It’s no secret that in our daily lives, we all share a common habit: Googling. Whether it’s to look up a definition, find a recipe, or catch up on the news, we all turn to Google’s search engine to help us navigate the vast landscape of information available on the internet. In addition to searching, we also rely heavily on other Google products, such as Gmail and YouTube, to communicate, learn, and entertain ourselves.
However, many people may not know the company’s ownership despite our frequent use of Google’s various services. Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., a multinational conglomerate that was created in 2015 to restructure Google’s corporate structure. Alphabet was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who co-founded Google in 1998 while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University.
Since its inception, Google has grown into one of the world’s most successful and ubiquitous technology companies. Its search engine alone processes billions of queries daily, and its other products, like YouTube and Gmail, have similarly massive user bases. This has made Google and its parent company, AlphabetAlphabet, incredibly influential in shaping how we interact with and consume information on the internet.
In conclusion, while we may take Google’s presence in our daily lives for granted, it’s important to remember that it is part of a larger corporate entity. And while its ownership may not directly impact our day-to-day use of its services, understanding the company’s history and structure can provide valuable context for its role in our lives.
Content Outline
Overview of Google:
Google LLC, an American multinational technology company focused on various technologies such as search engines, online advertising, cloud computing, software, e-commerce, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and consumer electronics, is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. Alphabet is one of the Big Five in American information technology, along with Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft, and is the parent company of Google. Due to its market dominance, data collection, and technological edge in artificial intelligence, Google is considered one of the world’s most influential and valuable brands.
Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google on September 4, 1998, while they were graduate students at Stanford College in California. The company went public in 2004 and, in 2015, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. Sundar Pichai is the CEO of Google and also became the CEO of Alphabet in December 2019, replacing Larry Page.
Google offers a wide range of products and services in addition to Google Search, including email, navigation, cloud computing, web browsing, video sharing, productivity, operating systems, cloud storage, language translation, photo storage, video calling, smart home, smartphones, wearable technology, music streaming, video on demand, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and APIs, Google has also ventured into quantum computing, self-driving cars, smart cities, and transformational models.
Google and YouTube are the two most visited websites in the world, and Google is the world’s largest provider of search engines, mapping, and navigation applications, email providers, office software, video-sharing platforms, photo and cloud storage, mobile operating systems, web browsers, ML and virtual AI assistants. However, the company has faced criticism for data protection, tax avoidance, censorship, search neutrality, antitrust law, and abuse of its monopoly position.
Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, has a unique share structure comprising different classes. The different classes have varying voting powers, making it challenging to understand the company’s ownership structure and decision-making authority.
Class A shares, publicly traded under the ticker symbol “GOOGL” in stock exchanges, carry one vote per share. Most shareholders, including institutional investors and the general public, hold this class of shares.
On the other hand, Class B shares are held by the founders of the company, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and other insiders. These shares carry ten votes per share, giving the holders more control over the company’s decisions. It’s important to note that Class B shares are not publicly traded in stock exchanges.
Finally, Class C shares, publicly traded under the ticker symbol “GOOG,” have no voting power. This class of shares was introduced in 2014 as part of a stock split that created Class C shares while maintaining the voting power of Class A shares.
As of December 2018, the total number of outstanding shares of Alphabet Inc. is not specified in the given context. However, as of February 2023, Alphabet had over 13.01 billion outstanding shares of Class A and Class C shares combined.
| # in millions as of Dec 2018 | Class A Shares (Normal) | Class B Shares (Super) | Class C Shares (Non-voting) | TOTAL | % of Total Shares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard | 22 | 0 | 22 | 44 | 6.4% |
| Larry Page | 0 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 5.7% |
| Sergey Brin | 0 | 19 | 19 | 38 | 5.5% |
| BlackRock | 19 | 0 | 20 | 39 | 5.5% |
| Fidelity | 16 | 0 | 10 | 26 | 3.7% |
| Eric E. Schmidt | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 1.2% |
| Other shareholders | 242 | 3 | 255 | 500 | 71.9% |
| TOTAL SHARES | 299 | 47 | 350 | 695 | 100% |
Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin holding the majority of class B shares which gives them full control of Alphabet and Google.
the outstanding no: of votes of Alphabet as of Febraury 2023.
