Who founded Google and when was it established?
Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in the summer of 1998. The company was officially incorporated in August 1998 following an initial investment of $100,000 from Andy Bechtolsheim.
Common questions about Google
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the origin of the name Google and what does it mean?
The name Google is a misspelling of the word googol, which represents the number 10 to the power of 100. The founders chose this name to signify that the search engine was intended to provide large quantities of information.
When did Google go public and what was the initial stock price?
Google became a public company on the 19th of August 2004 through an initial public offering. The company offered 19,605,052 shares at a price of $85 per share on the NASDAQ stock exchange.
What major acquisitions has Google made in recent years?
Google acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion in 2006 and Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion in May 2012. In March 2025, Google agreed to acquire Wiz, a New York-based cybersecurity startup, for US$32 billion.
Why has Google faced legal challenges and antitrust fines?
Google has faced legal challenges for abusing its monopoly position in search and search advertising markets. Courts in the United States and the European Union have fined the company billions of dollars for anti-competitive practices and violations of antitrust laws.