Alphabet, Google's parent company, became the world's fourth company to surpass a $2 trillion market capitalization.
Alphabet crossed the $2 trillion threshold in April 2024 as investors responded to strong earnings and optimism about its advertising, cloud, and artificial-intelligence businesses. The company had previously joined the $1 trillion market-cap group, showing how its valuation expanded beyond Google's original search-engine business.
Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998, while Alphabet was created in 2015 as a holding company. Google remains Alphabet's largest business, with Search, YouTube, Android, and Google Cloud among its major products. Other Alphabet activities include Waymo and several research projects.
The phrase “fourth company” depends on the historical point being measured and the market prices used. Market capitalization changes daily, and companies can cross thresholds temporarily. Alphabet is also distinct from Google: Google is the principal operating subsidiary, while Alphabet is the publicly traded parent.