The U.S. economy has consistently produced the world's most valuable companies, but the industries leading the way tend to change over time. 

For example, United States Steel became the first $1 billion company on the planet in 1901. But it has only grown to a $5.5 billion valuation in the 122 years since then, with hundreds of other companies leaving it in the dust. That's because the domestic steel industry is no longer crucial to the U.S. economy; in many cases, it's cheaper to import the metal from other countries.

Today, the technology sector is the dominant value creator. In 2018, became the first company in the world to amass a $1 trillion valuation and it now sits at the $3 trillion mark. Apple has since been joined in the $1 trillion club by Microsoft, Amazon, Google parent Alphabet, and most recently semiconductor giant Nvidia.

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Source Fool.com