Alphabet Inc.#Process

On August 10, 2015, Google announced plans to create a new public holding company, Alphabet Inc. Google co-founder and CEO Larry Page made this announcement in a blog post on Google's official blog.{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Heather |date=August 10, 2015 |title=Meet Google Alphabet – Google's new parent company |url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/08/10/technology/alphabet-google/index.html |access-date=May 1, 2019 |website=CNNMoney |archive-date=October 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008043001/https://money.cnn.com/2015/08/10/technology/alphabet-google/index.html |url-status=live }} Alphabet was created to restructure Google by moving subsidiaries from Google to Alphabet, thus narrowing Google's scope. The new holding company would consist of Google as well as other businesses including X Development, Calico, Nest, Verily, Fiber, CapitalG, and GV.{{Cite news |last=Womack |first=Brian |date=August 10, 2015 |title=Google Creates New Company Called Alphabet, Restructures Stock |work=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-10/google-to-adopt-new-holding-structure-under-name-alphabet- |access-date=August 10, 2015 |archive-date=November 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123054841/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-10/google-to-adopt-new-holding-structure-under-name-alphabet- |url-status=live }}{{Cite journal |last=Greenberg |first=Julia |date=August 10, 2015 |title=What Google, I Mean Alphabet, Looks Like Now |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/08/google-mean-alphabet-looks-like-now/ |journal=Wired |access-date=August 10, 2015 |archive-date=August 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811102137/http://www.wired.com/2015/08/google-mean-alphabet-looks-like-now/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=What is Alphabet, Google's new company? |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-alphabet-googles-new-company-2015-8 |access-date=August 10, 2015 |website=Business Insider |archive-date=May 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505215715/https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-alphabet-googles-new-company-2015-8 |url-status=live }} Sundar Pichai, the company's Product Chief, became the new chief executive officer of Google, replacing Page, who transitioned to the role of running Alphabet, along with co-founder Sergey Brin.{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Angela |date=August 10, 2015 |title=Google Creates Parent Company Called Alphabet in Restructuring |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-creates-new-company-alphabet-1439240645 |access-date=August 10, 2015 |website=The Wall Street Journal |archive-date=November 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128112043/http://www.wsj.com/articles/google-creates-new-company-alphabet-1439240645 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Dougherty |first=Conor |date=August 10, 2015 |title=Google to Reorganize in Move to Keep Its Lead as an Innovator |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/11/technology/google-alphabet-restructuring.html |access-date=August 10, 2015 |archive-date=October 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019164806/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/11/technology/google-alphabet-restructuring.html |url-status=live }}

In his announcement, Page stated that the planned holding company would allow for "more management scale, as we can run things independently that aren't very related" to Google. He clarified that, as a result of the new holding company, Google would be "a bit slimmed down, with the companies that are pretty far afield of our main internet products contained in Alphabet instead".{{Cite web |title=Google's Larry Page explains the new Alphabet |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/googles-larry-page-explains-the-new-alphabet/ |access-date=September 19, 2015 |publisher=CNET |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812125314/https://www.cnet.com/news/googles-larry-page-explains-the-new-alphabet/ |url-status=live }} He further stated that the motivation behind the reorganization is to make Google "cleaner and more accountable and better" and that he wanted to improve "the transparency and oversight of what we're doing".

Former executive Eric Schmidt revealed in the conference in 2017 the inspiration for this structure came from Warren Buffett and his management structure of Berkshire Hathaway a decade ago.{{Cite web |last=GmbH |first=finanzen net |title=Google's founders came up with the Alphabet model after meeting Warren Buffett {{!}} Markets Insider |url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/google-founders-modeled-alphabet-warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-2019-12-1028737463 |access-date=December 5, 2019 |website=Business Insider |archive-date=December 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205132550/https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/google-founders-modeled-alphabet-warren-buffett-berkshire-hathaway-2019-12-1028737463 |url-status=live }} Schmidt said he encouraged Page and Brin to meet with Buffett in Omaha to see how Berkshire Hathaway was a holding company made of subsidiaries with strong CEOs who were trusted to run their businesses.

