<P> The original Fortune 500 was limited to companies whose revenues were derived from manufacturing, mining, and energy exploration . At the same time, Fortune published companion "Fortune 50" lists of the 50 largest commercial banks (ranked by assets), utilities (ranked by assets), life insurance companies (ranked by assets), retailers (ranked by gross revenues) and transportation companies (ranked by revenues). Fortune magazine changed its methodology in 1994 to include service companies . With the change came 291 new entrants to the famous list including three in the Top 10 . </P> <P> The Fortune 500 was first published in 1955; created by Edgar P. Smith . The original top ten companies were General Motors, Jersey Standard, U.S. Steel, General Electric, Esmark, Chrysler, Armour, Gulf Oil, Mobil and DuPont . </P> <Ul> <Li> List of Fortune 500 computer software and information companies </Li> </Ul> <Li> List of Fortune 500 computer software and information companies </Li>

What does it take to be a fortune 500 company