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Anthony Thompson, USA TODAYFri, May 1, 2026 at 8:09 PM UTC

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See which companies made Time’s 2026 most influential list and why

What do Google’s Sundar Pichai, Hailey Bieber and Jimmy "Mr. Beast" Donaldson have in common? They have all been named among the most influential leaders shaping global business, featured on Time's 2026 list of the 100 Most Influential Companies.

Now in its sixth year and its largest edition yet, the list spans 205 companies across 20 sectors. According to Time, this year’s selections are tied together by a shared theme: the power of storytelling. The companies recognized are not only driving innovation, but also crafting narratives that inspire employees, investors and consumers to believe in their long-term visions, the magazine says.

That idea is embodied by Pichai’s decade-long push to transform Google into an “AI-first” company. While the strategy once appeared premature, Time notes that persistence paid off. Parent company Alphabet reached a $4 trillion market cap in January 2026, while its AI platform Gemini now accounts for roughly a quarter of global AI traffic.

The same storytelling principle applies across industries. Bieber built Rhode into a media-driven brand before launching products, leading to a billion-dollar sale to e.l.f. Beauty. Meanwhile, Donaldson’s Beast Industries continues expanding beyond YouTube into entertainment, consumer products and technology.

Seen side by side, the companies on this year’s list range widely in size and scope, from startups with only a handful of employees to global giants employing more than a million people. What connects them, Time writes, is the ability to tell a story compelling enough that others will follow.

Here’s a look at some of Time’s most influential companies of 2026, by category.

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DHL Group's inclusion on this list reflects how global logistics and supply chain leaders continue to play a critical role in connecting economies and enabling commerce, according to Time.

Other Titans include:

Dell Technologies

Boeing

Toyota

Netflix

Coursera

Leaders

According to Time, Boston Dynamics' inclusion on the most influential companies list exemplifies how companies at the forefront of automation and robotics are helping define what the future of work and industry could look like.

Other Leaders include:

Uniqlo

Chevron

Costco

Sesame Workshop

Dr. Bronner's

T-Mobile

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Disrupters

Chime is recognized among this year’s Disrupters, reflecting how newer companies are reshaping traditional industries by rethinking how services are delivered, the magazine wrote.

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Other Disrupters include:

Tubi

Wonder

Kalshi

Quizlet

Barnes & Noble

TikTok

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Innovators

Medtronic was recognized for advancing “smarter surgeries” as part of a broader push to further integrate technology into health care systems, according to the magazine.

Other Innovators include:

SharkNinja

Mastercard

Maven Clinic

Breeze Airways

Warner Music Group

Pioneers

Time noted Fujifilm was recognized for blending legacy technology with renewed relevance, underscoring how established brands can reinvent themselves in a rapidly evolving market.

Other Pioneers include:

OpenAI

Discord

Webuild

Blueland

OpenTable

Impact Awards

Time’s Impact Awards highlight five companies recognized for driving meaningful change across key global priorities, with one honoree selected in each of the following areas: artificial intelligence, health, sustainability, equality and culture.

This year's Impact Award recipients are:

Xenco Medical (Health)

Sun King (Sustainability)

CareMessage (Equality)

Depop (Culture)

Waystar (Artificial Intelligence)

New this year: Industry Leaders lists

This year, Time editors also launched the Industry Leaders lists, an expansion of the flagship issue that takes a deeper look at the companies shaping individual sectors.

The new lists highlight 10 influential companies across a wide range of industries, including:

The 10 Most Influential AI Companies

The 10 Most Influential Hardware Companies

The 10 Most Influential Software Companies

The 10 Most Influential Health Companies

The 10 Most Influential Retail Companies

The 10 Most Influential Finance Companies

The 10 Most Influential Entertainment Companies

The 10 Most Influential Travel and Tourism Companies

The 10 Most Influential Energy Companies

The 10 Most Influential Social Good Companies

How to view the full list

Readers can explore Time's complete list of Most Influential Companies of 2026, including all 205 honorees across categories, on Time’s official website.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on Twitter @athompsonABJ

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Time unveils 2026 Most Influential Companies list

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