Final answer:
Over 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children, underscoring their significant economic impact in the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
Over 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or children of immigrants. This reveals the significant influence that immigrants and their descendants have had on the American economy. Companies founded by immigrants or their children have played a crucial role in job creation and innovation within the United States. Despite immigrants comprising a smaller percentage of the total population historically, often settling in port cities like New York, their impact has been disproportionately large in the business sector. Moreover, during varying periods such as the late 19th and early 20th centuries, certain states saw as much as one-third to nearly half of populations with foreign-born individuals, demonstrating the depth of immigrant settlement and contribution to the American fabric.