Alphabet was valued at $1 trillion in January 2020, becoming the fourth US company to reach that market-cap level.
Alphabet crossed the threshold on January 16, 2020. It was the parent company created in 2015 during a corporate restructuring of Google. The reorganization separated Google’s core internet products from several other businesses and projects.
Google remained Alphabet’s central business, with advertising providing the overwhelming majority of revenue at the time. Alphabet also included businesses such as YouTube, Google Cloud, and the experimental projects grouped under other divisions.
The earlier US companies to reach a trillion-dollar valuation were Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft. Market capitalization depends on share price and the number of outstanding shares, so the ranking can change quickly. Alphabet’s valuation should not be confused with Google’s separate operating identity: Google is the principal subsidiary, while Alphabet is the publicly traded parent.