Samsung SSNLF

Samsung, founded in 1938 by Lee Byung-chul as a humble trading company, has metamorphosed into a tech titan known for everything from cutting-edge smartphones to washing machines that boast Wi-Fi capabilities. Its defining moments are as varied as they are dubious: from the 2016 “Notegate” debacle, where exploding batteries turned their flagship phone into a fire hazard, to the continued supremacy in the global electronics market. With a current valuation straddling the $300 billion mark, Samsung is a study in corporate swagger and scandal. It’s the go-to brand for flashy gadgets that promise to make your life easier—unless they malfunction catastrophically. In recent years, the company has won accolades for its innovation, though it’s not immune to controversy, including a bribery scandal involving the former president of South Korea. Under the leadership of Vice Chairman Lee Jae-Yong, Samsung is a master of reinvention and ambition, straddling the fine line between revolutionary tech and corporate missteps. Amid its sprawling empire and unyielding drive for market dominance, Samsung remains a potent reminder that in the tech world, you’re only as good as your last upgrade—or your last crisis.