Google

Who Owns Google?

Google is one of the most influential tech companies in the world, but who exactly owns this internet giant? Understanding the ownership of Google provides insights into its structure and control.

Founders of Google

Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in September 1998 while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University. Their innovative search engine quickly became popular, leading to the establishment of Google Inc.

Alphabet Inc.: Google’s Parent Company

In 2015, Google underwent a significant corporate restructuring and became a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. This move allowed Google to focus on its core businesses, such as search, advertising, and YouTube, while Alphabet could manage its other ventures like Waymo (self-driving cars) and Verily (life sciences).

Ownership Structure

The ownership of Google, and by extension Alphabet Inc., is divided among various stakeholders:

1. Founders and Executives: Larry Page and Sergey Brin, although they stepped down from active management roles in 2019, still hold significant shares in Alphabet. Sundar Pichai, the current CEO, also owns a portion of the company.
2. Institutional Investors: Large financial institutions such as Vanguard Group and BlackRock own substantial shares of Alphabet Inc. These institutional investors play a crucial role in the company’s stability and long-term growth.
3. Individual Shareholders: Millions of individual investors own shares of Alphabet through their investments in the stock market.

Dual-Class Share Structure

Alphabet Inc. has a dual-class share structure, which means there are different types of shares with varying voting rights. Class A shares, which are publicly traded, provide one vote per share. Class B shares, primarily held by the founders and early investors, provide ten votes per share. This structure allows the founders to maintain significant control over the company despite holding a smaller portion of the total equity.

The question of who owns Google reveals a complex but fascinating ownership structure involving founders, executives, institutional investors, and individual shareholders. This diverse ownership ensures that Google remains a dynamic and innovative company while maintaining the vision set forth by its founders.

For more in-depth information on ownership structures of various companies, visit Who Owns.