Alphabet shareholders – who owns the most GOOGL stock?
Alphabet’s ownership structure has long influenced how the company operates and how it is valued across global markets. With multiple share classes and a diverse mix of founders, institutional investors and retail participants, Alphabet illustrates how corporate control can differ from overall owner
Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, remains one of the world’s most valuable and influential technology firms. Its share structure, investor base and voting rights continue to influence how the company is governed and valued in global markets.
Alphabet in 2025: overview
As of late 2025, Alphabet’s market capitalisation is over $3.5 trillion (Yahoo Finance, 12 November 2025), placing it among the world’s largest publicly listed companies. The company’s recovery since its 2022 downturn has been significant – after falling 32% in 2022, GOOGL shares gained more than 58% in 2025, supported by improving sentiment in the technology sector and consistent revenue growth.
Alphabet operates through three core segments: Google Services, Google Cloud and Other Bets. Google Services remains the main revenue source, driven by advertising and subscriptions across YouTube, Gmail, Maps and the Play Store. Google Cloud ranks second, providing cloud infrastructure, storage and software solutions to global enterprises.
In the third quarter of 2025, Alphabet’s revenue rose 16% year on year to $102bn, while net income increased 33% to $35bn, outperforming expectations (Alphabet Investor Relations, 29 October 2025).
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
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Alphabet’s share classes explained
Alphabet has three classes of common stock:
- Class A (GOOGL) – publicly traded shares with one vote per share.
- Class B – held mainly by the founders and senior executives, with 10 votes per share.
- Class C (GOOG) – publicly traded shares with no voting rights.
As of 2025, there are over 6bn Class A shares, about 884m Class B shares, and more than 6bn Class C shares in circulation. This multi-class structure allows the founders to retain control while maintaining wide institutional and retail participation.
Who are the largest Alphabet shareholders?
Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, has a broad investor base spanning institutions, funds and individual shareholders. As of November 2025, mutual funds, ETFs and other institutions owned around two-thirds of Alphabet’s stock, reflecting strong participation across global markets. This balance of institutional ownership and founder control continues to define how the company is governed and represented.
Shareholder composition (November 2025)
| Type | Common stock held | % of shares outstanding | Market value (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual funds & ETFs | 4.12bn | 34.09% | $1.20trn |
| Other institutional investors | 3.77bn | 31.14% | $1.09trn |
| Public companies & retail investors | 4.21bn | 34.77% | $1.22trn |
| Total | 12.09bn | 100% | $3.51trn |
Institutional investors collectively hold between 27% and 60% of Alphabet’s total shares, depending on the class. Retail participation also remains robust, supported by extensive index fund exposure.
Source: Investing.com, 12 November 2025.
Institutional ownership
Institutional investors hold a substantial portion of Alphabet’s equity. As of November 2025, mutual funds, exchange traded funds (ETFs), and other institutions collectively owned about two-thirds of the company’s outstanding shares across all classes.
| # | Institution / fund manager | Ownership (%) | Approx. shares held (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Vanguard Group, Inc. | 7.73% | 933.3m |
| 2 | BlackRock, Inc. | 6.55% | 790.9m |
| 3 | State Street Global Advisors, Inc. | 3.47% | 418.9m |
| 4 | FMR LLC (Fidelity) | 2.40% | 289.4m |
| 5 | Capital Research and Management Company | 2.25% | 272.0m |
| 6 | Geode Capital Management, LLC | 2.07% | 249.4m |
| 7 | T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. | 1.31% | 157.5m |
| 8 | Norges Bank Investment Management | 1.23% | 148.8m |
| 9 | UBS Asset Management AG | 1.17% | 141.7m |
| 10 | Northern Trust Global Investments | 1.00% | 120.8m |
Together, these institutions represent a significant share of Alphabet’s investor base, with many holding the stock through diversified index funds such as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100.
Top mutual fund holders
Mutual funds and ETFs continue to play a key role in Alphabet’s shareholder base, particularly through index-tracking strategies.
The largest are the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (2.7%) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (2.1%), followed by funds such as iShares Core S&P 500 ETF, SPDR S&P 500 ETF, and Invesco QQQ Trust.
These funds collectively provide exposure to millions of retail and institutional investors.
Insider and executive holdings
Alphabet’s executives and board members hold far fewer shares than institutions, yet their stakes remain relevant for governance and shareholder alignment.
Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin together own over 85% of Alphabet’s Class B stock, giving them approximately 51.4% of total voting power. No institutional investor or external entity holds a major Class B stake. As a result, corporate governance remains founder-led, even as institutional and retail ownership continues to expand.
CEO Sundar Pichai is the largest individual stockholder outside the founders. CFO Ruth M. Porat and incoming CFO Anat Ashkenazi are among other notable insiders.
Governance and control
While institutional ownership continues to grow, voting control remains concentrated among the founders through their Class B shares. With over half of total voting rights, Page and Brin retain significant influence over the company’s long-term strategy.
This founder-led model, common among major technology firms, continues to attract discussion around governance and shareholder representation.
Key takeaways
- Alphabet’s market value exceeds $3.5trn, highlighting its post-2022 recovery.
- Founders retain majority voting control (51.4%) through Class B shares.
- Institutional ownership is broad and growing across Class A and Class C shares.
- Executives and insiders hold smaller, transparent stakes.
- Despite market fluctuations, Alphabet’s ownership structure remains stable, supporting its established governance model.
This information should not be considered financial advice or a trading recommendation.
Anyone considering exposure to Alphabet stock should review the latest financial statements and regulatory filings, and understand the risks involved.
Past performance does not guarantee future returns.
FAQ
How many shareholders does Alphabet have?
According to Alphabet’s 2025 filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company has thousands of institutional, retail and corporate shareholders across its three share classes. Class A and Class C shares are broadly held by institutional investors and individuals worldwide, while Class B shares remain closely held by the founders and a small number of senior executives.
What’s the difference between Alphabet’s Class A, B and C shares?
Alphabet’s three share classes differ mainly in voting rights. Class A shares (ticker: GOOGL) carry one vote per share and trade publicly, Class B shares carry 10 votes each and are held mainly by founders and executives, while Class C shares (ticker: GOOG) have no voting rights but also trade publicly. This structure allows Alphabet’s founders to retain control while offering broad ownership to institutional and retail investors.
Who are Alphabet’s biggest institutional shareholders?
As of June 2025, the largest institutional holders include The Vanguard Group (7.73%), BlackRock (6.55%) and State Street Global Advisors (3.47%), followed by FMR LLC, Capital Research and Management Company, and T. Rowe Price Group. Together, these institutions represent a significant portion of Alphabet’s equity, often through index funds such as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100.
Do Alphabet’s founders still control the company?
Yes, Alphabet’s founders retain effective control through their Class B shares. Larry Page and Sergey Brin’s combined voting power of around 51.4% ensures that strategic decisions and board-level resolutions ultimately reflect their long-term vision. While institutional ownership continues to rise, this multi-class system maintains a founder-led governance model, which is common among large technology firms.