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Alphabet Inc.

Alphabet Inc.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 9, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Alphabet Inc. is an American multinational technology holding company headquartered in Mountain View, California. It was created in 2015 as part of a restructuring of Google and is the parent company of Google and several other businesses. Alphabet’s shares trade on Nasdaq under the tickers GOOGL and GOOG.

History

Alphabet Inc. was created on October 2, 2015, when Google reorganized into a holding-company structure. The restructuring made Google a subsidiary of Alphabet.

Business structure

Alphabet operates as a holding company for Google and a range of other businesses. Public descriptions identify segments such as Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets.

Major subsidiaries

Alphabet’s best-known subsidiary is Google, which includes products such as Search, YouTube, Android, Gmail, Maps, and Chrome. Other businesses commonly associated with Alphabet include Waymo, Verily, Calico, X, GV, and CapitalG.

Stock and ownership

Alphabet is publicly traded on Nasdaq under two share classes, GOOGL and GOOG. Market-value estimates change frequently and are usually reported as market capitalisation rather than a fixed company worth.

Key facts

  • Alphabet was formed in 2015 through a corporate restructuring of Google.
  • It serves as Google’s parent company and holding company.
  • Alphabet is listed on Nasdaq under the symbols GOOGL and GOOG.
  • Its business includes Google products and services as well as other bets and subsidiaries.
  • The company is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
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Canadian context

Alphabet is widely used by Canadian readers through Google Search, YouTube, Android, Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Cloud, and its stock is also followed by Canadian investors.

Frequently asked questions

What is Alphabet Inc.?
Alphabet Inc. is an American technology holding company and the parent company of Google.
Who owns Alphabet?
Alphabet is a publicly traded company, so it is owned by its shareholders. Major shareholders include large institutional investors and company founders, but no single person publicly owns it outright.
What companies does Alphabet own?
Alphabet owns Google and several other businesses, including Waymo, Verily, Calico, X, GV, and CapitalG.
Is Google part of Alphabet?
Yes. Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet and remains the company’s largest business.
What is Alphabet's stock symbol?
Alphabet trades on Nasdaq under the symbols GOOGL and GOOG.
How much is Alphabet worth?
Alphabet’s value is usually measured by market capitalisation, which changes daily. Recent sources place it at about US$4.44 trillion, though that figure can move with the stock price.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphabet_Inc.
    Supports: Founded in 2015 as a restructuring of Google; parent holding company of Google; headquartered in Mountain View; stock tickers GOOGL and GOOG.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/money/Alphabet-Inc
    Supports: Alphabet as Google’s parent company; history and business context; market capitalisation reference.
  3. Alphabet — https://abc.xyz/
    Supports: Alphabet describes itself as a collection of companies and identifies Google as the largest.
  4. Forbes — https://www.forbes.com/companies/alphabet/
    Supports: Alphabet business segments and examples of subsidiaries such as Google, Waymo, Verily, CapitalG, GV, and X.
  5. TechTarget — https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/Alphabet-Inc
    Supports: Alphabet became Google’s holding company; Google remains a subsidiary.