for what was already the world's most valuable technology company, according to CNN Money.

The market cap dropped below $400 billion by midday as Apple's (AAPL) stock fell back from the all-time high of $431.37 it set earlier that day. The day ended a little down for Apple, with a $398 billion market value, but who's counting right?

Only Exxon Mobil (XOM) has higher valuation, at $420 billion and Apple's closest competitor, PetroChina, has a meager $270 billion. As for the absolute competitor, Microsoft, they only have $235 billion in value.

The brainchild of the late Steve Jobs is still one of the fastest growing technology companies in the world. Analysts expect Apple to announce that its sales grew by 45% compared to last year once their past quarter finances are announced next week.

With such staggering figures that Apple has been valued at, obviously the comparison to other massive corporations – like Exxon – will occur. But what about countries? Or large associations? Or even wars?

Joshua Brown from the Reformed Broker (with the help of readers' submissions) put together a tumblr page to explain in more depth. Here are some of his comparisons...

What Apple is worth more than:

Greece (and several other countries):

The decimated nation that is nearing a resolution to their debt deal is sadly less valued than Apple's dominating company. With a slipping $308 billion GDP compared to the constantly growing market value of Apple, it only looks to be the tipping point for the Greece comparisons. Other significant nations that lack the value of Apple are South Africa, Denmark, Argentina, Austria, and Iran. The combined GDP of Israel, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon also don't scratch the surface of Apple. Even one of the wealthiest countries in the world, Singapore, which boasts an outrageously high $70,000 GDP per capita rate is STILL around $80 billion short of Apple at $318 billion.

 

The entire National Football League multiplied by 11:

This year was the first time in NFL history that the average franchise in the league is worth over a billion dollars. The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable of all the 32 franchises, totaling $1.85 billion. If you added up all the value of every team it would total $33 billion and after multiplying 11 times, Roger Goodell and the rest of America's largest sport wouldn't touch Apple's market value.

 

All of the gold at the New York Federal Reserve:

The New York Fed is the largest store of gold bullion in the world with over 550,000 bars of gold buried deep in the bedrock of Manhattan. At current market prices the Fed's storage stockpile is worth close to $350 billion.

 

The world's five largest ETFs combined:

SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) is the world's largest ETF at $76.7 billion, according to August 19th figures. GLD surpassed SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) who is valued at $74.4 billion. The rest of the top 5 largest ETFs in the world are VWO, EFA and EEM which are all emerging markets or world stock indexes and roughly total $50 billion, $40 billion and $40 billion in assets under management respectively. Totaling all the ETFs still wouldn't touch Apple.

 

Ten years of silver production:

The entire global supply of silver product each year is a billion ounces. Silver is currently around $30/ounce, meaning ten years of silver produced would still total around $100 billion less than Apple. Perhaps in the next decade, once Apple can buy nearly all of the world's silver they will make iPads completely made of the precious metal. It's not that far fetched, Tata did it with their car...

 

All of the illegal drugs in the world:

Illegal drugs throughout the world are worth billions, but currently only estimated at $321 billion: still short of Apple.

 

The Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter, Stephen King, and Twilight franchisee combined:

Take all of the biggest movie franchises in the United States, add up their totals and multiply by seven and they still won't touch Apple. Star Wars: $18 billion, Star Trek: $4 billion, Harry Potter: $15 billion, Stephen King: $10 billion, Twilight: $2 billion. (All of these figures are approximated.)

 

The big college endowment system:

Of the top 13 richest universities in the United States, their combined endowment still is only half of Apple's value.

 

Every single home in Atlanta, Georgia combined:

The southern city is the 8th largest housing market in the U.S. and as of December of 2010, the total value of all residential real estate in Atlanta was $274.8 billion. Still a metropolis away from Apple.

 

Two entire Apollo Space programs:

The Apollo Space Program was created to defeat the Soviet Union in the race to the moon and was claimed to be in the nation's best interest. The U.S. government spared no cost with the moon landing. Once Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the bright white light in the sky, the final cost of the project (inflation adjusted) was between $145- 170 billion dollars. So if the former Soviet Union wanted a rematch, but this time, to the moon and back --twice-- Apple could fund the project... with change to spare.

 

The big three drug makers in the world:

$355 billion is the amount the world's three largest drug makers Pfizer, Novartis, and Sanofi-Aventis total. Still shorter than Apple. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away?”

 

Total corporate income tax for 2011:

In 2011, corporations will pay a total of about $247 billion in state, local and federal income tax.

 

45 days of global oil consumption:

As a globe, we consume about $8.5 billion of oil per day with 86 million barrels used a day at around $98 per barrel. After 45 days, Apple still could front the entire world's bill on oil. Pretty scary that it all could be blown in just under two months though, right? That's one big spending spree.

 

Twice the size the entire U.S. clothing store business:

The 50 largest companies, such as TJ Maxx, Abercrombine and Fitch, Gap, Limited Brands, Ross Store, and Marshalls account for close to 65% of industry revenue. The combined annual revenue for the entire apparel retail industry is about $150 billion.

 

Five American Civil Wars:

The American Civil War amounted to more casualties than all American wars combined after it's four years of grueling battle. With inflation adjusted, the range for America's bloodiest war was $75 billion to $84 billion. With Apple's current market cap, they are worth more than about five total Civil Wars. 

 

Practically an entire continent:

The European continent is in utter economical crisis, while Apple is clearly not. In late 2011, the EU banks value totaled around $340 billion. That is all 32 of them. The EU banks are collapsing while the Apple product continues to soar.