World’s iconic companies founded in your birth year

Discover which iconic company was established in the year you were born.

Advances in technology in the 21st century created many Fortune 500 companies. However, the majority of the world's largest and most prominent businesses were founded in the 20th century. In this article, we review some of the most iconic firms founded in the year you were born, their origins, and what they’re doing today.

1950 – Diners Club

Diners Club pioneered the charge card, becoming the first widely accepted payment solution for consumers and business travellers. In 2025 it operates under the Discover Global Network and remains a niche, internationally accepted brand, focusing on premium and corporate clients and ongoing upgrades to security and digital services.

1951 – Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments (TXN) grew into a leader in analogue and embedded processing. By 2025 it has expanded its automotive, industrial and IoT chip portfolio with low-power and AI-integrated designs, and continues to invest in greener manufacturing and resilient supply chains.

1954 – Burger King

Burger King remains the world’s second-largest hamburger chain – operating under its parent company, Restaurant Brands International (QSR) In 2025 it is modernising ordering with AI and expanding plant-based options, while pushing international growth in Asia and Latin America and investing in packaging and supply-chain sustainability.

1955 – McDonald’s

McDonald’s (MCD), the largest global fast-food chain, marks its 70th anniversary in 2025 with wider use of digital kiosks, delivery robots and more vegetarian/vegan choices, alongside net-zero and sustainable-sourcing programmes.

1958 – Visa

Visa (V) processes billions of transactions a year across 200+ countries. In 2025 it continues to advance contactless payments, digital wallets, biometric security and partnerships with fintechs and super-apps, supporting the shift to cashless economies.

1959 – Mattel

Mattel (MAT) remains a global toy leader. In 2025 it reports strong results driven by new lines, sustainability in design and packaging, and renewed Barbie demand via media partnerships and interactive, tech-enabled toys.

1960 – Domino’s Pizza

Domino’s Pizza (DPZ) was founded in 1960 when Tom Monaghan and his brother James took over an existing pizza restaurant in Michigan. The brothers initially planned to spend an equal amount of time running Domino’s. James, however, did not want to quit his full-time job delivering mail. Within eight months, he sold his share of the business back to Tom – for a Volkswagen Beetle. In 2025 Domino’s continues to lead in digital ordering and AI-powered logistics, runs drone-delivery pilots and operates more than 19,000 stores worldwide.

1961 – Luxottica

Luxottica was founded by Leonardo Del Vecchio in Italy in 1961. It’s an integrated eyewear company and some of its most popular brands are Ray-Ban and Oakley. Luxottica merged with the French lens manufacturer Essilor in 2017, forming a conglomerate, EssilorLuxottica (EL), which is now responsible for more than 25% of global eyewear sales. In 2025 EssilorLuxottica invests in smart-eyewear and sustainable manufacturing, and is growing direct-to-consumer channels across Asia and Latin America.

1962 – Walmart

Walmart (WMT) was officially founded in 1962 in Arkansas, but its history can be traced back to 1950 when Sam Walton opened Walton’s Five and Dime store. The original store is now the site of the Walmart Museum. From the beginning, Sam Walton’s primary focus was selling at low prices to generate higher volumes. Today, around 90% of Americans live 15 minutes away from a Walmart, as the company’s stores are available all across the country. By 2025 Walmart is accelerating automation, robotics and drone logistics, expanding e-commerce internationally and repurposing stores as hybrid retail/fulfilment hubs.

1963 – Comcast

Comcast (CMCSA) is a telecommunications conglomerate that started as a regional cable operator in Mississippi. From its early days, the company grew mainly through acquisitions, going public in 1972. One of its recent purchases was British Sky Group, which Comcast bought in 2018 for $40bn (£32bn, €37bn). In 2025 Comcast is expanding broadband infrastructure, streaming and smart-home services, and applying AI in service and analytics.

1964 – Nike

Founded by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman in 1964, Nike (NKE) was originally called Blue Ribbon Sports. Knight came up with the name on the spot during his first visit to the Onitsuka factory in Japan. The name was changed to Nike in 1971. Most of the early employees, including Phil Knight, were decisively against an IPO until they discovered a dual share class structure. Nike went public in 1980, helping resolve its near-constant cash-flow difficulties. In 2025 Nike is scaling its direct-to-consumer ecosystem, launching more sustainable lines and opening global innovation hubs.