Before it became a subsidiary of Alphabet, Google Inc. was first structured as the owner of Alphabet.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-18 |title=Britannica Money |url=https://www.britannica.com/money/Alphabet-Inc |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} The roles were reversed after a placeholder subsidiary was created for the ownership of Alphabet, at which point the newly formed subsidiary was merged with Google. Google's stock was then converted to Alphabet's stock. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law (where Alphabet is incorporated), a holding company reorganization such as this can be done without a vote of shareholders, as this reorganization was.{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2015 |title=Google Inc. filing with the SEC, Form 8-K |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1288776/000128877615000039/a20150810form8-k.htm |access-date=August 11, 2015 |publisher=United States Securities and Exchange Commission |archive-date=August 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810231636/http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1288776/000128877615000039/a20150810form8-k.htm |url-status=live }} The restructuring process was completed on October 2, 2015. Alphabet retains Google Inc.'s stock price history and continues to trade under Google Inc.'s former ticker symbols "GOOG" and "GOOGL".{{Cite web |title=GOOGL : Summary for Alphabet Inc. |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/GOOGL/ |access-date=December 4, 2017 |publisher=Yahoo! Finance |archive-date=December 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204114836/https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/GOOGL/ |url-status=live }}

On December 3, 2019, Page and Brin jointly announced that they would step down from their respective roles, remaining as employees and still the majority vote on the board of directors. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, assumed the CEO role at Alphabet while retaining the same at Google.{{Cite web |last=Feiner |first=Lauren |date=December 3, 2019 |title=Larry Page steps down as CEO of Alphabet, Sundar Pichai to take over |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/03/larry-page-steps-down-as-ceo-of-alphabet.html |access-date=December 3, 2019 |publisher=CNBC |archive-date=August 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824015937/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/03/larry-page-steps-down-as-ceo-of-alphabet.html |url-status=live }}

The firm completed a stock split in mid-2022.{{cite news |last1=Wittenstein |first1=Jennan |title=Alphabet Stock Split Lands With a Thud in Worry-Filled Market |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-22/alphabet-stock-split-lands-with-a-thud-in-worry-filled-market?srnd=premium&sref=CIpmV6x8 |access-date=22 July 2022 |work=Bloomberg |date=22 July 2022 }}

On January 20, 2023, Pichai wrote a letter to all employees announcing that the company would be laying off about 12,000 jobs, or 6% of its global workforce. In the letter, Pichai wrote, "Over the past two years we've seen periods of dramatic growth. To match and fuel that growth, we hired for a different economic reality than the one we face today."{{cite web |url=https://blog.google/inside-google/message-ceo/january-update/?tpcc=nldatasheet |title=A difficult decision to set us up for the future |last=Pichai |first=Sundar |date=2023-01-20 |accessdate=2023-01-20 |archive-date=January 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120191924/https://blog.google/inside-google/message-ceo/january-update/?tpcc=nldatasheet |url-status=live }}

In January 2024, Waymo, the autonomous driving division of Alphabet Inc., which operates extensively in San Francisco, filed an application with the California Public Utilities Commission to expand service in Los Angeles. Such a license would allow the company to make full use of its fleet in the city instead of test drives by invitation.{{Cite news|language=en|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/alphabets-waymo-seeks-to-expand-driverless-service-to-los-angeles/articleshow/107005807.cms|title=Alphabet's Waymo seeks to expand driverless service to Los Angeles|website=The Economic Times|date=January 20, 2024 |access-date=2024-01-29|archive-date=2024-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120061945/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/alphabets-waymo-seeks-to-expand-driverless-service-to-los-angeles/articleshow/107005807.cms}}

In August 2024, following the lawsuit filed by the United States Department of Justice in 2020, a United States district court has found Alphabet guilty of violating antitrust law. This marked the first antitrust ruling against a U.S. company in 24 years. Alphabet has appealed the ruling.{{Cite news|language=en|url=https://www.europeanbusinessreview.com/what-does-googles-antitrust-case-mean-for-big-tech/|title=What Does Google's Antitrust Case Mean for Big Tech?|website=The European Business Review|date=August 25, 2024 |access-date=2024-09-05}}

On 10 December 2024, Alphabet's shares rose about 5% after the company unveiled its new quantum computing chip, Willow. The chip solved a complex problem in five minutes, a task that would take a classical computer longer than the age of the universe. Willow reduces error rates in quantum computing and can correct them in real time, which could lead to breakthroughs in science, medicine, and finance. Alphabet's stock was up 25% for the year, marking its best day since April 2024.{{cite news|title=Google parent Alphabet jumps on quantum chip breakthrough |date=10 December 2024 |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/google-parent-alphabet-jumps-quantum-chip-breakthrough-2024-12-10/ |access-date=11 December 2024}}

