Fifty-two percent of the Fortune 500 companies from the year 2000 are now extinct. Rome was not built in a day — and neither are multi-billion dollar corporations. The average lifespan of a company listed in the S&P 500 index of leading US companies has decreased by more than 50 years in the last century, from 67 … Although many of the companies that were listed in the 1955 Fortune 500 list no longer remain, there are some companies that are still in operation. While many in the past assumed that they could get by running the same old business the same old way, the fact is that 87% of the companies on the Fortune 500 in 1955 no longer exist. Seemingly, companies come and go faster than you can realize. This happens with small companies, at least. In a survey of more than 500 c-suite executives across Europe and the United States, over half (53%) said they are … These companies have either gone bankrupt, merged, or still exist but have fallen from the top Fortune 500 companies. Natalie Zamora 07 Sep 2017. Fifty years ago, the life expectancy of a Fortune 500 … The majority of the top 30 companies in 1988 still exist today in 2017. It’s crazy to think that 88% of the Fortune 500 firms that existed in 1955 are gone. Research shows that since 2000, 52 percent of companies in the Fortune 500 have either gone bankrupt, been acquired, or ceased to exist as a result of digital disruption. 7. These ten companies all failed for some reason, but we'll always remember them. Two-thirds of c-suite executives believe that 40% of Fortune 500 companies will no longer exist in 10 years time to digital disruption, a study reveals. So clearly, today’s firms can’t stand still and must pursue a variety of innovation strategies.. Take a look at the top companies in our first Fortune 500 list and see what's become of them since 1955. 88% of the Fortune 500 companies from 1955 are no longer in operation. The table below shows the 1988 archives and most recent 2017 Fortune 500 lists side-by-side. These days, every business needs to innovate. But what about all the ones you actually bought from, and were household names? Revenues achieved by the top company in 2017 (Walmart) are almost five times greater than revenues gained by the top company in 1988 (General Motors). 41. That’s not a typo. In less than two decades, more than half of the brands that were on the Fortune 500 list in 2000 no longer exist. Most of the companies on the list in 1955 are unrecognizable, forgotten companies today. It’s reasonable to assume that when the Fortune 500 list is released 60 years from now in 2078, almost all of today’s Fortune 500 companies will no longer exist as currently configured, having been replaced by new companies in new, emerging industries, and … It's no Hall of Shame—most of … 10 Most Memorable Companies That No Longer Exist. 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