20 most profitable
Exxon Mobil again tops Fortune's list of top earners. Which other companies are among the most profitable on the planet?
Exxon Mobil
Rank: 2
Profits ($millions): $40,610
Change from 2006: 2.8%
Ticker: XOM
Sky-high oil prices have led to extraordinary profits for Exxon Mobil, with $40.61 billion in earnings last year, or nearly $78,000 per minute. That topped its previous record of $39.5 billion in 2006.
Known as the "project masters" for getting things done on time and under budget, the world's most profitable company has stayed ahead of the pack with a surge in exploration and drilling in risky corners of the world like the Middle East and Africa.
Still, production declines in the last few quarters have raised concerns about the company making the right investments for the future.
NEXT: Royal Dutch Shell
Last updated July 09 2008: 8:24 AM ET
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