Who bought YouTube in 2006?

Google bought YouTube in 2006. The acquisition was announced on October 9, 2006, and completed on November 13 for approximately $1.65 billion in Google stock.

At the time, YouTube was less than two years old but was growing exceptionally quickly. Its user-uploaded videos attracted enormous audiences, while broadband adoption made online video increasingly practical. Google had already operated its own video service, Google Video, but acquiring YouTube gave it the leading platform and a much larger creator community.

The deal preserved YouTube as a distinct service rather than folding it entirely into Google. Co-founder Chad Hurley remained chief executive after the acquisition, while YouTube continued operating under its own brand. Google supplied infrastructure, advertising expertise, and financial support for the platform’s expansion.

The purchase is sometimes described as a $1.65 billion cash deal, but it was paid in Google stock. It also helped establish online video as a major advertising and media business. YouTube later expanded beyond free clips into services such as YouTube Music, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, and YouTube Kids.