Walt Disney (No. 66) may have been built on the back of a cartoon mouse, but today its Parks and Media Networks divisions -- not its pixie dust -- are what power the company's sales performance, which reached a record $42.3 billion in 2012. Profits rose dramatically (by 18%, to $5.7 billion), boosted by the cable networks business that hosts Disney's star, ESPN. In March chairman and CEO Bob Iger steered Disney to a galaxy far, far away when the company purchased LucasFilm for $4.06 billion. It will release a new Star Wars movie in 2015.
Wal-Mart retook the top spot, Berkshire Hathaway made the top five, and Apple grew enormously.
| China and Europe risk trade war | ||
| Farewell 3% mortgage rates | ||
| Japanese stocks fall into bear market | ||
| North Dakota grows five times faster than nation | ||
| Taxpayers to make $1 billion from GM stock sale |
.