Alphabet Inc. is the parent of a diverse set of subsidiaries:{{Cite news |date=July 19, 2018 |title=Google's Loon brings internet-by-balloon to Kenya |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44886803 |access-date=May 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719182259/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44886803 |archive-date=July 19, 2018}}{{Cite web |last=Hartmans |first=Avery |title=All the companies and divisions under Google's parent company, Alphabet |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/alphabet-google-company-list-2017-4 |access-date=May 1, 2019 |website=Business Insider |archive-date=May 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501163115/https://www.businessinsider.com/alphabet-google-company-list-2017-4 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=February 11, 2020 |title=Alphabet has moved technology incubator Jigsaw under Google management

|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/11/21133398/google-jigsaw-waymo-nest-brin-page-alphabet |access-date=February 20, 2020 |website=The Verge |archive-date=February 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220221631/https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/11/21133398/google-jigsaw-waymo-nest-brin-page-alphabet |url-status=live }}

{{As of|2017|September|1|df=US}}, their equity is held by a subsidiary known as XXVI Holdings, Inc. (referring to the Roman numeral of 26, the number of letters in the alphabet), so that they can be valued and legally separated from Google. At the same time, it was announced that Google would be reorganized as a limited liability company, Google LLC.{{Cite news |date=September 1, 2017 |title=Alphabet Finishes Reorganization With New XXVI Company |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-01/alphabet-wraps-up-reorganization-with-a-new-company-called-xxvi |access-date=September 2, 2017 |archive-date=October 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019145337/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-01/alphabet-wraps-up-reorganization-with-a-new-company-called-xxvi |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Google parent Alphabet forms holding company, XXVI, to complete 2015 corporate reorganization |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/04/google-parent-alphabet-forms-holding-company-xxvi-to-complete-2015-corporate-reorganization/ |access-date=May 1, 2019 |website=TechCrunch |date=September 4, 2017 |archive-date=May 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501163126/https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/04/google-parent-alphabet-forms-holding-company-xxvi-to-complete-2015-corporate-reorganization/ |url-status=live }}

Eric Schmidt said at an Internet Association event in 2015 that there may eventually be more than 26 Alphabet subsidiaries. He also said that he was currently meeting with the CEOs of the current and proposed Alphabet subsidiaries. He said, "You'll see a lot coming."{{Cite web |last=Bergen |first=Mark |date=October 13, 2015 |title=Eric Schmidt: Get Ready for 'a Lot' More Alphabet Companies |url=https://www.vox.com/2015/10/13/11619552/eric-schmidt-get-ready-for-a-lot-more-alphabet-companies |access-date=October 19, 2015 |website=Vox |publisher=Re/code |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108091912/https://www.vox.com/2015/10/13/11619552/eric-schmidt-get-ready-for-a-lot-more-alphabet-companies |url-status=live }}

While many companies or divisions formerly a part of Google became subsidiaries of Alphabet, Google remains the umbrella company for Alphabet's Internet-related businesses. These include widely used products and services long associated with Google, such as the Android operating system, YouTube, and Google Search, which remain direct components of Google.{{Cite web |title=Google's new Alphabet, from A to Z (pictures) |url=https://www.cnet.com/pictures/googles-new-alphabet-from-a-to-z/ |access-date=August 12, 2015 |publisher=CNET |archive-date=September 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928033538/https://www.cnet.com/pictures/googles-new-alphabet-from-a-to-z/ |url-status=live }}

Former subsidiaries include Nest Labs, which was merged into Google in February 2018{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=February 7, 2018 |title=Nest is done as a standalone Alphabet company, merges with Google |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/02/nest-is-done-as-a-standalone-alphabet-company-merges-with-google/ |website=Ars Technica |access-date=July 24, 2018 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109115045/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/02/nest-is-done-as-a-standalone-alphabet-company-merges-with-google/ |url-status=live }} and Chronicle Security which was merged with Google Cloud in June 2019.{{Cite web |last=Kurian |first=Thomas |date=June 27, 2019 |title=Google Cloud + Chronicle: The security moonshot joins Google Cloud |url=https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/inside-google-cloud/the-security-moonshot-joins-google-cloud |website=Inside Google Cloud |access-date=July 27, 2019 |archive-date=July 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727120911/https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/inside-google-cloud/the-security-moonshot-joins-google-cloud |url-status=live }} Sidewalk Labs was absorbed into Google in 2021 following CEO Daniel L. Doctoroff's departure from the company due to a suspected ALS diagnosis.{{Cite web |last=Lyons |first=Kim |date=December 16, 2021 |title=Sidewalk Labs will be folded into Google as CEO steps down for health reasons |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/16/22840028/sidewalk-labs-google-doctoroff-health-toronto-quayside |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217011820/https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/16/22840028/sidewalk-labs-google-doctoroff-health-toronto-quayside |archive-date=December 17, 2021 |access-date=December 17, 2021 |website=The Verge}}

