Amazon Surpasses Walmart as World's Top Company in Sales

E-commerce giant overtakes retail giant after 13 years of Walmart dominance

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Amazon has surpassed Walmart as the world's top company in terms of sales revenue, dethroning the retail giant after 13 consecutive years of Walmart holding the top spot. Amazon reported $716.9 billion in revenue for 2025, while Walmart reported $713.2 billion, marking a significant shift in the global retail landscape.

Why it matters

This milestone represents the growing dominance of e-commerce and the changing consumer behavior towards online shopping, which has benefited Amazon tremendously over the past decade. It also highlights the challenges traditional brick-and-mortar retailers like Walmart face in adapting to the digital age.

The details

Amazon's revenue grew nearly 10 times faster than Walmart's over the past decade, as consumer spending has continued to shift towards online shopping. While Walmart's revenue jumped 4.7% in 2025, Amazon's revenue surged, driven by its diverse business segments including online and physical stores, Amazon Web Services, and its growing media and entertainment divisions.

  • Amazon reported its fourth-quarter results in early 2026, revealing its $716.9 billion in revenue for 2025.
  • Walmart reported its annual revenue of $713.2 billion for its most recent fiscal year on February 20, 2026.

The players

Amazon

An American e-commerce and cloud computing company that has grown significantly since its founding in 1994, now holding several subsidiaries including AWS, Ring, Twitch, Amazon Prime Video, and Amazon MGM Studios.

Walmart

An American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores, headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.

John David Rainey

Walmart Executive Vice President who announced the company's decision to increase its annual cash dividend for the 53rd consecutive year.

Andy Jassy

Amazon CEO who announced last year that the company expects its workforce to shrink in the coming years as AI becomes more integrated.

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What they’re saying

“Dividends continue to be a part of our diversified capital returns approach. We're proud to be increasing our annual dividend for the 53rd consecutive year. This decision is a proof point of our continued confidence in our business performance and forward momentum.”

— John David Rainey, Walmart Executive Vice President (wbtw.com)

“We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today, and more people doing other types of jobs.”

— Andy Jassy, Amazon CEO (wbtw.com)

The takeaway

The shift in global retail dominance from Walmart to Amazon underscores the growing importance of e-commerce and the challenges traditional brick-and-mortar retailers face in adapting to changing consumer preferences and the rise of online shopping. This milestone will likely have far-reaching implications for the retail industry and the broader economy.