The Fortune 500 is an influential list of America’s top businesses ranked by annual revenue. It has been published every year since 1955 by Fortune Magazine and is a widely respected identification of some of the greatest companies in the US as determined by their total revenue. It includes publicly traded companies, subsidiaries and private companies - even Fortune 500 companies from outside the US have been included since 1997.

The list of the Fortune 500 is considered a prestigious ranking. Companies that make it onto the list are viewed as large and successful, making them an attractive and viable business option for customers, investors, and employers. Companies on the list are also seen as resilient, having either grown their business successfully over the years or having withstood changing trends and difficult economic times.

The list is released annually in April, and companies vie to be included as such placement indicates success. Fortune also breaks down the list into various categories - such as the top 10 companies by industry, the top 10 largest by state, and the ten companies with the most employees. This can be helpful for both prospective customers who are looking for a reputable vendor and potential employees who want to work for a successful business.

The impact of the Fortune 500 is far reaching. The list is a representation of a company’s success, which can attract further investment, customers, and top talent. For individual employees working at companies on the list, being included can lend more credibility and show that they work for a respected and successful organization.

The Fortune 500 list has become an integral part of measuring success in the modern business world. It’s a powerful signal of what constitutes a successful company and provides an annual snapshot of who is excelling at a given moment in time. It shows which companies have withstood the test of time and have come out on top.