A fear years ago, investors started talking about ‘FAANG’ stocks, in reference to tech giants Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google.

Today, these brands now have a combined value of $US574.6 billion ($832.51 billion) according to Forbes, which has released its ‘most valuable brands’ list for 2019.

Each of the FAANG companies appeared in the top five, except for Netflix, which finished 38th on the list.

1. Apple, $US205.5 billion ($297.74 billion)
2. Google, $US167.7 billion ($242.97 billion)
3. Microsoft, $US125.3 billion ($181.54 billion)
4. Amazon, $US97 billion ($140.54 billion)
5. Facebook, $US88.9 billion ($128.8 billion)

Facebook was the only brand in the top five to have its value drop from the previous year, dropping six per cent after a scandal-plagued 2018 that saw founder Mark Zuckerberg face a joint hearing of the Senate judiciary and commerce committees, accused with ‘weaponising data’.

Apple, although top of the pile for the ninth straight year, had a relatively slow year-on-year increase of 12 per cent, no doubt partly due to the recent problems in China the company has faced.

Despite this, Apple’s valuation makes it the first brand ever to reach the $US200 billion mark.

But it appears as though Google, up 27 per cent from last year, is quickly closing in on Apple. Just four years ago Apple was twice as valuable as Google.

If current trends continue, Google could out value Apple within a few years.

Amazon had the greatest value increase in the top five, lifting 37 per cent from 2018.