Skip to content
Thursday 13 August 2026London --:--Frankfurt --:--Zurich --:--
NewslettersSearchEN · DE
MorningWire

European business, markets and politics

FTSE 100
10,806.88
-0.24%
DAX
26,470.04
+0.53%
CAC 40
8,697.59
+0.26%
STOXX 50
6,570.63
+0.56%
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Technology
  • Politics
  • Opinion
More
GermanyFranceBankingAIEnergyFintechPropertyCapital Markets
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Technology
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • DE
Wednesday 28 January 2015 3:03 am

Apple’s record earnings: Five things showing just how massive those numbers are

By: Lynsey Barber

Add as a preferred source on Google

Apple’s quarterly earnings after the iPhone 6 launch completely smashed expectations.

Its profits of $18bn (£11.8bn) are so big, they are officially the biggest quarterly profit of any company in history. Ever. That’s just how huge it is.

To put that in perspective…

1.

Apple sold 34,000 iPhones every hour, more than 500 every minute, or nine every second.

2.

75m iPhones were sold during the quarter. That’s the equivalent of selling an iPhone to every single person in the UK, and still having around 10m spare.

3.

If Apple was a country, its profit this quarter would have a GDP bigger than Greece, equal to Yemen and almost the same as Denmark.

4.

​

Apple’s profits for a single quarter would fund the UK government’s entire yearly spend on university education (£11bn), social housing (£1.2bn), jobseekers' allowance bill (£5bn) or fund the entire foreign aid budget (£10bn).

5.

https://twitter.com/BenedictEvans/status/560197431191543809

Share this article

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Similarly tagged content:

Sections

  • News

Categories

  • Business

Related Topics

  • Apple

Trending Articles

  • Five-star Mayfair hotel hit with HMRC winding-up petition

  • It’s not just Jason Arday, most of sociology is a scam

  • IT consultant ordered to pay £50,000 after being accused of stealing Soho House members’ personal details

  • As it happened: FTSE 100 falls as Iran and US clash over Strait of Hormuz; Oil stockpiles ‘rapidly depleting’

  • Revolut takes flight with launch of new airport lounges

More from Morning Wire

  • Smurfit Westrock plc: Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 2026

    Business Wire
  • Apple sues Open AI accusing them of stealing ‘trade secrets’

    Tech
  • Arm Holdings plc Reports Results for the First Quarter of the Fiscal Year Ending 2027

    Business Wire
  • As it happened: Stocks slide despite tech and data boost; Oil falls after OPEC+ ups output

    Markets
    Samsung has missed earnings expectations
  • Allegion (NYSE: ALLE) Reports Q2-2026 Financial Results

    Business Wire
  • Shell launches bumper buyback after earnings more than double on Middle East turmoil

    Energy
    Shell CEO Wael Sawan in a boardroom setting, highlighting his reported £4.5m pay boost under new remuneration policy.
  • ‘Ugly moment’ for software stocks as IBM suffers biggest one-day slump in decades

    Tech
    All eyes on IBM v Lzlabs as the tech giant kicks off legal battle
  • Luxfer Declares Quarterly Dividend

    Business Wire
MorningWire

Independent European business, markets and political news for decision-makers.

Morning Briefing

Europe

  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • UK & Ireland

Business

  • Markets
  • Banking
  • Technology
  • Energy
  • Property
  • Fintech

Editorial

  • Opinion
  • Editorial Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Company

  • About Morning Wire
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Policy
© 2026 Morning Wire Ltd · Published by Morning Wire Media, Bahnhofstrasse 65, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Privacy · Terms · Cookies · Facebook