Ghada Ismail

For years, the startup world celebrated unicorns—private companies valued at more than $1 billion—as the ultimate success story. Over time, valuations grew, capital became more available, and expectations shifted. This gave rise to decacorns, companies worth over $10 billion.

Now, a much rarer group sits at the very top: hectocorns.

A hectocorn is a company valued at $100 billion or more. The word comes from “hecto,” meaning one hundred, and it describes businesses that have reached an extraordinary level of size and influence. These companies are not just growing fast; they are powerful enough to shape markets and industries.

How rare are hectocorns?

Hectocorns are extremely rare. While there are hundreds of unicorns around the world, only a small number of companies ever reach a $100 billion valuation.

Most hectocorns are global giants that dominate their sectors. Examples often include Apple, Microsoft, Saudi Aramco, Amazon, and Nvidia. Their valuations are so large that they are sometimes compared to the economies of entire countries.

What makes a hectocorn different?

The difference between a $10 billion company and a $100 billion company is not just an extra zero. Hectocorns usually share a few clear characteristics.

They tend to:

• Operate at a global scale, not just in one market
• Serve hundreds of millions, or even billions, of users
• Offer products or services that people and businesses rely on every day

At this level, competition is no longer only about building a better product. It becomes about managing scale, regulations, supply chains, and long-term strategy.

Are there private hectocorns?

Most hectocorns are public companies, meaning they are listed on stock exchanges. Staying private while reaching a $100 billion valuation is very rare.

To do this, a company would need to:

• Dominate a very large global market
• Earn exceptional trust from investors
• Maintain strong growth without public market support

Companies like ByteDance are often mentioned as rare private firms that come close, depending on market conditions. Still, private hectocorns are the exception, not the rule.

Will we see more hectocorns?

As technology, artificial intelligence, and emerging markets continue to grow, more hectocorns will likely appear, but slowly, as reaching a $100 billion valuation requires:

• Long-term resilience
• Global relevance
• The ability to survive multiple economic cycles

Wrapping Things Up…

In simple terms, hectocorns represent the very top of the global business pyramid. They are not defined by rapid growth alone, but by long-term scale, resilience, and influence. While unicorns capture attention and decacorns signal ambition, hectocorns show what happens when a company becomes deeply embedded in the global economy. For most founders, reaching this level is not the goal, but understanding how hectocorns are built helps clarify where real power, value, and impact ultimately concentrate.