2020 was a difficult year for companies and businesses. But not for the 50 largest companies in the world by market capitalization, which saw their value grow by US$4.5 trillion (million million) over the past year. The value of this select group of companies—which ranges from tech firms like Amazon to luxury goods companies like LVMH, as well as retailers like Walmart—was equivalent to 28% of global GDP in 2020, more than double the figure from 2010, according to a Bloomberg analysis. They also earned more money—with an average profit margin of 18.2% in 2020 compared to 16.8% in 2010—and paid less in taxes—the median tax rate paid by these companies was 17.4% last year, compared to 24.6% ten years ago.