Millward Brown Optimor, the company's specialist financial arm, interviewed 650,000 consumers globally to provide measures of brand equity for more than 30,000 brands.
The WPP Group-owned market research firm claims that the new Brandz Top 100 ranking is unique because it is the first to combine consumer research with public financial data to measure the contributions brands make to the bottom line.
Additionally, the ranking focuses on "market facing" brands as opposed to corporate brands and measures product contribution and momentum.
According to Millward Brown, the value of consumer facing brands is increasing and can often be a company's most valuable asset.
For example, Microsoft is the world's most valuable brand at $62bn, followed by GE at $55.8bn and Coca-Cola at $41.4bn, which is worth more than half of the business value.
Andy Farr, executive director at Millward Brown Optimor and lead researcher on the study, said: "This is the first study that goes beyond financial data and 'expert opinion' to include in-market insights about a brand's strengths and momentum from potential customers.
"It proves that investing in brands is key to a company's long-term success."
Bob Meyers, global CEO of Millward Brown, said: "We have built our organisation by helping clients make better brand decisions.
"While this ranking is interesting in itself it is important to remember that it is even more useful when it leads to business decisions."
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .