Google created the new parent company Alphabet in 2015 to organize its expanding businesses.
The restructuring made Alphabet Inc. the holding company, with Google becoming its largest subsidiary. Google’s core internet products, including Search, YouTube, Android, and advertising, remained within Google, while projects such as life sciences and self-driving technology could operate under separate Alphabet companies.
The change also affected how investors viewed the business. Alphabet’s public shares replaced Google’s former corporate structure, and the parent company continued to rank among the world’s most valuable listed companies by market capitalization. The founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, moved into senior roles at Alphabet after the reorganization.
People often use “Google” and “Alphabet” interchangeably, but they are not identical corporate names. Google is the operating company best known for internet services; Alphabet is the parent corporation that owns Google and other businesses.