In January 2021, Loon LLC CEO Alastair Westgarth mentioned in a blog post{{Cite web |title=Alastair Westgarth |url=https://medium.com/@awestgarthloon |access-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122194829/https://medium.com/@awestgarthloon |url-status=live }} that the company would be shutting down, citing lack of a scalable and sustainable business model. In July 2021, Alphabet announced Intrinsic, a new robotics software company spun out of X.{{Cite web |last=Bursztynsky |first=Jessica |date=July 23, 2021 |title=Alphabet launches new robotics software company Intrinsic |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/23/alphabet-intrinsic-robotics-software-company.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723171417/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/23/alphabet-intrinsic-robotics-software-company.html |archive-date=July 23, 2021 |access-date=July 23, 2021 |website=CNBC}} In November 2021, Alphabet announced a new company named Isomorphic Labs, using artificial intelligence for drug discovery and headed by DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis.{{Cite web |last=Shead |first=Sam |date=November 5, 2021 |title=Google-parent Alphabet has set up a new lab that will use A.I. to try to discover new drugs |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/05/isomorphic-labs-deepmind-ceo-to-lead-new-alphabet-drug-discovery-lab.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105102034/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/05/isomorphic-labs-deepmind-ceo-to-lead-new-alphabet-drug-discovery-lab.html |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |access-date=November 9, 2021 |website=CNBC}}

Alphabet is mainly owned by institutional investors, who own over 60% of shares. The founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin each control around 3% of all shares, but control with other insiders the majority of voting shares. The largest shareholders in December 2023 were:{{Cite web |title=Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) Stock Major Holders - Yahoo Finance |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/GOOG/holders/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=finance.yahoo.com |language=en-US}}

• The Vanguard Group (7.25%)
• BlackRock (6.27%)
• State Street Corporation (3.36%)
• Sergey Brin (3.0%){{Cite web |last=Pereira |first=Daniel |date=2023-05-25 |title=Who Owns Google? |url=https://businessmodelanalyst.com/who-owns-google/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=businessmodelanalyst.com |language=en-US}}
• Larry Page (3.0%)
• Fidelity Investments (2.07%)
• Geode Capital Management (1.76%)
• T. Rowe Price (1.73%)
• JPMorgan Chase (1.42%)
• Capital International Investors (1.42%)
• Morgan Stanley (1.30%)
• Northern Trust (0.95%)

• Chair: John L. Hennessy (since February 2018)
• Chief Executive: Sundar Pichai (since December 2019)
• President and Chief Investment Officer: Ruth Porat
• Chief Financial Officer: Anat Ashkenazi
• Chief Accounting Officer: Amie Thuener O'Toole

Sources:{{Cite web |title=ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |url=https://abc.xyz/investor/static/pdf/20220202_alphabet_10K.pdf?cache=fc81690 |url-status=live |access-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203053409/https://abc.xyz/investor/static/pdf/20220202_alphabet_10K.pdf?cache=fc81690 }}{{Cite web |last=Estrada |first=Sheryl |date=July 24, 2024 |title=Google CFO Ruth Porat just did her last earnings call—and she had a message about the future of tech |url=https://fortune.com/2024/07/24/google-cfo-ruth-porat-last-earnings-call-message-future-of-tech/ |work=Fortune}}

1. Eric Schmidt (2015–2017)

1. Larry Page (2015–2018)

Page explained the origin of the company's name:

{{Blockquote|We liked the name Alphabet because it means a collection of letters that represent language, one of humanity's most important innovations, and is the core of how we index with Google search! We also like that it means alpha‑bet (Alpha is investment return above benchmark), which we strive for!}}

In a 2018 talk, Schmidt disclosed that the original inspiration for the name came from the location of the then Google Hamburg office's street address: ABC-Straße.{{Cite web |date=November 29, 2018 |title=Wie die Hamburger ABC-Straße Google prägte |url=https://www.abendblatt.de/hamburg/hamburg-mitte/article215905959/Wie-die-Hamburger-ABC-Strasse-Google-praegte.html |access-date=November 30, 2018 |website=abendblatt.de |archive-date=July 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725035847/https://www.abendblatt.de/hamburg/hamburg-mitte/article215905959/Wie-die-Hamburger-ABC-Strasse-Google-praegte.html |url-status=live }}

