Could you live without 25-year-old Google in your life?
Global tech juggernaut thinks you need it more than ever
Google, the tech giant that has redefined how we navigate the digital world, commemorated its 25th anniversary on September 4, 2023.
Founded in a nondescript college dorm room on September 4, 1998, by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, then Ph.D. students at Stanford University, the digital goliath’s inception bore little foreshadowing of the monumental success that would follow.
From dorm rooms to a Menlo Park garage, Google has become a trillion-dollar enterprise, catapulting its visionary founders into the ranks of the world’s wealthiest individuals.
Impacting billions globally
Over the past 25 years, Google has not only etched itself as the epitome of internet search but has also introduced an array of online services that have become integral to the lives of billions worldwide.
From the game-changing launch of Gmail in 2004 to the audacious acquisition of YouTube in 2006 and the groundbreaking release of Android in 2008, Google has consistently reshaped the digital landscape worldwide.
Simultaneously, indispensable tools like Google Maps have redefined how people navigate the physical world.
Fuelled primarily by its core search and advertising business, Alphabet, Google’s parent company established during a corporate restructuring in 2015, continues to lead the charge in innovation through its ‘Other Bets’ division.
This segment encompasses ambitious, research-driven ventures such as the autonomous driving pioneer Waymo and DeepMind, Google’s cutting-edge AI research laboratory.
In the big league
Taking the plunge into the public markets on August 19, 2004, with a valuation of AED84.64 billion ($23 billion), Google/Alphabet has grown to become one of the world’s largest publicly traded companies.
It trails behind Apple, Microsoft, and Saudi Aramco, with a market capitalisation exceeding $1.7 trillion.
The returns have been substantial, if not transformative, for investors who had the foresight to retain their Google shares through various market alterations, including the financial crisis and the post-Covid tech turmoil.
As illustrated in the above chart compiled by Statista, an initial investment of $1,000 at the IPO price of $85 would now be valued at over $65,000.
More than luck
A $5,000 investment has ballooned to more than $300,000, while those who wagered a little more than $15,000 on Google in 2004 are now sitting on a remarkable $1 million in Alphabet shares.
However, as the adage goes, ‘hindsight is golden’, and the journey from dorm room dreams to trillion-dollar dominance has been paved with innovation, determination, and an indomitable spirit.
In conclusion, Google’s 25-year legacy is a testament to the boundless possibilities of technology and entrepreneurship. From a duo of ambitious students to a global tech juggernaut, Google’s journey is a story of relentless innovation and enduring success that has left an indelible mark on the world.
Featured image: Pawel Czerwinski
