HAR

Harman International Industries Inc.

A maker of audio and connected-car technology behind brands like JBL, Harman Kardon, and AKG, Harman builds headphones, speakers, and the in-car infotainment and safety systems found in millions of vehicles. It began in 1953 when engineers Sidney Harman and Bernard Kardon left their jobs and combined their surnames to form Harman Kardon, pioneering the all-in-one audio receiver. A fun twist: the company's famous JBL brand is actually named for its founder, James Bullough Lansing, whose birth name was James Martini.