Google has been named as the most valuable brand, according to BrandZ’s Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2014.
The brand saw a 40% rise in brand value over the last year, for a total 324% appreciation since 2006.
Apple, the second most valuable brand, has grown 826% in value since 2006.
The fastest-growing brand in the ranking was Tencent, the Chinese social network and Internet portal, which almost doubled in value with a brand value increase of 97%, following a 52% increase a year ago.
The Chinese online search brand Baidu, which is similar to Google, grew 46% in brand value.
Amazon, Twitter and LinkedIn all entered the Top 10 for the first time.
Facebook, the second fastest-rising brand, increased 68% in brand value.
Microsoft rose several slots, after a 29% brand value increase, meaning the top four brands in the Top 100 – Google, Apple, IBM and Microsoft – are all in the technology category.
Around one-fifth of the BrandZ Global Top 100 are technology brands, with these 18 brands accounting for $827-billion in brand value – almost a third of the Top 100 total value.