Every year, Fortune magazine publishes its much-anticipated Fortune 500 list. This list is meticulously analyzed by company owners, investors, and influential figures in the business world. So, what makes the Fortune 500 so significant? In this article, our team at The Chartistry provides an in-depth examination of the list, exploring why it attracts so much attention and what it takes for a company to be included.

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What is the Fortune 500?

The Fortune 500 is the finance magazine’s list of the 500 most profitable companies in the United States. The company ranked at the top of the list brings in the most revenue based on its financial documents from the most recent fiscal year. The Fortune 500 list for 2024 has Walmart ranked in the top spot with revenue of $648.125B. In fact, this giant retail store has been ranked number one for the last eleven years.

What Does It Take to Make It Onto the Fortune 500?

To become a Fortune 500 company, a business must be incorporated and conduct operations in the U.S. In addition, the company’s financial documents must be public for it to be considered by Fortune.

Why Do Companies Want to Be on This List?

Fortune magazine published its first list of the top 500 U.S. companies in 1955. Since then, the presence of reputable companies such as Exxon Mobil, Goldman Sachs Group, and General Mills has given the list an air of prestige. Plus, these 500 businesses bring in incredible amounts of revenue and contribute to the strength of our economy. Wouldn’t you want your company to appear on a list alongside Walmart, Amazon, and Berkshire Hathaway?

Have Any Companies Appeared on the Fortune 500 for Decades?

Yes, some companies have made repeated appearances. Some famous names have been on the list every year since 1955, including Kellogg, Chevron, and Exxon Mobil, to name a few.

Fortune 500 Companies by State

Walmart, the number one ranked company on the Fortune 500, is located in Arkansas, with its headquarters in Bentonville. Fortune’s number two company, Amazon, is the biggest in Washington, with its headquarters in Seattle. Exxon Mobil is the biggest Fortune 500 company in Texas, and it does business out of Houston.

An interesting thing to note about this list is that not all 50 states are home to a Fortune 500 company. The states without one include:

• Alaska
• Hawaii
• Maine
• Mississippi
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Vermont
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

The Largest Fortune 500 Company Headquartered in Each State

Do Some States Have More Than One Fortune 500 Company?

Yes, several states have multiple companies on the list. Texas leads with 55 companies on the Fortune 500, followed by California with 52 and New York with 50. These states all boast a large population and bustling metropolitan areas.

Do Some States Have Just One Fortune 500 Company?

Yes, some states on the list are home to just one. These states include Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, and South Carolina. In terms of total population, each of these states ranks in the lower half on the list of 50. Delaware has the lowest population, with 1,044,320 people in 2024.

Are Some Cities Home to More Than One Fortune 500 Company?

Absolutely! In fact, some cities serve as the home base for multiple Fortune 500 companies. Some notable examples include:

Chicago

Illinois has 33 Fortune 500 companies, including Walgreens, McDonald’s, and United Airlines, among others. Dozens of these companies are headquartered in the Chicago area.

Houston

Of the 55 Fortune 500 companies in Texas, Houston is home to 21. Exxon Mobil, Sysco, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) are just a few of the impressive companies in the collection.

Atlanta

According to our chart, the biggest Fortune 500 company in Georgia is Home Depot, ranked at number 20. But Home Depot is not alone. There are 18 Fortune 500 companies in Atlanta, including Aflac, Delta Air Lines Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, UPS, and others.

Make sure to explore our other lists and visuals, which provide insight into the world of big business. One list ranks companies by employee profits (which happens to be one of our original visualizations), while another categorizes the most profitable companies by industry. It’s no surprise that many Fortune 500 companies frequently appear on various lists throughout the year, highlighting their achievements.

The Number of Fortune 500 Companies in Each State

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Fortune 500

Noise pollution can have a major impact on sleep quality, and NapLab’s latest study sheds light on the noisiest and quietest places to get a good night’s rest in the U.S. Using data from the National Transportation Noise Exposure Map, they pinpointed areas with the highest and lowest decibel levels.

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The three loudest cities were all in Colorado: Denver, Aurora, and Colorado Springs. These cities experience a mix of factors contributing to the noise, including rapid population growth, which increases traffic and construction noise. Denver International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the country, adds constant aviation sounds to Denver and Aurora. Meanwhile, Colorado Springs is home to several military bases, where aircraft activity and training exercises raise noise levels even further.

On the other hand, the quietest places for sleep were found in Zephyrhills, Florida, Cape Coral, Florida, and Lakewood Township, New Jersey. These locations benefit from a slower pace of life, less urban development, and fewer transportation hubs. Zephyrhills and Cape Coral are popular with retirees and seasonal residents, leading to quieter neighborhoods. Cape Coral also enforces strict noise ordinances to maintain a peaceful environment. Lakewood Township offers an outdoor-focused, laid-back lifestyle with activities like golfing and canoeing that contribute to its calm atmosphere.

Whether you’re seeking tranquility or braving city sounds, this map offers insight into how your environment might affect your sleep.

Ever wondered which states are the most daring behind closed doors? A recent Too Timid survey of 1,427 Americans sheds light on the most sexually adventurous states in the U.S. The study ranked states based on four key factors: the average number of sex toys owned, sexual partners, sexual experiences, and fantasies that turn people on.

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Here are the top 10 most adventurous states:

1. Montana
2. Iowa
3. Oklahoma
4. Arkansas
5. Minnesota
6. New Jersey
7. Oregon
8. Nevada
9. Alaska
10. Indiana

Meanwhile, the least adventurous states include Rhode Island, North Dakota, Maine, and South Dakota.

Beyond state rankings, the study uncovered some intriguing trends in American bedrooms. The most common sexual experience is watching porn with a partner, followed by one-night stands. When it comes to fantasies, most people keep it simple, dreaming about sex with their current partner and enjoying some steamy dirty talk.

The Too Timid team highlights the positive effects of sexual openness, noting that people who embrace their sexuality often report better body image, stronger relationships, and more satisfying sex lives.

While this survey offers a fascinating glimpse into America’s intimate habits, more data and future studies could reveal even more surprising trends. Whether your state made the top ten or not, one thing’s clear—America’s curiosity about sex is alive and well!