Didn't you know? Both are heads of states, hence they qualify to be on the list of "greatest leaders". It seems to be yet another popularity contest, but nothing that should be taken seriously by anyone.
I remember a time when IBM was the most valuable company in the world and an entire industry was scared to death of them. Then came the time when Microsoft was the shiniest star in the sky. Then the Internet entered everybody's home and we could watch the rise of Google and Facebook. Now Apple finally has its moment of glory. But all empires eventually crumble, and especially in the technology sector things always change over night.
Well, all those business that have been at or near the top for a long time in tech GE, IBM, MS, Intel, Bell (if you put all the split up firms together, or even separately), HP and Apple (all are in the top 20 of those type of firms), they're not in perdition... Another group attained higher highs, but were not at the top : Xerox, TI (both are still top 50 tech firms with 30K+ employees).
- IBM was massive in the 1960s to early 1980s in tech, Apple is no where that dominant in tech, or in its industry. Probably no company ever will be that dominant again.
- GE, is extraordinarily diversified and is a 120 year old company (the ultimate in early tech).
- MS and Apple started within months of each other nearly 40 years ago.
- Intel was created by a bunch of Fairchild (led by Shockley. transistor creator) defector, led by Noyce and Moore. So, many of the top players of Fairchild went to create Intel that it could be considered essentially the same company... Most of silicon valley's talent emerged from Fairchild (It and HP, are two major landmark firms that steered the valley's destiny).
So, even if Apple wanes from near the top... Tech firms are actually a lot more resilient than they may seem at first... Once they get going, they can last a hell of a long time. Other top worldwide tech firms, Siemens, Boeing, etc. All been running around a very long time.
What has always made Apple vulnerable is the fact that it sells consumer goods in the retail sphere. There even high end cars, were margins are a bit higher only get 10-15%, they're still not at Apple level. Luxury and specialized goods are the only ones with Apple like margins. Apple has put itself in a unique position as a luxury for the masses product in every segment it has entered.
In the retail sphere, most of the revenues eventually come from commoditized products or services (that's already the case in PCs and now the mobile industry); the pressure on Apple to innovate, offer something more than the rest, is very high. They have to always improve or their margins and their dominant position in the high end of tech.
That's the same reason Google and Facebook will always have problems if they stay were they are and they don't create massively new products outside their current niches.
