Who Owns Google?

Top Takeaways

• Google is primarily owned by its parent company, Alphabet Inc.
• Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin hold significant shares and voting rights.
• A handful of major institutional investors also own substantial portions of Alphabet.
• Ownership details are transparent and documented in Alphabet’s public filings.

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Founding and Establishment
• Introduction of Alphabet Inc.
• Major Shareholders
  • Larry Page and Sergey Brin
  • Institutional Investors
• Stock Classes and Voting Rights
• Current Structure
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Conclusion

Overview

Google, one of the world’s leading technology companies, is formally owned by its parent company, Alphabet Inc. This structure allows Alphabet Inc. to manage its diverse portfolio of businesses effectively, with Google being its most prominent asset.

Founding and Establishment

Google was founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University. From its humble beginnings in a garage, Google rapidly expanded to become the dominant search engine on the internet.

Larry Page and Sergey Brin initially secured funding from family, friends, and angel investors. In August 2004, Google conducted its initial public offering (IPO) and began trading on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol GOOG.

Introduction of Alphabet Inc.

Alphabet Inc. was established in October 2015 as a new holding company, restructuring Google’s operations. This move aimed to streamline the management of Google’s subsidiaries and experimental ventures.

Alphabet serves as the umbrella corporation, encapsulating various businesses and projects such as Waymo, Verily, and DeepMind. Google remains the core entity, generating the majority of Alphabet’s revenue.

Major Shareholders

Larry Page and Sergey Brin

Larry Page and Sergey Brin hold significant ownership stakes in Alphabet Inc. Both co-founders transitioned to roles within Alphabet post-restructuring but maintain substantial influence.

• Larry Page and Sergey Brin combined own about 11% of Alphabet’s equity.
• These shares come with special voting privileges, enhancing their control over company direction.

Institutional Investors

Institutional investors hold a considerable portion of Alphabet’s shares. Prominent investors include mutual funds, pension funds, and other financial institutions.

• BlackRock, Vanguard Group, and Fidelity Investments are notable shareholders.
• These entities collectively own significant percentages but do not have the voting influence that Page and Brin maintain.

For an in-depth look at the ownership details, you can refer to WhoOwns.co.uk.

Stock Classes and Voting Rights

Alphabet Inc. employs a multi-class stock structure, ensuring control remains with the founders:

1. Class A shares – Publicly traded with one vote per share.
2. Class B shares – Held by insiders, including Page and Brin, with ten votes per share.
3. Class C shares – Publicly traded but carry no voting rights.

This tiered structure permits the co-founders to retain decision-making power, despite holding a minority of the total equity.

Current Structure

Alphabet Inc. stands as the parent entity under which Google’s extensive operations reside. The company’s comprehensive structure includes various subsidiaries and segments dedicated to research, innovation, and delivery of services.

• Google oversees products like Search, YouTube, Android, and Google Cloud.
• Other Alphabet ventures include health, autonomous vehicles, venture capital, and more.

For more insights into recent developments, see Alphabet’s investor relations page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Alphabet Inc.?
Alphabet Inc. is the parent holding company of Google and various other subsidiaries, created to restructure Google’s diverse operations.

Why did Google become a part of Alphabet Inc.?
The restructuring to Alphabet Inc. in 2015 aimed at improving organizational management and focusing on various ambitious projects separately.

Who currently leads Alphabet Inc.?
Sundar Pichai is the CEO of both Alphabet Inc. and Google as of the time of writing.

What are the Class A, B, and C shares of Alphabet?
Class A shares are publicly traded with one vote per share, Class B shares are insider-held with ten votes per share, and Class C shares are publicly traded with no voting rights.

How much do Larry Page and Sergey Brin own?
Together, they own around 11% of Alphabet’s equity, retaining significant voting power through their Class B shares.

Where can I find more information about Alphabet’s ownership?
You can check Alphabet’s official investor relations for detailed financial and ownership reports or visit WhoOwns.co.uk for a summary.

Conclusion

The ownership of Google is a multi-faceted subject, characterized by its place within Alphabet Inc. While founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin along with major institutional investors hold significant stakes, Alphabet’s stock structure maintains their pivotal control over the company’s strategic directions. Understanding this hierarchy provides insight into how one of the world’s most influential tech companies operates and evolves.

For more in-depth details, explore WhoOwns.co.uk and Alphabet’s investor relations.