Google has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing a market capitalization of $4 trillion, making it one of only two companies in this elite category. This accomplishment underscores the company's robust presence in everyday life and its aggressive financial strategies, particularly in startup investments and acquisitions.
In 2025, Google engaged in the highest number of funding rounds it has seen in years, with a collective value not matched since the peak of the market four years ago. Recently, the company’s autonomous driving venture, Waymo, raised $16 billion, bringing its valuation to $126 billion. Google’s investment arms, CapitalG and GV, were involved in this financing but did not take the lead.
Throughout last year, Google led or co-led 67 funding rounds totaling over $5 billion, including notable investments like $1 billion in Anthropic and a $600 million round for Physical Intelligence. Additionally, the company co-led a $300 million investment in AI startup Baseten this year.
Despite fewer acquisitions in recent years, Google made headlines with its planned purchase of cloud security firm Wiz for $32 billion, potentially the largest startup acquisition ever. Following this, Alphabet secured a $4.75 billion deal for data center energy provider Intersect Power, signaling a strategic shift to mitigate antitrust concerns.