Powering everything from smartphones to autonomous vehicles, the Intel net worth reflects the company’s dominance in the microprocessor market.
The computer changed the world, but the microprocessor changed the computer. The tiny part is the brain of a system, connecting and sending instructions between each of the different parts.
While microprocessors weren’t the first central processing unit, previous inventions had been very expensive, large and slow. Intel’s invention made computers faster, smaller and smarter, paving the way for PCs. We have Intel to thank.
The tech company started out making RAM and semiconductor chips. An approach from Japanese company Busicom, who wanted a chip to power their new printing calculator, would lead to the creation of one of the digital world’s most innovative products.
However, Intel decided to buy back the microprocessor for $60,000. The company now makes more than $50 billion each year from their creation.
Intel net worth: Rewarded for powering the tech industry
As market pioneers, Intel has dominated ever since. Despite competition from the likes of AMD, Intel still holds a market share of more than 80%. Their control is unlikely to be broken any time soon and with microprocessor sales continuing to climb, the Intel net worth is expected to continue its steady climb.
As a result of their success, Intel is now the 158th biggest company in the world, with a market cap of $172.4 billion. That makes them the sixth largest tech company and puts them miles ahead of industry rival AMD ($12.6b).
3 facts that (you didn’t know) about Intel
Every top tech company comes with a cool and quirky back story, goals and culture, whether it’s a Blockbuster fine leading to the creation of Netflix, or Google parking a food van in the middle of their cafeteria. Intel is no different.
The ‘Intel’ name
Intel, short for Integrated Electronics, was initially called Moore Noyce Electronics after its founders Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce. However, the pair felt that it sounded too similar to ‘more noise’, which didn’t sell their product very well. ‘Intel’ was eventually suggested by Noyce’s young daughter.
The clean room
Working with microprocessors is tricky work. The lightest of touches can render the chip unusable. Likewise, the process used to create them can be highly toxic. In order to protect both their staff and their products, Intel built a ‘clean room’ inside their factory, where even a single speck of dust is enough to shut the process down.
Steve Jobs
Known as the ‘Mayor of Silicon Valley’, Noyce loved to see new tech startups flourish. One of his most notable former students is Apple founder Steve Jobs. The Intel founder took him under his wing, taught him the ins-and-outs of of the tech world, and helped him to create what is now the biggest company in the world.
Read more:
The Steve Jobs leadership style is bizarre for this one reason