The "Big Three" usually describes the three most prominent entities in any given grouping or subject. It may refer to:

Arts and entertainment

Big Three (American television) In the United States, there are three major traditional commercial broadcast television networks — CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System), NBC (National Broadcasting Company), and ABC (American Broadcasting Company) — that due to their longev ...

, the three major traditional commercial broadcast television networks in the United States (ABC, CBS, and NBC) *

The Big Three (English band) The Big Three were a Beat music, Merseybeat musical ensemble, group from Liverpool. They are best known for their 1963 recording of "Some Other Guy" and their close connection to the Beatles. Career The Big Three evolved from a group called Cas ...

The Big 3 (folk group) The Big 3 was an American folk trio consisting of singer Cass Elliot (1941–1974), singer-songwriter-banjo player Tim Rose (1940–2002), and singer-guitarist Jim Hendricks (b. 1940). Career In 1962, Tim Rose and John Brown met Cass Elliot in Ge ...

,a folk trio comprising Cass Elliot, Tim Rose, and James Hendricks * The Big Three, an R&B ensemble led by

Willie Dixon William James Dixon (July 1, 1915January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he ...

* ''The Big 3'' (Milt Jackson album), 1975

Sports

Association football

Big Three (Belgium) The Big Three ( nl, De Grote Drie, fr , Les Trois Grands) is the nickname of the three most successful sports clubs in Belgium. The football teams of R.S.C. Anderlecht, Club Brugge KV and Standard Liège have a great rivalry, and are usually t ...

, the three most successful association football clubs in Belgium *

Big Three (Costa Rica) The Big Three ( es, Los Tres Grandes) is the nickname of the three most successful sports clubs in Costa Rica. The football teams of Deportivo Saprissa, LD Alajuelense, and CS Herediano have a great rivalry, and are usually the main contenders fo ...

, the three most successful association football clubs in Costa Rica *

Big Three (Greece) The Big Three ( gr, Οι μεγάλοι τρεις, ''hoi megaloi treis'') is the nickname of the three most successful sports clubs in Greece, all of whom are located within the Athens urban area. The football teams of AEK, Olympiacos and Panathi ...

, the three most successful association football clubs in Greece *

Big Three (Netherlands) In Dutch sports, The Big Three ( nl, De Grote Drie) (or The Traditional Top Three ( nl, De Traditionele Topdrie)) is the nickname for the three most successful rivalling football clubs in the Netherlands: Ajax from Amsterdam, Feyenoord from Rotter ...

, the three most successful association football clubs in the Netherlands *

Big Three (Peru) The Big Three ( es, Los Tres Grandes) is the nickname of the three most successful sports clubs in Peru. The football teams of Alianza Lima, Sporting Cristal, and Universitario have a great rivalry and are usually the main contenders for the titl ...

, the three most successful association football clubs in Peru *

Big Three (Portugal) The Big Three ( pt, Os Três Grandes) is the nickname of the three most successful and biggest football clubs in Portugal. The teams of S.L. Benfica and Sporting CP, both from Lisbon, and of FC Porto, from Porto, have a great rivalry and are u ...

, the three most successful association football clubs in Portugal *

Big Three (Sweden) The Big Three (Clubs) ( sv, De tre största (klubbarna)) is a phrase used to refer to the three most successful football clubs in Sweden by authors, journalists, club representatives, and supporters. The three clubs AIK from Stockholm, IFK Götebo ...

, the three most successful association football clubs in Sweden *

Big Three (Turkey) The Big Three ( Turkish: "Üç Büyükler") is the colloquial name given to Beşiktaş J.K., Fenerbahçe S.K. and Galatasaray S.K., the three most successful sports clubs in Turkey. They all are based in Istanbul. The three-way rivalry '' ...

, the three most successful association football clubs in Turkey

Basketball

Big3 Big3 (stylized BIG3) is a 3-on-3 basketball league founded by hip hop musician and actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. The league consists of 12 teams whose rosters include both former NBA players and international playe ...

, a professional 3-on-3 basketball league * Big Three (Boston Celtics, 1980–1992), Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish *

Big Three (Boston Celtics, 2007–2012) The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of t ...

, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce *

Big Three (San Antonio Spurs) The Big Three was a trio of National Basketball Association players for the San Antonio Spurs from 2002 to 2016, which consisted of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginóbili. They would win four NBA championships ( 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014) du ...

, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginóbili *

Big Three (Miami Heat) The Big Three, sometimes known as The Heatles, were a trio of professional basketball players – LeBron James LeBron Raymone James Sr. (; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of ...

, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh

Other sports

Big Three (tennis) The Big Three is a common nickname in tennis for the trio of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, each considered to be among the greatest players of all-time. The trio have dominated men's singles tennis for nearly two decades, col ...

, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer *

Big Three (colleges) The Big Three is a historical term used in the United States to refer to Harvard University, Yale University, and Princeton University. The phrase Big Three originated in the 1880s, when these three colleges dominated college football. In 190 ...

, Harvard University, Yale University, and Princeton University *

Big Three (hurling) In hurling, the term "Big Three" () refers to the hurling county teams of Cork, Kilkenny and Tipperary. Historically, these three counties have dominated the sport. Together, they have won 94 out of 134 of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions ...

, the hurling county teams of Cork, Kilkenny, and Tipperary *

Big Three (Atlanta Braves) The Big Three was a trio of Major League Baseball starting pitchers for the Atlanta Braves from 1993 to 2002 which consisted of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. The Big Three combined to win seven National League Cy Young Awards in ...

, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and John Smoltz *

Big Three (Oakland Athletics) The Big Three were a trio of Major League Baseball starting pitchers for the Oakland Athletics from 2000 to 2004. The Big Three consisted of Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Barry Zito. Each pitcher in the Big Three was drafted by the A's and play ...

, Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Barry Zito

Other uses

Big Three (automobile manufacturers) In the automotive industry, the term Big Three is used for a country's three largest motor vehicle manufacturers, especially indicating companies that sell under multiple brand names. The term originated in the United States, where General Moto ...

, a country's three largest automobile manufacturers *

Big Three (credit rating agencies) The Big Three credit rating agencies are S&P Global Ratings (S&P), Moody's, and Fitch Group. S&P and Moody's are based in the US, while Fitch is dual-headquartered in New York City and London, and is controlled by Hearst. As of 2013 they hold a ...

, S&P Global, Moody's Investors Service, and Fitch Ratings *

Big Three (management consultancies) The Big Three or MBB refers to the name colloquially given to the three large strategy consulting firms. They are considered to be the most prestigious firms in the management consulting industry. In terms of employees, McKinsey & Company is th ...

, McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, and Bain & Company *

Big Three (World War II) The Allies, formally referred to as the United Nations from 1942, were an international military coalition formed during the Second World War (1939–1945) to oppose the Axis powers, led by Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy ...