Samsung is a South Korean multinational electronics company with over 344,000 employees. It produces a wide range of products including chemicals, consumer electronics, components, medical equipment, ships, and telecommunications equipment. Samsung also offers various services. It began in 1938 selling rice and sugar and has since grown to become a global leader in smartphones, smart TVs, and other technology. Samsung spends over $400 million annually marketing its Galaxy smartphones and uses advertisements that compare its products favorably to competitors like Apple. With 50,000 researchers, Samsung has become one of the largest companies in the world by revenue.