Alphabet has chosen the domain [https://abc.xyz/ abc.xyz] with the .xyz top-level domain (TLD), which was introduced in 2014. It does not own the domain [https://www.alphabet.com/ alphabet.com], which is owned by a fleet management division of BMW. Following the announcement, BMW said it would be "necessary to examine the legal trademark implications" of the proposals. Additionally, it does not own the domain [https://abc.com/ abc.com], which is the domain of the Disney-owned American Broadcasting Company.{{Cite news |last=Davidson |first=Lauren |date=August 11, 2015 |title=Google unveils Alphabet... but that's already trademarked by BMW |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/11797616/Google-unveils-Alphabet...-but-thats-already-trademarked-by-BMW.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/11797616/Google-unveils-Alphabet...-but-thats-already-trademarked-by-BMW.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=August 12, 2015}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite news |last=Lardinois |first=Frederic |date=August 10, 2015 |title=Google Is Now Alphabet, But It Doesn't Own Alphabet.com |work=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL Inc. |url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/08/10/google-is-now-alphabet-but-it-doesnt-own-alphabet-com/ |access-date=August 11, 2015 |archive-date=August 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811164757/http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/10/google-is-now-alphabet-but-it-doesnt-own-alphabet-com/ |url-status=live }}

Google's mission statement, from the outset, was "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful",{{Cite web |last=Gibbs |first=Samuel |date=November 3, 2014 |title=Google has 'outgrown' its 14-year old mission statement, says Larry Page |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/03/larry-page-google-dont-be-evil-sergey-brin |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326053031/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/03/larry-page-google-dont-be-evil-sergey-brin |archive-date=March 26, 2017 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |website=The Guardian}} and its unofficial slogan is "Don't be evil".{{Cite web |date=April 11, 2012 |title=Google Code of Conduct |url=https://abc.xyz/investor/other/google-code-of-conduct.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211223917/https://abc.xyz/investor/other/google-code-of-conduct.html |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |website=Alphabet Investor Relations |publisher=Alphabet Inc.}} In October 2015, a related motto was adopted in the Alphabet corporate code of conduct by the phrase: "Do the right thing".{{Cite web |last=Lawler |first=Richard |date=October 2, 2015 |title=Alphabet replaces Google's 'Don't be evil' with 'Do the right thing' |url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/02/alphabet-do-the-right-thing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701225925/https://www.engadget.com/2015/10/02/alphabet-do-the-right-thing/ |archive-date=July 1, 2017 |access-date=March 25, 2017 |website=Engadget | publisher=AOL}} The original motto was retained in the code of conduct of Google, now a subsidiary of Alphabet.{{Cite news |title=Happy Birthday Google! |publisher=ndtv.com |agency=NDTV Convergence Limited |url=http://www.ndtv.com/photos/news/happy-birthday-google--8267#photo-99345 |url-status=live |access-date=April 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407042748/https://www.ndtv.com/photos/news/happy-birthday-google--8267#photo-99345 |archive-date=April 7, 2019}}

The key trends of Alphabet Inc. are (as at the financial year ending December 31):{{Cite web |title=Alphabet Financial Statements yearly {{!}} GOOGL |url=https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/GOOGL/alphabet/financial-statements |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=www.macrotrends.net}}

As per its 2017 annual report, 86% of Alphabet's revenues came from performance advertising (through user clicks using AdSense and Google Ads) and brand advertising.{{Cite book |url=https://abc.xyz/investor |title=Annual report 2017 |date=March 2, 2018 |publisher=Alphabet investor relations |pages=2, 3, 5, 6 |access-date=December 3, 2018 |archive-date=February 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203091612/https://abc.xyz/investor/ |url-status=live }} Of these, 53% came from its international operations. This translated to a total revenue of US$110,855 million in 2017 and a net income of US$12,662 million.

On February 1, 2016, Alphabet Inc. surpassed Apple to become the world's most valuable publicly traded company until February 3, 2016, when Apple surged back over Alphabet to retake the position. Experts cited Apple's lack of innovation as well as increasing Chinese competition as reasons for the poor performance.{{Cite web |last=Levy |first=Ari |title=Google passes Apple as most valuable company |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/01/google-passes-apple-as-most-valuable-company.html |access-date=February 1, 2016 |website=CNBC.com |publisher=NBCUniversal |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108123512/https://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/01/google-passes-apple-as-most-valuable-company.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Krantz |first=Matt |title=Apple not going down easy as it overtakes Google parent Alphabet |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/markets/2016/02/03/apple-not-going-down-easy/79763410/ |access-date=February 3, 2016 |website=USA Today |archive-date=July 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725035315/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/markets/2016/02/03/apple-not-going-down-easy/79763410/ |url-status=live }}

