Who Owns Googlr

In a Nutshell

• Google is owned by Alphabet Inc., which was created as a parent company during a corporate restructuring in 2015.
• Key founders of Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, maintain a significant share and control over Alphabet Inc. through special voting shares.
• Sundar Pichai currently serves as the CEO of both Google and Alphabet Inc.
• Institutional investors like Vanguard Group and BlackRock also own substantial shares in Alphabet Inc.

Table of Contents

1. The Genesis of Google
2. Transition to Alphabet Inc.
3. Ownership Structure
4. Key Players
5. Institutional Investors
6. Understanding Voting Rights
7. FAQ
8. Conclusion

The Genesis of Google

Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The duo met at Stanford University and started Google as a research project in 1996, with its initial aim to improve the way people searched for information online.

• Google was officially incorporated on September 4, 1998.
• The company went public on August 19, 2004, making Page and Brin billionaires.

For more detailed historical context, you can visit the history of Google.

Transition to Alphabet Inc.

The restructuring of Google led to the creation of Alphabet Inc. in 2015.

• Alphabet Inc. was designed to be a parent holding company, with Google being its largest subsidiary.
• This was done to streamline operations and allow more autonomy to businesses under Alphabet.

To learn more about the reasons for this restructuring, visit Who Owns.

Ownership Structure

Alphabet Inc. has a unique share structure divided into classes.

• Class A Shares: Regular shares that allow investors to vote on important company matters.
• Class B Shares: Held primarily by founders and key executives, this class provides 10 votes per share, giving them substantial control.
• Class C Shares: No voting rights but typical dividend rights.

Key Players

Larry Page and Sergey Brin are still influential figures in Alphabet Inc., despite stepping down from active management roles.

• Larry Page and Sergey Brin: Co-founders who own a significant portion of Alphabet’s Class B shares.
• Sundar Pichai: The current CEO of both Google and Alphabet Inc. He took over as CEO of Google in 2015 and of Alphabet Inc. in 2019.

For more about Google’s executive leadership, check out Wikipedia and Google’s corporate page.

Institutional Investors

Institutional investors like Vanguard Group and BlackRock hold large stakes in Alphabet Inc.

• These institutions possess primarily Class A shares.
• Despite the large holdings, they do not have much influence due to the voting power held by Class B shares.

Understanding Voting Rights

The voting rights structure ensures that control stays with the founders and key executives.

• Class B Shares: Controlled by Page, Brin, and a few others, ensuring that they have the majority of voting rights.
• Class A and Class C Shares: Provide financial benefits but limited or no control over decision-making processes.

For a more comprehensive understanding of Alphabet Inc.’s ownership, take a look at Who Owns.

FAQ

1. Who are the founders of Google?
– Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

2. What is Alphabet Inc.?
– Alphabet Inc. is the parent holding company of Google, established during a corporate restructuring in 2015.

3. Who is the current CEO of Google and Alphabet Inc.?
– Sundar Pichai is the current CEO of both Google and Alphabet Inc.

4. What are the different classes of shares in Alphabet Inc.?
– Alphabet Inc. has Class A, Class B, and Class C shares, each with different voting rights.

5. How do Larry Page and Sergey Brin control Alphabet Inc.?
– They control Alphabet Inc. through their ownership of Class B shares, which have more voting power.

6. Who are the major institutional investors in Alphabet Inc.?
– Major institutional investors include Vanguard Group and BlackRock.

7. Do institutional investors have significant control over Alphabet Inc.?
– No, because the majority of voting rights are held by Class B shares owned by the founders and key executives.

Conclusion

While Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., the control remains firmly in the hands of its founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The unique share structure allows them to retain significant voting power, despite holding a smaller proportion of the total shares. Institutional investors hold substantial but largely non-influential stakes. Sundar Pichai, as the CEO of both companies, plays a crucial role in guiding Google’s vision and strategy.

For further details, visit the comprehensive Who Owns Google page.

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