Dutch East India Company

The Dutch East India Company was a colossal trading corporation established in the early 17th century primarily for conducting spice trade with India, and later expanding its operations to Southeast Asia. This company is widely regarded as the first modern corporation due to its sophisticated structure and operations. It also held the distinction of being the first publicly held company, with shares actively traded at the Amsterdam Exchange. At its pinnacle, the company’s worth is estimated to have reached a staggering USD 7.9 trillion when adjusted for inflation.