1965 – Dolby Laboratories

American engineer Ray Dolby founded Dolby Laboratories (DLB) in London in 1965 and invented a noise-reduction system in the same year. The original product was designed for professional recording studios and the first consumer-oriented product came out in 1968. Since 1977, Dolby technology has featured in every movie that has won an Academy Award for sound. By 2025 Dolby’s spatial audio sees broad adoption in film, gaming and devices, and the company remains active in licensing.

1966 – Mastercard

After Bank of America (BAC) launched Visa in 1958, only 10 new credit cards were introduced in the US between 1960 and 1966. The word about the profitability of Visa eventually got out and, in 1966, several regional bank associations created the Interbank Card, changing the name to Mastercard (MA) in 1979. Its signature ‘Priceless’ marketing campaign now runs in 53 languages. In 2025 Mastercard is expanding cryptographic and biometric solutions and working with governments and fintechs on secure digital identity standards.

1967 – Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines (LUV) started as a low-cost carrier operating flights in Texas. Flying only within Texas allowed Southwest to avoid multiple regulations and undercut competitors on prices. After spending several years fighting lawsuits, the airline lost money in its first year and had to sell one of its four planes to cover payroll. To maintain the same schedule with just three planes, Southwest invented the ‘10-minute Turn’ – the process of getting the plane ready for boarding in 10 minutes. In 2025 Southwest is modernising its fleet with lower-emission tech and resuming expansion, returning to profitability after restructuring.

1968 – Intel

Founded in Mountain View, California, Intel (INTC) had to buy the rights for its name from a hotel chain, Intelco. One of Intel’s founders, Gordon Moore, is probably best known for Moore’s law. Its main principle is that the speed and capability of computers can be expected to double every two years. The original observation called for doubling every year but was revised by Moore in 1975. In 2025 Intel is launching 3-nanometre process chips and expanding into automotive and edge computing with AI-driven designs.

1969 – Gap

Gap (GPS) was founded by Donald and Doris Fisher, originally selling only Levi’s apparel in every style, size and colour. The first store was located on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco and became popular with the younger generation. Donald Fisher came up with the idea for Gap after seeing the success of The Tower of Shoes store in Sacramento. In 2025 Gap is accelerating e-commerce, closing underperforming stores and expanding circular-fashion initiatives; Old Navy and Athleta remain profit drivers.

1970 – Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters (URBN) was founded as a project for an entrepreneurship class by anthropology graduate Richard Hayne, his roommate Scott Belair and Judy Wicks. Originally called Free People, the first store sold second-hand clothing, jewellery and furniture in a casual college environment. In 1992, Hayne came up with Anthropologie, naming the brand after his college studies and targeting an older demographic. By 2025 the group is expanding AR fitting and adaptive lines, with Anthropologie and Free People driving stronger global sales.

1971 – Starbucks

Starbucks (SBUX) was founded in Seattle by three partners who met while studying at the University of San Francisco. Howard Schultz, who is often described as a founder of Starbucks, actually joined the company in 1982 as its head of marketing and operations. After a trip to Italy, Schultz left Starbucks to open Il Giornale and eventually merged the two in 1987. By 2025 Starbucks is expanding energy-efficient stores, plant-based and functional beverages, and growing in China while accelerating loyalty-app adoption.

1972 – Carnival Corporation

Founded in 1972 as Carnival Cruise Line, the company used acquisitions to grow quickly. Between 1989 and 1999, Carnival bought six different cruise lines. Today Carnival (CCL) encompasses 10 different brands and is a large travel-leisure company. It was the first to bring an IMAX theatre to a cruise ship. In 2025 Carnival leads with digital booking upgrades, eco-friendly retrofits and new Caribbean and Asian routes.

1973 – Patagonia

Patagonia was started by a rock climber, Yvon Chouinard, to design sustainable clothing for rock and alpine climbing. The company has long had environmental activism as one of its core values. In 2002, Chouinard launched One Percent for the Planet, an organisation that encourages businesses to donate a share of profits to environmental causes. Patagonia itself donates 1% of sales or 10% of revenue, whichever is greater, and was awarded the Eco Brand of the Year award in 2008 in recognition of its mission. In 2025 Patagonia is expanding rental platforms and environmental grant programmes, reinforcing its sustainability leadership.

1974 – Zara

Amancio Ortega started Zara in 1974, with the first store featuring low-priced clothing items that looked similar to those of popular brands. Throughout the 1980s, Ortega redesigned the manufacturing and distribution of Zara to reduce lead times, creating what he called ‘instant fashion’. As of 2017, Zara manages nearly 20 collections per year. It trades under Inditex (ITX), a holding company created in 1985 to manage Zara and its manufacturing plants. In 2025 Zara is scaling AI-driven design, on-demand manufacturing and eco-friendly production, improving supply-chain transparency.

