With the release of the new iPhone and new Mac computers, Apple has steadily increased its market value over the last decade. The company has now surpassed Google and only Microsoft has a higher market value.
Valleywag
predicted last November that Apple would be worth more than Google in less than two years. Apple made that happen in less time than
predicted:
“Apple knows how to design not just gadgets, but the businesses that go around them…And as a result, we wouldn’t be surprised if Apple is worth more than Google within two years.”
With an array of newer designs in gadgets like Mac computers, iPhones and iPods, and a very strong marketing machine behind it,
Apple’s market cap has been pushed to $158.84 billion.
Google also rose during the last decade to $157.23 billion. Compared to Apple, however, Google relies mostly on ad revenue and doesn’t have a wide range of strong revenue-generating products.

Digitaldaily.allthingsd.com Apple vs Google Marketcap
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Microsoft has a market cap of $254 billion.
I would bet Apple can catch up to Microsoft in the next two years if it keeps the same pace of growth. With Steve Jobs health in question (rumors only), it's difficult to see a future without him. But, the company has a talented group of individuals in their design and marketing team to carry it forward.
Apple was not always successful; when it had its lean period in the 1990s, Michael Dell of Dell Computers suggested that Apple should shut down and give money back to shareholders. Luckily Apple didn’t, and under Steve Jobs' direction it made the biggest turnaround on Wall Street.