When people think about the largest companies in LA, they usually picture a sunset over the Hollywood sign or a Disney film set. It makes sense. Entertainment is the city's pulse. But honestly, if you look at the actual revenue and the massive logistics moving through the region in 2026, the story is way more complicated than just movies and theme parks.
Los Angeles is a beast of an economy. It's sprawling. It's messy. It's a place where a health insurance giant in Long Beach can actually pull in numbers that rival a global media empire. While the headlines focus on tech layoffs or studio strikes, the bedrock of the LA business world—healthcare, aerospace, and high-end manufacturing—just keeps grinding away.
The Mouse Still Roars (and Pays the Bills)
The Walt Disney Company remains the undisputed heavyweight champ. There's no getting around it. Headquartered in Burbank, they reported a whopping $94.4 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2025. You’ve probably seen the news about them doubling down on share repurchases or their massive $24 billion content investment planned for 2026.
It’s not just about Mickey anymore. Disney is basically a massive data and streaming company that happens to own some of the world's most famous parks. They employ roughly 200,000 people globally, and a huge chunk of that brain trust is right here in the Valley.
But here is the thing: Disney isn't the only one pulling massive weight. People often forget about the "other" entertainment. Take Live Nation Entertainment over in Beverly Hills. They brought in over $23 billion recently. If you’ve been to a concert lately and winced at the ticket price, you’ve contributed to that growth. They are the world's largest live events promoter, and in a post-pandemic world, the demand for seeing people play music in person has skyrocketed.
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Healthcare is the Secret Giant
If you want to talk about the real largest companies in LA by the numbers, you have to talk about Molina Healthcare.
Based in Long Beach, Molina is a powerhouse that most people outside of the business world rarely discuss. Their 2025 revenue hit roughly $44.5 billion. They’ve been growing like crazy, largely by managing government-sponsored healthcare programs like Medicaid and Medicare. While entertainment gets the glamour, healthcare provides the stability.
Then you have Amgen. They are technically out in Thousand Oaks, which is the "Greater LA" area, but they are a massive part of the ecosystem. Amgen is a biotech pioneer. They recently broke ground on a $600 million center for science and innovation at their headquarters. With 28,000 employees and a massive presence in the oncology and immunology space, they are the reason LA remains a hub for "life sciences"—a fancy way of saying they make the drugs that keep people alive.
A Few Names You Might Not Realize are Local:
- Skechers: The shoe company is a Manhattan Beach staple. They hit nearly $9 billion in sales recently. Walk down any street in the South Bay and you’ll see their influence.
- Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.: Not exactly a "sexy" brand, right? But they are a Fortune 500 company based in Scottsdale now (they moved the HQ recently), though their historic roots and massive operations remain heavily tied to the LA industrial corridor.
- A-Mark Precious Metals: Based in El Segundo, they do billions in revenue trading gold and silver. It’s a quiet, high-stakes business that thrives on market volatility.
The Aerospace Legacy and the New Space Race
LA used to be the aerospace capital of the world. In the mid-20th century, companies like Douglas and Lockheed were everywhere. While some of that has migrated to places like Texas or Colorado, the "Silicon Beach" and South Bay areas are seeing a massive resurgence.
SpaceX is the big one here. While Elon Musk talks about moving things to Texas, the Hawthorne facility is still the heart of their engineering and manufacturing. You can literally drive down Rocket Road and see a Falcon 9 booster standing outside. They aren't a public company, so their exact revenue is guarded, but their impact on the local job market is undeniable.
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Thousands of engineers live in Redondo Beach, Hermosa, and El Segundo specifically to work on the next generation of Starlink or Starship. This has created a "gravity" effect—hundreds of smaller startups are popping up nearby to supply parts, software, and specialized materials.
Why Some Big Names Left (And Who Stayed)
You might have heard that AECOM, the massive engineering firm, moved its headquarters to Dallas a few years back. CBRE did the same. It’s a trend that makes people nervous about LA’s future. High taxes, high cost of living, and complex regulations are real hurdles.
However, the companies that stay usually do so because they need the talent. You can't replicate the creative pool of LA anywhere else. You can't easily move a massive film studio or a deep-water port.
Edison International, the parent of Southern California Edison, has been around since 1886. Based in Rosemead, they are one of the oldest public corporations in the county. They aren't going anywhere. They manage the grid for millions of people. As the state pushes for total electrification, their role (and their $17 billion+ revenue) only becomes more central to the economy.
Key Factors for LA Business in 2026:
- The Green Transition: Utility companies and EV startups are receiving massive state subsidies to overhaul the power grid.
- AI Integration: From Disney using AI for de-aging actors to Amgen using it for drug discovery, LA is becoming a "Bio-Tech-Media" hybrid.
- Logistics: The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach remain the busiest in the Western Hemisphere. Companies that manage freight and supply chains are the "invisible" giants of the region.
What This Means for Your Career or Business
If you’re looking to break into the LA market, don't just look at the studios. The largest companies in LA are increasingly diverse.
Actionable Insights for Navigating the LA Corporate Landscape:
- Diversify your target: If you're a vendor or job seeker, look toward the "hidden" giants like Molina Healthcare or Public Storage (based in Glendale).
- The South Bay is the new hub: El Segundo and Hawthorne are the places to be for hardware, defense, and space tech.
- Watch the "Greater LA" fringes: Many of the biggest players are actually in the suburbs—Burbank (Disney), Thousand Oaks (Amgen), and Long Beach (Molina).
- Network in "Silicon Beach": Playa Vista and Venice are still the epicenters for Google, Snap Inc., and the ad-tech world.
The landscape is shifting. It’s more than just a movie town. It’s a massive, multi-industry engine that, despite the high costs, continues to be one of the most significant economic drivers on the planet.
To get a true feel for the local economy, check the latest reports from the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) or the Los Angeles Business Journal. They track the quarterly shifts that rarely make the national news but define how the city actually works.