According to Millward Brown, that is, which puts Google at number one in its top 100 global brand list for the second time in a row. Millward Brown actually puts a price tag on a brand - an exercise in futility if you ask me - and claim that Google, the brand, is worth $86bn - 30% increase over last year's number.
The next four spots are held by General Electric, valued at $71.4bn, Microsoft at $70.89m, Coca-Cola at $58.2m and China Mobile at $57.2m. If this list sounds slightly strange to you, have in mind that Millward Brown takes into account the financial performance of the company; so it's not only the name that matters.
It's no wonder, then, that Google is doing so well - its financial performance has been fantastic, and the brand is everywhere. From my subjective point of view which is currently looking at a full inbox with 20% of news being Google-related, I'd say that Millward Brown is right on this one.
One name that has done exceedingly well on both fronts, though, is Apple, which skyrocketed into the seventh place with a huge 123% increase in brand value, which is now worth $55.2m. One more year of Steve Jobs' magic, and a good update to the iPhone, and they might be sitting in the second place next year.