{{as of|2019|||df=}}, Alphabet is ranked No. 15 on the Fortune 500 rankings of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.{{Cite web |title=Fortune 500 |url=https://fortune.com/fortune500/2019/search/ |access-date=November 9, 2018 |website=Fortune |archive-date=October 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031060432/https://fortune.com/fortune500/2019/search/ |url-status=live }}

On January 16, 2020, Alphabet became the fourth US company to reach a $1 trillion market value{{Cite news |last=Ramkumar |first=Amrith |date=January 16, 2020 |title=Alphabet Becomes Fourth U.S. Company to Reach $1 Trillion Market Value |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/alphabet-becomes-fourth-u-s-company-to-ever-reach-1-trillion-market-value-11579208802 |access-date=January 19, 2020 |archive-date=January 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120065645/https://www.wsj.com/articles/alphabet-becomes-fourth-u-s-company-to-ever-reach-1-trillion-market-value-11579208802 |url-status=live }} entering the trillion dollar companies club for the first time.

In October 2022, Alphabet recorded the weakest quarterly growth, with fewer sales in nearly a decade. The possible global recession, the strong US dollar, and the pandemics all contributed to the slowed economy.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63394516 | title=Google and Microsoft hit by slowing economy | date=October 25, 2022 | publisher=BBC News | access-date=October 26, 2022 | archive-date=October 26, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026001358/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63394516 | url-status=live }}

In 2022, Alphabet was the company with the second-highest expenditure on research and development worldwide, with R&D expenditure amounting to US$39.5 billion.{{Cite web |last=Irwin-Hunt |first=Alex |title=Top 100 global innovation leaders |url=https://www.fdiintelligence.com/content/feature/global-innovation-leaders-2022-edition-82527 |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=fDi Intelligence |date=June 19, 2023 |language=en}}

In 2023, Alphabet was ranked 7th in the Global 2000 (World's Largest Public Companies).{{Cite web|language=en|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/global2000/?sh=51d599675ac0|title=The Global 2000|website=Forbes|access-date=2024-01-29|archive-date=2024-01-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125234015/https://gum.criteo.com/syncframe?origin=publishertag&topUrl=www.forbes.com}}

On 26 April 2024, Alphabet surpassed a market valuation of $2 trillion for the first time. This surge follows the announcement of the company's first-ever dividend payout and a significant $70 billion stock buyback program. The company's first-quarter earnings also exceeded analyst expectations, further contributing to the positive investor sentiment.{{Cite web |title=Alphabet surges past $2tn valuation as search giant announces first dividend |url=https://www.ft.com/content/23b4b384-5971-4f91-a9c9-8a779d10b6bc |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=www.ft.com|date=April 26, 2024 |last1=Waters |first1=Richard |last2=Morris |first2=Stephen }}

As of June 2024, the company is one of the 10 largest components of the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index.{{Cite web |title=iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF {{!}} DSI |url=https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/products/239667/ishares-msci-kld-400-social-etf |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=BlackRock |language=en-US}}

In November 2017, Alphabet Inc. led a Series A round of $71 million along with Andreessen Horowitz and 20th Century Studios in music startup UnitedMasters, founded by Steve Stoute.{{Cite news |last=Constine |first=Josh |title=With $70M from Alphabet, UnitedMasters replaces record labels |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/15/united-masters/ |access-date=December 4, 2017 |archive-date=December 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204171220/https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/15/united-masters/ |url-status=live }}

In addition to funding startups, Alphabet also invests in more mature companies, including publicly traded companies like Uber and privately held companies like Medium.{{Cite web |title=GV / Portfolio |url=https://www.gv.com/portfolio/ |access-date=September 25, 2021 |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927144555/https://www.gv.com/portfolio/ |url-status=live }}

{{Main|List of mergers and acquisitions by Alphabet}}

An analysis of the company's investments in 2017 suggested that it was the most active investor in that period, outdoing the capital arm of Intel and also its own best customer. Alphabet, Inc. acquired seven of its own capital-backed startups in the 2017 financial year, with Cisco second having acquired six of the company's previous investments.{{Cite news |date=February 17, 2018 |title=A peek inside Alphabet's investing universe |work=Techcrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/02/17/a-peek-inside-alphabets-investing-universe/ |access-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218162155/https://techcrunch.com/2018/02/17/a-peek-inside-alphabets-investing-universe/ |url-status=live }}

{{See also|Criticism of Google|Google litigation|European Union vs. Google|Censorship by Google|Privacy concerns regarding Google}}

