Iconic Fortune 500 Companies Based in Chicago: HQ Locations, Company Info, and More

Chicago is the third largest city in the county and home to a seemingly endless list of global businesses and companies. In fact, Chicago is only second to New York when it comes to metro areas with the most Fortune 500 companies, and despite a couple high-profile departures in 2022, the talent pool here still makes the Windy City a highly attractive place for any major company to call home. And from emerging tech start-ups to legacy corporations that have been around for generations, Chicago isn’t dominated by a singular industry like many other cities either. Featured below are just some of the iconic Fortune 500 companies based in Chicago, and brands most are sure to recognize. 

United Airlines

HQ Address: 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606

United Airlines is one of the most established airlines in the U.S. and was originally founded all the way back in 1926. Today, it's currently the third-largest airline in the world by revenue and serves over 300 destinations worldwide. But as suggested, United has a very rich history, having been involved in several major milestones of aviation. In 1933, it became one of the first airlines to operate a flight with an all-metal aircraft, the Boeing 247. It was also one of the first airlines to introduce jet service in 1959 and has been at the forefront of technological advancements in aviation. The airline's headquarters is located in Chicago's iconic Willis Tower in the Loop, and it operates major hubs at O'Hare International Airport and Denver International Airport. It also has secondary hubs at San Francisco International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Motorola

HQ Address: 500 W Monroe St Ste 4400, Chicago, IL 60661

Motorola effectively defined decades of mobile communication with their innovative products and technologies - from the first walkie-talkie in the 1930s to one of the world's first commercial cell phones in 1983. While the company has faced its fair share of challenges and changes over the years, it continues to be a major player in the mobile industry with a strong presence in both consumer and business markets. Fortune 500 consistently names Motorola among other top-performing companies for its revenue and global reach. They are based out of Chicago and employ roughly 20,000 people. 

McDonalds

HQ Address: 110 N Carpenter St, Chicago, IL 60607

There perhaps isn't a name or logo more recognizable in the world than that of McDonald's and their famous golden arches. The fast-food joint opened up shop out of San Bernardino, California in 1940 and has since become a household name. Today, there are over 38,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries around the globe, and they all report back to the company's main headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. Early executives seemed to believe The Windy City was their best bet to affordably move products and maintain control over the franchise's quality. Their newest facility is located in the West Loop and is an impressive 480,000 square feet. And although it cost $250 million to build, that investment is already paying off quite well, as the company continues to leverage their metropolitan address to hire top talent and push the company into new endeavors.

ADM

HQ Address: 77 W Wacker Dr #4600, Chicago, IL 60601

Food processing company ADM was founded by George A. Archer in 1902. For context of just how long ago that was, it was just after Theodore Roosevelt became president of the United States. Over a century later and ADM is still going strong as one of the largest food processing companies in the world. With over 33,000 employees and operations in over 160 countries, this company is a global powerhouse in the food industry. They are involved in every step of the food production process, from sourcing raw materials to processing and distributing finished products. The global headquarters is situated on W Wacker Street in downtown Chicago, near several other major corporations. This prime location allows ADM to easily access and serve their many clients in the US, as well as those around the world.

Walgreens

HQ Address: 433 W Van Buren St Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60607

Everyone's neighborhood pharmacy, Walgreens is a well-known name in the United States and around the world. It supplies communities with 24-hour access to prescription medications, health and wellness products, and a wide range of other items that people may need in their daily lives. Founded in 1901 by Charles R. Walgreen Sr., the first Walgreens store opened its doors on Chicago's South Side. Today, the company has over 9,000 stores in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, and over 12,500 stores worldwide. Walgreens prides itself on being a trusted provider of healthcare services and products for customers, and you'll find the company's headquarters inside the Old Post Office Building on 433 W. Van Buren Street in downtown Chicago, which spans 200,000 square feet of space. That's in addition to several other corporate locations across North America, which connect a greater workforce of more than 300,000 people.