Alphabet, Google’s parent company, reached a $1 trillion market capitalization in January 2020.
Alphabet briefly passed the milestone on January 16, 2020, as investors valued the businesses organized under its corporate structure. Google remains Alphabet’s largest operation, with search, online advertising, YouTube, and Android at its center.
Alphabet was created in 2015 during a major corporate reorganization. The structure placed Google’s core internet businesses in one subsidiary while separating so-called “Other Bets,” including ambitious projects in areas such as life sciences, autonomous vehicles, and internet access.
The answer is Alphabet rather than Google because Alphabet is the publicly traded holding company whose shares are listed on the stock market. Google is its best-known subsidiary and brand, but it is not the listed parent corporation.