Report: Apple overtakes Google as world's top brand

Apple overtook Google to become the world’s most valuable brand, according to the latest BrandZ report released by Millward Brown, a WPP unit.

Apple’s brand value gained 84 percent in 2010 to US$153.3 billion, which surpassed Google’s $111.5 billion. Google’s value slipped 2 percent last year, which ended its top spot for the previous four years. IBM followed, with its value up 17 percent, ahead of McDonald’s, Bloomberg reported.

One of the greatest performers was Facebook, which debuted at place 35, with an outstanding increase of 246 percent, to $19.1 billion, Forbes reported.

Other top risers included Chinese search engine Baidu, which gained 141 percent to $22.6 billion, and Wells Fargo, which was up 97 percent to 36.9 billion.

Image: 2011 BrandZ Top 100 Report