Corporate companies are often seen as huge, impersonal entities focused solely on profits. However, behind every major corporation lies a fascinating history, quirky facts, and sometimes even a surprising sense of humor. Here are some intriguing fun facts about some of the world’s largest companies that reveal their lighter and more unique sides!
1. Google Rents Goats for Landscaping
Instead of hiring a traditional lawn care service to maintain its Mountain View headquarters, Google hires goats! They use herds of goats to graze and trim the grass around their campus, which is both environmentally friendly and adorable.
2. The Amazon Smile Wasn’t Just for Show
Amazon’s logo with the arrow from “A” to “Z” wasn’t just a random design. It was a clever way of showing that they sell everything from A to Z. Plus, the arrow doubles as a smile, suggesting that Amazon’s customers will be satisfied with their purchases.
3. Coca-Cola Could Have Entered the Smartphone Market
Coca-Cola once owned Columbia Pictures and has dabbled in various businesses over the years. Though they didn’t make smartphones, their ambition didn’t stop at just selling beverages. They invested in entertainment, film, and digital ventures, showing they’re always open to diversifying.
4. Lego Produces More Tires Than Goodyear
Believe it or not, Lego, the toy company, produces more “tires” than any other company worldwide. They make around 318 million tiny rubber tires annually, outpacing even the world’s biggest tire manufacturers!
5. Nike’s Swoosh Logo Only Cost $35
The iconic Swoosh logo was created by a graphic design student named Carolyn Davidson, who was paid only $35 for her work in 1971. Later on, she received Nike stock, which is worth far more today, but the initial deal was astonishingly low!
6. McDonald’s Is One of the World’s Largest Toy Distributors
Known for its Happy Meals, McDonald’s is one of the largest toy distributors in the world. Approximately 20% of all McDonald’s sales come from Happy Meals, which is one reason the company purchases billions of toys each year.
7. The Name “Apple” Was Inspired by a Fruit Diet
Steve Jobs named his company “Apple” partly because he was experimenting with a fruit-based diet at the time, and he thought the name sounded “fun, spirited, and not intimidating.”
8. Twitter’s Character Limit Came From SMS
Twitter’s famous 140-character limit was based on the SMS (Short Message Service) protocol, which allowed 160 characters per message. Twitter reserved 20 characters for usernames, leaving 140 for the tweet itself.
9. Starbucks’ Name Is Inspired by “Moby-Dick”
The coffee giant was named after Starbuck, the first mate in Herman Melville’s classic novel Moby-Dick. The founders thought the name evoked the romance of the high seas and the coffee trade.
10. Sony’s PlayStation Was Originally a Nintendo Product
In the early ’90s, Sony and Nintendo were working together to create a console called the “Play Station,” but the deal fell through, and Sony launched the product independently. This gamble resulted in one of the most successful gaming brands ever.
11. Microsoft Saved Apple from Bankruptcy
In 1997, Microsoft invested $150 million in Apple, which was struggling at the time. This investment not only helped Apple stay afloat but also ended a long-standing rivalry between the two tech giants.
12. Volkswagen Owns Lamborghini, Porsche, and Bugatti
Volkswagen Group isn’t just the maker of Beetles; it also owns luxury car brands like Lamborghini, Porsche, and Bugatti. The company controls a vast range of high-performance and luxury automotive brands.
13. Walmart Earns $1 Million Every Hour
The global retail giant Walmart generates a jaw-dropping $1 million in revenue every hour, a testament to its widespread reach and efficiency in the retail industry.
14. IBM Invented the First Smartphone in 1992
IBM created the world’s first smartphone, called “Simon,” in 1992. It had features like a touchscreen and the ability to send and receive faxes, paving the way for the smartphone era that would fully take off years later.
15. Disney Wasn’t Always So Family-Friendly
Disney started with animations like Steamboat Willie, but it’s not widely known that Disney has also produced some PG-13 and R-rated movies. Under its Touchstone and Miramax divisions, Disney has ventured into edgier content, appealing to a wider range of audiences.