# Where can I find a list of the Fortune 500 companies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 3, 2004, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-list-of-the-fortune-500-companies/232316 "2004-03-03T15:29:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Achilles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dc4da7/32.png) [@Achilles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achilles)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-list-of-the-fortune-500-companies/232316/1 "2004-03-03T15:29:37Z")
Where can I find a list of the Fortune 500 companies? Apart from [fortune.com](http://fortune.com), or Fortune Magazine, both of which require monetary outlay. This is public info, so there must be a website out there somewhere that lists this stuff, but I just can’t find it. Help please. Someone. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-list-of-the-fortune-500-companies/232316/2 "2004-03-03T15:31:15Z")
[http://www.fortune.com/fortune/fortune500](http://www.fortune.com/fortune/fortune500) These sorts of things are found easily by using google. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-list-of-the-fortune-500-companies/232316/3 "2004-03-03T15:36:01Z")
> **[NYSE American | The New Choice for Institutional Investing](https://www.nyse.com/markets/nyse-american)** > > NYSE American is a competitively priced venue that blends unique features derived from the NYSE, such as electronic Designated Market Makers (e-DMMs) with quoting obligations for each NYSE American-listed company, with NYSE Arca’s fully electronic... Gives a list that is free. ---
**Author:** ![Achilles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dc4da7/32.png) [@Achilles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achilles)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-list-of-the-fortune-500-companies/232316/4 "2004-03-03T15:41:34Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > [http://www.fortune.com/fortune/fortune500](http://www.fortune.com/fortune/fortune500) > > These sorts of things are found easily by using google. [QUOTE=Achilles] …Apart from [fortune.com](http://fortune.com)… [QUOTE] Y’see ? No need for the attempted sarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![Achilles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dc4da7/32.png) [@Achilles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achilles)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-list-of-the-fortune-500-companies/232316/5 "2004-03-03T15:42:51Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > [Small Cap Equity Market | NYSE American](http://www.amex.com/?href=/othProd/prodInf/OpPiIndMain.jsp?Product_Symbol=FFX) > Gives a list that is free. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-list-of-the-fortune-500-companies/232316/6 "2004-03-03T15:55:41Z")
Most public libraries (you are in the USA?) have Fortune and most other magazines with lists absolutely free for use. I’m sure that you know that but a lot of people forget what a great resource their local library can be. ---
**Author:** ![Achilles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dc4da7/32.png) [@Achilles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achilles)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-list-of-the-fortune-500-companies/232316/7 "2004-03-03T16:22:49Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Most public libraries (you are in the USA?) have Fortune and most other magazines with lists absolutely free for use. I’m sure that you know that but a lot of people forget what a great resource their local library can be. Indeed that is true, although I live in Ireland. My local library has the hard copies, and my university library has both hard copy and online subscription. Unfortunately I’m stuck in frickin’ work !! Thanks though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-list-of-the-fortune-500-companies/232316/8 "2004-03-03T18:26:56Z")
> [@Achilles](#): > > This is public info, so there must be a website out there somewhere that lists this stuff, but I just can’t find it. Why do you think it’s public information? Fortune Magazine puts together the list using information from corporations (which is public information). You’re perfectly welcome to get the relevant information from the Securities and Exchange Commission - or from every individual corporation in the U.S. - and put together your own list. But Fortune’s compilation belongs to Fortune. ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-a-list-of-the-fortune-500-companies/232316/9 "2004-03-03T19:59:19Z")
It’s “public information” in the sense that Fortune is a magazine and publishes it. It is not “public information” in the sense that Achilles can’t just copy the list and call it the “Achilles 500”: the compilation is protected by copyright. Fortune, and other similar compilations, don’t try to hide their lists (though they would be happy to charge you for it, if they can). The real value of such lists derives from their widespread use, unlike other, more proprietary lists that rely on the judgement of the compiler, like Dun and Bradstreet or Standard and Poors ratings. [a list of links to the Fortune 500 and many similar llistings](http://directory.google.com/Top/Business/Major_Companies/Company_Rankings/?tc=1)