Google and the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For: The Story Since 2007
In January 2007, Google was named number one on Fortune’s annual list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, the first of many wins that made it the poster child for employee perks. Lists of the best companies to work for are still published every year and are widely used by job seekers. This post looks at how the Fortune list works, Google’s record on it, who leads today, and how to use these rankings when you choose an employer.
Quick answer: Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list is produced with Great Place To Work and is based mainly on anonymous employee surveys. Google first took the top spot in 2007 and went on to be named number one eight times in the 2007-2017 period, including six years in a row from 2012 to 2017. In 2026 the top spot went to Synchrony. Use these lists as a starting point, then check reviews, benefits for your country and the specific team.
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How the Fortune 100 Best list is made
The list is compiled with Great Place To Work, which surveys employees anonymously about trust, pride, fairness and how much they enjoy working with colleagues. For the 2026 list, Great Place To Work says it analysed more than 1.3 million confidential survey responses. Companies must be Great Place To Work Certified and have at least 1,000 US employees to qualify, so the list covers large US employers.
Google’s record on the list
- 2006: Google was not in the top 100. Biotech company Genentech was number one.
- 2007: Google debuted at number one, ahead of Genentech, Wegmans Food Markets, The Container Store and Whole Foods Market.
- 2007 to 2017: Google was named number one eight times, including a run of six consecutive years from 2012 to 2017.
Back in 2007, the coverage highlighted free gourmet meals, on-site laundry, dry cleaning, oil changes and massages, and the famous “20% time” for engineers’ own projects. It was said that Google received around 1,300 resumes a day at the time.
Who leads the list now?
Other companies have taken the crown since Google’s run. On the 2026 list, published in April 2026, financial services company Synchrony was named number one. Rankings shift every year as surveys change, so check the current list on Fortune or Great Place To Work before relying on it.
How to use “best places to work” lists
- Treat them as a shortlist, not a guarantee. A great company can still have a difficult team or manager.
- Check employee reviews on sites like Glassdoor and LinkedIn, and read recent ones.
- Look at benefits for your country: perks at US headquarters may differ elsewhere.
- Ask in interviews about workload, flexibility, growth and how the team works.
- Look beyond the US list: Great Place To Work publishes lists for many countries, including India.
Interested in applying to Google itself? Read our guide on how to get a job at Google.
What changed since 2007
Our original January 2007 post reported Google’s first win on Fortune’s 10th annual list, quoted the perks that impressed the judges, listed the top five companies and noted that Google had not even been in the 2006 top 100. The old CNN Money and Forbes press-release pages we linked no longer exist. Google went on to dominate the list for a decade, and while it no longer holds the top spot, its perks helped set the standard many tech employers followed.
FAQ
How many times was Google the best company to work for?
Google was named number one on Fortune’s list eight times between 2007 and 2017, including six straight years from 2012 to 2017.
Who compiles the 100 Best Companies to Work For list?
Fortune publishes it with Great Place To Work, which runs the employee surveys behind the rankings.
Is the list only for US companies?
The Fortune 100 Best list covers companies with large US workforces. Great Place To Work publishes separate lists for other countries.
Do best-company rankings mean higher pay?
Not necessarily. The surveys focus on workplace culture and trust; pay and benefits vary, so compare offers directly.
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I have actually been working on a website http://www.leadingwithkindness.com and documentary that highlights great places to work at and Google is one of them and rightfully so. We spent one day shooting at the offices in New York and they were amazing they had the best cafeteria I have ever seen and a room dedicated to relaxing. I can see why google gets so many job applicants each year.