| # in millions as of Dec 2018 | Class A Shares (Normal) | Class B Shares (Super) | Class C Shares (Non-voting) | TOTAL | % of Total Shares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard | 22 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2.9% |
| Larry Page | 0 | 200 | 0 | 200 | 26.1% |
| Sergey Brin | 0 | 192 | 0 | 192 | 25.1% |
| BlackRock | 19 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2.5% |
| Fidelity | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2.1% |
| Eric E. Schmidt | 0 | 41 | 0 | 41 | 5.4% |
| Other shareholders | 242 | 34 | 0 | 276 | 36% |
| TOTAL SHARES | 299 | 466 | 0 | 766 | 100% |
So we should have understand how larry page and Sergey brin controls the Alphabet with just 11% Capital and More than 50% Voting Power.
Yes, they can sell their shares whenever want but when class B sold to others they will automatically convert into Class A shares which give just 1 voting power per share. class B shares work only when they are with Original Holders and when original holders sell their shares to another original holder the voting power reminds the same and it doesn’t create any new shares. Ex: If Larry page sells to Sergey brin.
Who are Google’s top 4 individual investors?
Larry Page
Lawrence Edward Page, an American business magnate, computer scientist, and internet entrepreneur, is best known as the co-founder of Google alongside Sergey Brin.
Page served as the chairman of Google from 1997 to August 2001 before stepping down and making way for Eric Schmidt. He returned to the role in April 2011 and held it until July 2015 when he became the CEO of Alphabet Inc, the parent company of Google. He continued to hold this position until December 4, 2019, after which he remained a board member, employee, and majority shareholder of Alphabet.
As of my current update on February 18th, 2023, Page’s estimated net worth is $91.1 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which still places him among the wealthiest individuals in the world.
In addition to his work with Google and Alphabet, Page has invested in innovative startups such as Kitty Hawk and Opener, both of which are focused on developing flying cars.
Sergey Brin
Sergey Mikhailovich Brin is a prominent American business magnate, computer scientist, and internet entrepreneur who, together with Larry Page, co-founded Google.
Brin held the position of president of Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc until he resigned on December 3, 2019. Despite his resignation, he and Page remain influential as co-founders, significant shareholders, board members, and employees at Alphabet.
As of my current update on February 18, 2023, Brin’s estimated net worth is $83.9 Billion, he remains one of the wealthiest individuals in the world.
Beyond his work with Google and Alphabet, Brin has also invested in innovative startups and technologies, such as space exploration company Planetary Resources and synthetic meat producer Impossible Foods.
John Doerr
John Doerr is a highly successful venture capitalist who has been a board member of Google since 1999 and has played a crucial role in its growth and success. He has also backed some of the most influential tech companies, such as Amazon, Twitter, and Uber, and is widely regarded as one of the most successful venture capitalists of all time. Doerr is also a strong advocate for environmental sustainability and has invested in companies that address climate change. His impact on the tech industry and the world is significant and likely to continue to shape the future.
Sundar Pichai
Sundar Pichai, an Indian-American business executive, is the CEO of Alphabet Inc. and Google. With a degree in metallurgical engineering from IIT Kharagpur and an M.S. in materials science and engineering from Stanford University, Pichai is widely regarded as a highly skilled leader with a keen understanding of technology and business.
He has been instrumental in driving Google’s growth and success, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company and introducing new products and services that have transformed the way we live, work, and communicate. Pichai is also known for his philanthropic efforts and commitment to education, advocating for expanding access to technology and promoting digital literacy.
Vanguard Group, Inc: Vanguard Group is one of the largest investment advisors firms in the USA which holds major shares in top companies including Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, and Other Top Companies. It Holds More Than 22.5 Million Shares in Alphabet ( Class C )
Blackrock, Inc: BlackRock is a global investment management company and the largest asset manager in the world. This firm held about $7.4 trillion in AUM as of December 31, 2019. Which also holds majority shares in Top Companies mentioned above. BlackRock holds approximately 20.0 million Class C shares of Alphabet.
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc: T. Rowe Price is a publicly owned investment management company offering a variety of Financial Services. This company’s largest fund is its T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund, T. Rowe Price holds More Than 12.2 million Class C shares of Alphabet.
Conclusion: Based on this the real owner of Alphabet is Class B shares Holders. Larry Page and Sergey Brin are the real Owners of Google-Based On The Above Details.