1975 – Microsoft

Microsoft (MSFT) is among the world’s largest companies by market capitalisation. Founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft is well known for its suite of office products, Xbox, LinkedIn and its Azure cloud services business. One of the key moments in Microsoft’s history was the antitrust lawsuit brought by the US government in 1998. Some argue that the suit significantly slowed the development of Internet Explorer and allowed companies like Google (GOOGL) to grow. By 2025 Microsoft’s market value is supported by cloud, AI and gaming, with continued investment in sustainability and infrastructure.

1976 – Apple

Apple (AAPL) was among the first companies to create a personal computer when Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak built Apple I and later Apple II. Ronald Wayne, who was one of the co-founders of Apple, sold his share of the business back to Jobs and Wozniak for $800 just 12 days after creating the company. In 2025 Apple marks 50 years, advances AI hardware and wearables, and deepens health integration across devices.

1977 – Oracle

Larry Ellison co-founded Oracle (ORCL), initially Software Development Laboratories, after being inspired by a paper on database systems. One of the most influential database systems ever built was IBM’s System R, which first used SQL language. Ellison initially tried to make Oracle’s products compatible with System R but couldn’t. Oracle almost went bankrupt in the 1990s after a string of class-action lawsuits. In 2025 Oracle is expanding AI database products and sector-specific cloud platforms, including in finance and retail.

1978 – Home Depot

Home Depot (HD) is one of the largest home-improvement retailers in the world and operates primarily in the US, with operations in Canada and Mexico. It was founded in Georgia with the vision of building home-improvement superstores targeting the DIY market. The company’s trademark orange colour originally came from circus tents, which the founders used for early signage. In 2005, it tried to enter the retail convenience market by opening four petrol stations next to its stores. The effort quickly faded. By 2025 Home Depot is investing in robot-enabled logistics and expanding digital DIY learning platforms.

1979 – Activision Blizzard

Well known to anyone who likes video games, Activision Blizzard was founded through a merger of Activision and Vivendi Games. In 1979, Activision became the first independent video-game developer, its first product being cartridges for the Atari 2600 game console. The company struggled through the 1980s and early 1990s until Bobby Kotick bought it for $500,000 in 1991. He successfully took Activision through bankruptcy and an IPO in 1993. In 2023 Activision Blizzard became part of Microsoft’s gaming division; by 2025 it is leveraging AI for personalisation and launching top-grossing cross-platform titles.

1980 – Whole Foods

Whole Foods was founded in Austin, Texas, as a small vegetarian natural-foods store. Originally called SaferWay, the first Whole Foods Market was created through a merger with a local food store. It almost went out of business in 1981 when a devastating flood ruined all the inventory, resulting in $400,000 of damages. With no insurance, Whole Foods was rebuilt with help from the community and the company went public in 1992. Amazon (AMZN) purchased it in 2017 for $13.7bn. In 2025 Whole Foods is expanding frictionless ‘smart stores’ and global delivery via Amazon’s logistics network.

1981 – Michael Kors

After dropping out of the fashion institute in 1977, founder Michael Kors went to work for Bergdorf Goodman in Manhattan and launched his Michael Kors label at Bergdorf’s in 1981. The company was forced into bankruptcy in 1993, and Kors designed for other brands until he could relaunch in 1997. The company went public in 2011 and was renamed Capri Holdings (CPRI) after acquiring Jimmy Choo and Versace. In 2025 Capri is focusing on digital runway experiences, sustainability and geographic diversification.

1982 – Adobe

Founded by John Warnock and Charles Geschke in John’s garage, Adobe (ADBE) was almost bought by Apple in 1982 for $5m. Refusing to sell the company, the founders allowed Steve Jobs to buy a 19% stake. Adobe’s early success came from the development of the computer language PostScript, which became an international standard for printing. In 2025 Adobe is extending generative features across Creative Cloud and expanding enterprise automation.

1983 – Costco

When it was founded in 1983, Costco (COST) gave birth to a new concept of a retail warehouse club. Initially operating under the name Price Club, Sol Price and his son Robert opened the first warehouse inside an old aeroplane hangar. Price Club Warehouse #1 is still operational today. Price Club merged with Costco in 1993 after declining an offer from Sam Walton, founder of Walmart. By 2025 Costco is growing online membership, automating fulfilment and broadening eco-friendly ranges.

