Amazon Surpasses Walmart as World's Top Company in Sales

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

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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Amazon has surpassed Walmart as the world's top company in terms of sales revenue, according to the latest financial results. Amazon reported $716.9 billion in revenue for 2025, while Walmart reported $713.2 billion, marking the first time in 13 years that Walmart has not held the top spot.

Why it matters

This shift in the retail landscape reflects the continued growth and dominance of e-commerce, with Amazon's online sales and diversified business model outpacing Walmart's traditional brick-and-mortar operations. The change in leadership also highlights the competitive pressures facing major retailers as consumer shopping habits evolve.

The details

Amazon's revenue grew nearly 10 times faster than Walmart's over the past decade, driven by the company's expansion into online sales, cloud computing, streaming, and other business lines. While Walmart still generates 90% of its sales from physical stores, Amazon's online and physical store sales accounted for around $464 billion of its total revenue last year.

  • In 2025, Amazon reported $716.9 billion in revenue, surpassing Walmart's $713.2 billion.
  • Walmart had been the world's top company in sales for the previous 13 years.

The players

Amazon

An e-commerce and technology company that has grown to become a diversified global conglomerate with businesses in online retail, cloud computing, streaming, and more.

Walmart

A multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores, primarily focused on physical retail locations.

Andy Jassy

The CEO of Amazon, who has led the company's expansion into new business areas and the integration of artificial intelligence.

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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 (The Hill)

“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 (The Hill)

What’s next

Amazon's acquisition of MGM Studios and its plans to focus on Whole Foods Market stores will likely be closely watched as the company continues to diversify its business and adapt to changing consumer preferences.

The takeaway

The shift in retail leadership from Walmart to Amazon underscores the growing dominance of e-commerce and the need for traditional retailers to adapt their business models to remain competitive in an evolving marketplace.