The semiconductor industry is the beating heart of modern technology, enabling advancements in computing telecommunications, AI, and various other fields. So who are the top 10 companies behind this massive industry? Here, we will explore these industry giants, with insights into their market capitalisation, revenue, and influence, as of February 2025.
NVIDIA Corporation
NVIDIA, founded in 1993, has established itself as the global leader in graphics processing units (GPUs), originally dominating the gaming industry but now playing a crucial role in AI, machine learning, and data centres. The company’s high-performance GPUs, such as its Blackwell chips, have become fundamental to AI research and deep learning applications, while its recent expansions into automotive and cloud computing have further strengthened its position in the semiconductor industry.
- Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, USA
- Market Capitalisation: Approximately $1.2 trillion
- Revenue: $55 billion
- Employees: Approximately 26,000
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)
Founded in 1987, TSMC is the world’s largest independent semiconductor foundry, manufacturing chips for companies like Apple, AMD, and Qualcomm. TSMC has been a pioneer in advanced process nodes, with its 3nm and upcoming 2nm technologies leading the industry in chip fabrication. It remains a critical player in the global supply chain, despite recent economic shakeups, providing cutting-edge semiconductor solutions to numerous high-tech industries.
- Headquarters: Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Market Capitalisation: Over $500 billion
- Revenue: $75 billion (2024)
- Employees: Over 65,000
Broadcom Inc.
Broadcom is a specialist in semiconductor solutions for networking, broadband, wireless, and data centres. Established through a series of mergers and acquisitions, Broadcom has built a diverse portfolio that spans AI-powered networking, software, high-speed connectivity solutions, and green energy solutions. The company has also made significant strides in enterprise software.
- Headquarters: San Jose, California, USA
- Market Capitalisation: Over $1 trillion
- Revenue: $47 billion
- Employees: Approximately 20,000
Intel Corporation
Intel, founded in 1968, has been a cornerstone of the semiconductor industry for decades. It pioneered microprocessors and continues to develop next-generation chips for computing, Cloud infrastructure, and AI. Despite increased competition and a rough recent spell, Intel remains a key player in chip manufacturing, investing heavily in domestic production facilities and advancing its foundry services to regain leadership in semiconductor fabrication.
- Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, USA
- Market Capitalisation: Approximately $92 billion
- Revenue: $55.12 billion
- Employees: Approximately 125,000
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
AMD, founded in 1969, has evolved into a formidable competitor to Intel in the CPU market, while also challenging NVIDIA in the GPU sector. The company’s Ryzen processors and Radeon graphics cards have gained widespread adoption in consumer and enterprise markets. Additionally, AMD’s EPYC server processors are revolutionising data centres with high efficiency and performance.
- Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, USA
- Market Capitalisation: Approximately $244 billion
- Revenue: $23 billion
- Employees: Approximately 26,000
Qualcomm Incorporated
Founded in 1985, Qualcomm is another giant in the wireless communication and semiconductor solutions space, playing a crucial role in 5G deployment. The company’s Snapdragon processors power a vast majority of Android smartphones, and its ongoing investments in AI, IoT, and automotive technologies keep it at the forefront of innovation.
- Headquarters: San Diego, California, USA
- Market Capitalisation: Approximately $188 billion
- Revenue: $37.4 billion
- Employees: Approximately 50,000
Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics, founded in 1969, is one of the largest semiconductor manufacturers in the world. The company produces a wide range of semiconductor products, including DRAM, NAND flash memory, and advanced logic chips. Samsung is a major supplier for smartphones, Cloud computing, and AI applications, consistently investing in next-generation chip technology to maintain its market leadership.
- Headquarters: Suwon, South Korea
- Market Capitalisation: Approximately $400 billion
- Revenue: $75 billion
- Employees: Over 260,000
Texas Instruments
Founded in 1930, Texas Instruments is a pioneer in analog and embedded semiconductor solutions. The company produces chips used in a vast array of industries, including automotive, industrial automation, and consumer electronics. Texas Instruments’ focus on long-term manufacturing capacity and cost efficiency makes it a major player in the semiconductor market.
- Headquarters: Dallas, Texas, USA
- Market Capitalisation: Approximately $183 billion
- Revenue: $16 billion
- Employees: Approximately 34,000
Applied Materials
Applied Materials, founded in 1967, is a leading supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The company provides essential tools for chip fabrication, supporting leading foundries like TSMC and Samsung. Its contributions to materials engineering are vital for the continued advancement of semiconductor technology.
- Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, USA
- Market Capitalisation: Approximately $155 billion
- Revenue: $26.85 billion
- Employees: Approximately 34,000
ASML Holding
ASML, established in 1984, is the sole producer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, which are essential for manufacturing the most advanced semiconductor chips. Without ASML’s lithography technology, the production of cutting-edge processors would not be possible. The company plays an irreplaceable role in the semiconductor industry.
- Headquarters: Veldhoven, Netherlands
- Market Capitalisation: Approximately $264 billion
- Revenue: $29.6 billion
- Employees: Over 42,000
These ten companies are driving the future of the semiconductor industry, powering advancements in AI, computing, and communication technologies. Their continued innovation ensures the growth and transformation of industries worldwide, shaping the next generation of digital and computational capabilities.