1984 – Cisco Systems

Cisco (CSCO) was founded by Sandy Lerner and her husband, both employees at Stanford responsible for its computer facilities. Cisco’s first product was a router that allowed Stanford computers to talk to each other. The original software was written by Stanford’s research engineer who, allegedly, was never permitted to sell it outside Stanford. Stanford contemplated criminal charges against the founders before eventually licensing the software and hardware back to Cisco. In 2025 Cisco is accelerating AI-driven networking and supply-chain security initiatives.

1985 – Blackstone

Blackstone (BX) was set up in 1985 by two ex-Lehman Brothers bankers, Stephen Schwarzman and Peter Peterson. Now a leading alternative investment company, Blackstone was founded with just $400,000. It was one of the first private-equity companies to go public. In 2025 Blackstone’s assets are above $1tn, with growth across real estate, private equity and infrastructure.

1986 – Celgene

In 1986, Celgene was spun off from its parent company, Celanese, becoming an independent biopharmaceutical company. During its first 17 years, Celgene made no money until in 2003 it made $13.5m. It grew through acquisitions, buying 14 businesses between 2010 and 2018. In 2013, Celgene was ranked by Forbes as the number-two drug company of the year. In the largest pharmaceutical acquisition to date, Celgene was bought by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) in 2019 for $95bn, including debt. By 2025 BMS is building on Celgene’s oncology legacy with new pipeline launches and strong therapeutics revenue.

1987 – Gilead Sciences

Gilead (GILD) rose to wider public attention during the Covid-19 pandemic. Its antiviral drug remdesivir, originally developed to treat Ebola, featured in clinical studies. The company was founded by Michael Riordan, a medical doctor, who started Gilead after working at Menlo Ventures, a venture-capital firm. Riordan became interested in antiviral medicines after contracting dengue fever. In 2025 Gilead is expanding its pipeline in hepatitis, HIV and emerging viruses, supported by partnerships.

1988 – BlackRock

BlackRock (BLK), a global investment-management business, today manages more funds than anyone else in the world, with assets in the multi-trillion-dollar range. The initial focus of BlackRock was on sound risk management, after one of its co-founders, Larry Fink, lost $100m in mortgage-backed securities at his previous job. Some of the early funding for the venture came from Blackstone co-founder Pete Peterson. By 2025 BlackRock manages over $10tn, prioritising ESG strategies and digital investment platforms.

1989 – Garmin

Garmin (GRMN) was founded by engineers Gary Burrell and Min Kao in Kansas. The company’s first product was a GPS navigator that cost $2,500, and its first client, in 1991, was the US military. More recently, Garmin entered the consumer wearables market and its line of Forerunner fitness watches has been a success. In 2025 Garmin is integrating AI across navigation and health analytics and growing automotive and aviation partnerships.

1990 – Ulta Beauty

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) was founded by a couple of Osco Drug employees, who pioneered a new retail concept offering simultaneously higher-end and lower-end products. After starting with one store, Ulta is now the largest beauty retailer in the US. It also has beauty salons in every store nationwide. By 2025 Ulta is expanding AI-driven personalisation and omnichannel services across a larger store and e-commerce network.

1991 – Vodafone

Vodafone (VOD) was officially formed through a demerger from Racal Electronics in 1991. The multinational telecommunications conglomerate got its start by figuring out commercial applications of battlefield radio technology. The first commercial mobile call in the UK was made by Vodafone and it also carried the first-ever text message in 1992. In 2025 Vodafone is investing in 5G and IoT platforms, digital banking ventures and network security across Europe, Africa and Asia.

1992 – Boston Dynamics

The robotics company was founded by Marc Raibert as a spin-off from MIT. Some of its early successes, like a quadruped robot, BigDog, were funded by DARPA. From 2013 to 2017, Boston Dynamics was owned by Google. In 2017, the company was sold to SoftBank (9984), the Japanese conglomerate known for investments in WeWork, Uber and Slack. In 2025 Boston Dynamics is advancing AI-driven automation in warehouses and announcing new commercial humanoid models.

1993 – Nvidia

Nvidia (NVDA) designs graphics chips, or graphics processing units (GPUs), for gaming and professional markets and has revolutionised graphics in consumer electronics. It is credited with creating one of the first chips that allowed images to appear in games. Today, Nvidia has numerous self-driving partnerships using its AI technology in the transportation industry. By 2025 Nvidia is the world’s most valuable semiconductor company, driven by AI chips, gaming and autonomous systems.

