fortune.com

What is Fortune?

Fortune is a long-running American business publication, founded in 1930, that covers companies, markets, executives and the broader economy. Its reporting mixes breaking business news with profiles, analysis and rankings that have become reference points in the corporate world.

What it is known for

• The Fortune 500, an annual ranking of large U.S. companies by revenue, widely cited by journalists, investors and researchers.
• Other lists and franchises, such as Fortune Global 500 and Best Companies to Work For.
• Business journalism aimed at professionals: leadership, finance, technology, energy and policy.

Who uses it

Executives and investors often read it to follow corporate strategy and market shifts. Students, analysts and journalists may use its rankings and archives as a starting point for research. General readers interested in business news also form part of its audience.

Trade-offs

Fortune sits closer to established business media than to fast, wire-style news, so coverage can be more feature-driven and interpretive. Some rankings rely on self-reported or revenue-based data, which may not capture profitability or private companies. Much content is free to read, while subscriptions typically unlock deeper access; pricing is not stated here. It is best treated as one source among several, alongside outlets such as Bloomberg or The Wall Street Journal.

What kind of business news does Fortune cover?

Fortune covers business news with a broad, executive-level focus rather than narrow market tickers alone. Its reporting typically centers on large corporations, leadership and management, corporate strategy, finance and investing, technology, and the economy. You will also find coverage of industries such as energy, health care, retail, and media, plus rankings and lists that frame how companies and executives are evaluated.

Typical coverage areas

• Corporate news and earnings for major companies, including the Fortune 500
• Leadership, management and workplace trends
• Finance, markets and economic policy
• Technology, innovation and digital business
• Industry shifts, deals and corporate strategy
• Opinion and analysis for business audiences

Who it suits

Fortune is generally suited to executives, investors, entrepreneurs, students and general readers who want business news with context and analysis, not just headlines. Compared with faster wire-style outlets, its stories often take a longer view, explaining why a company decision or economic trend matters. Compared with academic journals, it is more accessible and current. The trade-off is that coverage tends to emphasize large firms and high-level strategy, so small-business owners or readers seeking local news may find it less directly useful.

How does Fortune rank the Fortune 500?

Fortune compiles the Fortune 500 by ranking U.S.-incorporated companies on total revenue for their most recent fiscal year. The list includes both publicly traded and private firms that file financial statements with a government agency, which is why privately held companies and cooperatives can appear alongside large public corporations.

The methodology behind the ranking generally follows these steps:

• Companies are screened for U.S. incorporation and for publishing revenue figures.
• Revenue is taken from annual reports, regulatory filings such as 10-Ks, or comparable documents.
• Figures are verified and adjusted where necessary to keep comparisons consistent.
• Companies are ordered from highest to lowest revenue, and the top 500 make the list.

Because the ranking measures revenue rather than profit or market value, a company can rank high while losing money. That makes the list useful for tracking scale, employment and economic weight, but less suited to judging profitability or investment quality. Fortune also publishes related rankings, such as the Global 500, which applies similar logic to companies worldwide.

Is Fortune magazine available online and in print?

Fortune is published by Fortune Media and has long served business readers through both print and digital channels. Its print edition remains the flagship format, typically aimed at executives, investors and professionals who want curated long-form reporting, rankings and analysis in a single issue. The magazine is known for franchises such as the Fortune 500 and other corporate rankings, which appear across its platforms.

Online, Fortune offers daily business news, market coverage, commentary and newsletters. The site generally reaches a broader, faster-moving audience than print, since readers can follow breaking stories and industry developments throughout the day. Some articles and premium content may sit behind a subscription or registration wall, and full print issues are not simply published as open web pages.

For practical use, the two formats suit different habits:

• Print: deeper reading, archival issues, cover stories and annual lists.
• Online: real-time headlines, searchable archives of web articles, email briefings and mobile access.

A common trade-off is immediacy versus depth: the website is better for current events, while the magazine is better for considered, magazine-style journalism. Many readers use both rather than choosing one.

What is Fortune's editorial focus and history?

Editorial focus: Fortune is a business news publication covering corporate strategy, finance, markets, leadership, technology, and the economy. Its reporting typically mixes breaking business news with longer features, executive interviews, rankings, and analysis aimed at professionals who follow companies and industries closely. Coverage often extends to workplace trends, policy, and global commerce, making it useful for managers, investors, students, and anyone tracking how large organizations operate.

History and identity: The magazine was founded in 1929 by Henry Luce and began publishing in 1930, which is why its own description emphasizes "the best of business since 1930." Over the decades it became known for ambitious business journalism and for signature franchises such as the Fortune 500, a ranking of large U.S. companies by revenue. That list, along with related rankings and conferences, shaped how many readers understand corporate scale and influence.

What to expect:

• Daily news and market coverage on the website
• In-depth profiles, interviews, and explanatory pieces
• Rankings and annual lists used as reference material
• Commentary on leadership, careers, and economic shifts

Its trade-off is familiar for general business outlets: broad accessibility and recognizable brands versus specialized depth found in industry-specific or academic sources. Readers wanting quick summaries and mainstream corporate perspective are well served; those needing technical filings or niche data may need additional sources.

How can I subscribe to Fortune or access its premium content?

Fortune offers both free and paid access to its business journalism. The free tier covers daily news, market updates and selected features. Premium content, including in-depth analysis, rankings like the Fortune 500 and CEO interviews, typically sits behind a subscription.

Ways to access premium content

• Direct subscription — Fortune sells digital and print-plus-digital plans on its own site. Exact tiers and rates change, so check the current options there.
• Newsletters — Several Fortune newsletters are free to join and may include summaries or links to premium stories.
• Corporate or library access — Some employers and institutions provide subscriptions to staff or members; this is worth checking if you already have such an affiliation.
• Single-article or trial offers — Metered reading or limited-time trials sometimes let you sample premium pieces before committing.

Trade-offs

A subscription suits readers who follow business, markets and executive strategy regularly and want full archive access. Casual readers may find the free coverage and newsletters sufficient.

For comparison, general business coverage also appears at Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, each with its own paywall or registration model. Fortune's distinguishing focus is its rankings, leadership reporting and long-form corporate storytelling.