In 2017, Alphabet Inc. sued Uber over technology similar to Alphabet's proprietary self-driving car technology. Alphabet's autonomous vehicle technology had been under development for a decade by Alphabet's Waymo (self-driving vehicle division). The proprietary technology is related to 14,000 documents believed to have been downloaded and stolen by a former Waymo engineer, subsequently employed by Uber.{{Cite news |last=Sage |first=Alexandria |date=May 30, 2017 |title=Uber fires self-driving car chief at center of court case |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-uber-alphabet-lawsuit-idUSKBN18Q2CW |access-date=May 30, 2017 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112021214/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-uber-alphabet-lawsuit-idUSKBN18Q2CW |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last1=Isaac |first1=Mike |last2=Wakabayashi |first2=Daisuke |date=May 30, 2017 |title=Uber Fires Former Google Engineer at Heart of Self-Driving Dispute |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/30/technology/uber-anthony-levandowski.html |access-date=May 30, 2017 |archive-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209151954/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/30/technology/uber-anthony-levandowski.html |url-status=live }} The lawsuit was settled in February 2018, with Uber agreeing not to use the self-driving technology in dispute and also agreed to provide Waymo with an equity stake of 0.34%, equating to around $245 million at the firm's early 2018 value.{{Cite news |last1=Balakrishnan |first1=Anita |last2=D'Onfro |first2=Jillian |last3=Bosa |first3=Deirdre |last4=Zaveri |first4=Paayal |date=February 9, 2018 |title=Uber settles dispute with Alphabet's self driving car unit |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/09/uber-waymo-lawsuit-settlement.html |url-status=dead |access-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219031254/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/09/uber-waymo-lawsuit-settlement.html |archive-date=February 19, 2018}}

In October 2018, a class action lawsuit was filed against Google and Alphabet due to "non-public" Google+ account data being exposed as a result of a privacy bug that allowed app developers to gain access to the private information of users. The litigation was settled in July 2020 for $7.5 million with a payout to claimants of at least $5 each, with a maximum of $12 each.{{Cite news |last=Murdock |first=Jason |date=August 5, 2020 |title=Google+ Settlement: How to Submit a Claim over Privacy Bug and Get a Payout |work=Newsweek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/google-plus-privacy-bug-settlement-claim-money-1522967 |access-date=2020-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806061226/https://www.newsweek.com/google-plus-privacy-bug-settlement-claim-money-1522967 |archive-date=2020-08-06}}{{Cite news |last=Graham |first=Jefferson |date=August 4, 2020 |title=Did you use Google+? You may be owed some money from class-action privacy settlement |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/08/04/google-privacy-settlement-how-much-money-how-to-get/3290508001/ |access-date=2020-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806014134/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/08/04/google-privacy-settlement-how-much-money-how-to-get/3290508001/ |archive-date=2020-08-06}}{{cite case |title=In re Google Plus Profile Litigation |date=2020-07-22 |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7999009/in-re-google-plus-profile-litigation/ |via=CourtListener |access-date= 2020-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806003928/https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7999009/in-re-google-plus-profile-litigation/ |archive-date=2020-08-06}}

In October 2020, the United States Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Alphabet, alleging anti-competitive practices.{{Cite news |last=Copeland |first=Brent Kendall and Rob |date=2020-10-21 |title=Justice Department Hits Google With Antitrust Lawsuit |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/justice-department-to-file-long-awaited-antitrust-suit-against-google-11603195203 |access-date=2020-11-11 |issn=0099-9660 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103214414/https://www.wsj.com/articles/justice-department-to-file-long-awaited-antitrust-suit-against-google-11603195203 |url-status=live }}

On 2 December 2020, the National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint that claimed Alphabet Inc conducted unlawful monitoring and questioning of several workers at Google. The employees in question were fired for unionization attempts and protesting company policies. The board also alleges that Google unlawfully placed employees on administrative leave in retribution. Alphabet Inc has denied any wrongdoing and said it acted legally.{{Cite news |last=Paresh |first=Dave |date=2020-12-02 |title=Google violated U.S. labor laws in clampdown on worker organizing, regulator says |language=en-US |work=Reuters |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-alphabet-google-labor/google-violated-u-s-labor-laws-in-clampdown-on-worker-organizing-regulator-says-idUKKBN28C35V |access-date=2020-12-03 |archive-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203142334/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-alphabet-google-labor/google-violated-u-s-labor-laws-in-clampdown-on-worker-organizing-regulator-says-idUKKBN28C35V |url-status=dead }}

