Apple overtakes Google and becomes world's most valuable brand

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Apple finally ends Google's four-year run as the most valuable brand in the world, according to Millward Brown's list of global brand value.

The study estimates Apple's brand to be worth $153 billion (almost half of the company's market capitalization).

Google's brand slipped two percent to $111.4 billion, which is good enough for the No. 2 spot on the list of the world's top 10 brands.

Other major brands to make the top 10 included IBM, McDonald's, Microsoft and Coca-Cola.

Millward Brown Optimor is part of the WPP Group, which has seen the valuation of Apple rise by 859% since 2006.

Six of the brands were technology and telecommunications, including IBM at No. 3 and Microsoft at No. 5.

Last year, fast food brands did well thanks largely to China where popularity is surging.

The PDF file of the Top 100 most valuable brands of 2011 .