Alphabet Inc. was created in 2015 during Google's major corporate restructuring.
The reorganization separated Google's core internet products from several other businesses, including research and investment projects. Alphabet became the parent company, while Google LLC became its largest subsidiary. Larry Page became Alphabet's chief executive, and Sergey Brin became its president.
The change did not mean that Google disappeared. Search, advertising, YouTube, Android, and Chrome remained associated with Google, while businesses such as Verily, Calico, and Waymo could operate more independently. Sundar Pichai became Google's chief executive in 2015 and later succeeded Page as Alphabet's CEO in 2019.
A common mix-up is treating Alphabet and Google as identical legal entities. Google is the best-known operating company; Alphabet is the publicly traded parent whose shares represent ownership in the broader corporate group.