When Apple surpassed Exxon-Mobil as the world’s most valuable company in August 2012, it ignited a debate over what, precisely, “most valuable” means--and how inflation influences the calculation. Apple’s 2012 market valuation topped out at $661 billion U.S., the highest absolute-value figure in history, but a longer-term view of other corporate giants shows it has a ways to go before it can claim the all-time, inflation-adjusted top prize. Here are history's 9 most valuable companies, adjusted for inflation.