1994 – Amazon

Jeff Bezos started Amazon (AMZN) in Seattle after leaving a job on Wall Street. Eager to participate in the emerging internet boom, Jeff chose Seattle because of the technical talent in the city, which was also the headquarters of Microsoft. Starting as an online bookstore, Jeff Bezos always envisioned Amazon as ‘the everything store’. Today, Amazon is among the few companies with a market capitalisation above $1tn. In 2025 Amazon is expanding drone-delivery networks, Prime services and renewable-energy programmes across operations.

1995 – eBay

eBay (EBAY) was founded as AuctionWeb by Pierre Omidyar, a French-born Iranian-American. Initially part of Omidyar’s personal site, eBay was a free service and largely a hobby. The site generated significant traffic, forcing Omidyar to upgrade his technology and start charging for the service. Its popularity in the early days was partly due to eBay charging no commission while other auction sites often charged up to 30%. By 2025 eBay operates as an AI-enabled marketplace with authentication, collectible tracking and sustainability programmes for pre-owned goods.

1996 – AutoNation

AutoNation (AN) is an automotive retailer with 360 retail outlets in the US, selling new and used cars. In 1997, AutoNation was part of Republic Industries and tried to purchase ADT, an electronic-security business, to diversify its revenue base, but the acquisition did not go through. Republic then took its core waste business public in 1998 and used the proceeds to focus on growing AutoNation. In 2025 AutoNation is expanding EV sales, virtual showrooms, subscription services and mobile repairs.

1997 – Netflix

Netflix (NFLX) was founded by Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings after Hastings sold his previous business venture for $700m in 1997. The founders took advantage of DVDs to invent the rental-by-post model and take on Blockbuster, the dominant industry player at the time. Hastings often talks about having the vision for on-demand entertainment from the early days of the company, but having had to wait for technology to catch up to his ambitions. In 2025 Netflix is adding real-time event streaming and expanding into new markets with continued focus on personalisation.

1998 – Alphabet

Founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin out of Stanford, Google – now Alphabet (GOOG) – took a different approach to ranking search results by analysing relationships between websites. The name refers to the word ‘googol’, a mathematical term for 1 followed by 100 zeros. Following the dot-com crash, Google came up with the advertising model that showed ads based on what people searched for. This invention revolutionised the online advertising business. In 2025 Alphabet is advancing search with AI, expanding cloud and maintaining carbon-neutral data centres, while growing health and mobility tech.

1999 – Alibaba

Jack Ma is often identified as the founder of Alibaba (BABA) but he started the company with 17 of his friends and students. The business originally focused on the Chinese e-commerce market, targeting small and medium-sized businesses and helping them export Chinese products overseas. Alibaba raised early-stage capital from Goldman Sachs (GS) and SoftBank. After launching Taobao Marketplace and Alipay, it is now expanding into cloud services for enterprises. By 2025 Alibaba is investing in AI-driven e-commerce, logistics and digital payments, with expansion in Southeast Asia and Africa.

2000 – Baidu

One of the co-founders of Baidu (BIDU), Robin Li developed his algorithm to rank search-engine results in 1996 while working in the US. The algorithm was similar to the one used by Google founders and was based on a similar concept. Robin moved back to China in 1999 and launched Baidu in 2000 with Eric Xu. Its early funding came from American venture-capital firms Integrity Partners and Peninsula Capital. The largest search engine in China, Baidu offers nearly 60 other services, and in 2015 began working on autonomous vehicles. In 2025 Baidu is expanding global AI, cloud and autonomous-driving platforms and applying generative models across services.

2001 – Mizuho Financial Group

Mizuho (8411) remains one of Japan’s largest banks. In 2025 it is accelerating digitisation, expanding mobile services and AI-enabled support, and issuing green bonds to support sustainable finance across Asia and the US.

2002 – Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316) is consolidating its position in Asia with digital banking and fintech partnerships. In 2025 it is investing in blockchain-based products, growing wealth and corporate finance, and developing ‘green-loan’ programmes for energy transition.

2003 – Tesla Inc.

Tesla (TSLA) is a leader in EVs and batteries. In 2025 it is ramping global production, opening new plants in India and Southeast Asia, advancing autonomous tech and energy storage, and expanding into heavy transport.

2004 – Meta Platforms (Facebook Inc.)

Meta (META) remains a digital conglomerate across social, messaging and VR. In 2025 it is investing in AI-powered moderation and next-gen VR/AR, growing Horizon Worlds and facing ongoing global regulatory scrutiny.

2005 – Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306), Japan’s largest financial group, is expanding green finance, digital payments and investment banking in 2025, partnering with fintechs and funding low-carbon infrastructure across the Asia-Pacific region.

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