On 7 June 2021, Alphabet Inc., announced it had settled an antitrust suit with the French Autorité de la concurrence with a payment of $270 million. The settlement amounted to less than 0.7% of Alphabet Inc.'s yearly earnings.{{Cite web |date=7 June 2021 |title=Google will pay $270 million to settle antitrust charges in France over its ad technology |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/06/07/business/economy-stock-market-news |website=The New York Times |access-date=June 7, 2021 |archive-date=June 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607162017/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/06/07/business/economy-stock-market-news |url-status=live }}

On 12 June 2021, it was announced that Japan would launch an antitrust probe into Alphabet Inc. and Apple Inc. to determine whether their dealings with Japanese smartphone makers violate current antitrust measures or could necessitate new ones.{{Cite web |date=12 June 2021 |title=Japan to start antitrust probe on Apple, Google, Nikkei says |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/06/12/japan-to-start-antitrust-probe-on-apple-google-nikkei-says/ |access-date=12 June 2021 |website=Mercury News |archive-date=June 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613162929/https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/06/12/japan-to-start-antitrust-probe-on-apple-google-nikkei-says/ |url-status=live }}

In May 2022, Russian authorities seized Google's Russian bank account,{{Cite news |date=2022-05-18 |title=Google's Russian subsidiary to file for bankruptcy after bank account seized |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/googles-russian-subsidiary-files-bankruptcy-document-2022-05-18/ |access-date=2022-06-17 |archive-date=May 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530204701/https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/googles-russian-subsidiary-files-bankruptcy-document-2022-05-18/ |url-status=live }} forcing them to file for bankruptcy one month later due to the inability to pay vendors and staff. However, free services such as Google Search, YouTube, Gmail, Maps, Android and Play were to remain available.{{Cite news |date=2022-06-17 |title=Google's Russian subsidiary submits bankruptcy declaration - Ifax |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/googles-russian-subsidiary-submits-bankruptcy-declaration-ifax-2022-06-17/ |access-date=2022-06-17 |archive-date=June 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617101140/https://www.reuters.com/technology/googles-russian-subsidiary-submits-bankruptcy-declaration-ifax-2022-06-17/ |url-status=live }}

In 2023, the company was criticized for conducting mass lay-offs without informing employees before they arrived to work, including many long-tenured and recently promoted employees. Around 12,000 jobs were cut, which reduced the company's workforce by 6%.{{Cite web |title=Alphabet lays off hundreds from global recruitment team |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/alphabet-lays-off-hundreds-global-recruitment-team-2023-09-13/ |website=Reuters}} According to various posts on social media, several Google employees discovered they had been terminated after they were unable to access their accounts and confirming it through news articles discussing the mass layoffs.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-21 |title=Fired Google employees say getting sacked without an 'element of humanity' |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/fired-google-employees-say-getting-sacked-without-an-element-of-humanity-366998-2023-01-21 |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=Business Today |language=en |archive-date=January 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123091834/https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/fired-google-employees-say-getting-sacked-without-an-element-of-humanity-366998-2023-01-21 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=After 16 years of service, Google fires employee by deactivating his account in the middle of the night |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/after-16-years-of-service-google-fires-employee-by-deactivating-his-account-in-the-middle-of-the-night-2324588-2023-01-21 |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=India Today |date=January 21, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=January 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123091840/https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/after-16-years-of-service-google-fires-employee-by-deactivating-his-account-in-the-middle-of-the-night-2324588-2023-01-21 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Elias |first=Jennifer |title=Google employees scramble for answers after layoffs hit long-tenured and recently promoted employees |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/21/google-employees-scramble-for-answers-after-layoffs-hit-long-tenured.html |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=CNBC |date=January 21, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=January 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123104052/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/21/google-employees-scramble-for-answers-after-layoffs-hit-long-tenured.html |url-status=live }}

• Google
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{{Reflist}}

• Yeo, ShinJoung. (2023) Behind the Search Box: Google and the Global Internet Industry (U of Illinois Press, 2023) {{ISBN|0-252-08712-7}} {{jstor|4116455}}

{{Commons category|Alphabet Inc.}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{OpenSecrets}}
• {{LittleSis}}

{{Finance links

| name = Alphabet Inc. (Class A)

| symbol = GOOGL

| sec_cik = 1652044

| yahoo = GOOGL

| google = GOOGL:NASDAQ

| reuters = GOOGL.O

| bloomberg = GOOGL:US

}}

{{Finance links

| name = Alphabet Inc. (Class C)

| symbol = GOOG

| sec_cik = 1652044

| yahoo = GOOG

| google = GOOG:NASDAQ

| reuters = GOOG.O

| bloomberg = GOOG:US

}}

{{Alphabet Inc.}}

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