⚠️ The Hidden Power Structure Behind Google — How Alphabet’s Voting System Silences Ordinary Shareholders

While Alphabet Inc. — the parent company of Google — presents itself as a forward-thinking, democratic tech innovator, its internal share structure tells a very different story. Beneath the surface lies a corporate system that centralizes power in the hands of a few insiders, leaving millions of ordinary investors virtually voiceless.

🏛️ The Three Classes of Alphabet Shares — Built to Protect Founders, Not Shareholders

Alphabet’s stock is divided into Class A, Class B, and Class C shares, but these aren’t just financial instruments — they’re tools of control.

• Class A (Ticker: GOOGL)
Publicly traded and widely owned, each Class A share carries just 1 vote. Investors believe they’re part of the decision-making process, but in reality, their influence is minimal.

• Class B (Not Publicly Traded)
This is where the real power lies. Reserved exclusively for founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, each Class B share comes with a massive 10 votes per share. These super-voting shares ensure that a tiny group of insiders can overrule every other shareholder combined.

• Class C (Ticker: GOOG)
These shares have no voting rights at all. They were created in 2014 to allow Alphabet to issue stock to employees and the public without diluting founder control. Essentially, you can buy into Alphabet’s profits — but not its decisions.

📊 A Voting System That Favors the Few

According to the company’s filings:
- Class A shares outstanding: 5.88 billion (1 vote each)
- Class B shares outstanding: 0.87 billion (10 votes each)
- Class C shares outstanding: 5.63 billion (0 votes each)

That means Class B insiders, with less than 12% of Alphabet’s total equity, control around 60% of all voting power. In other words, the founders can single-handedly decide the company’s direction — even if every other shareholder disagrees.

🚫 The Illusion of Corporate Democracy

Alphabet’s setup gives the appearance of a public company but functions more like a private empire. Regular investors and even large institutions like Vanguard and BlackRock have little real say in how the company is run.

Critics argue that this arrangement undermines accountability and allows a small group of executives to make major decisions without proper oversight. From executive pay to acquisitions, everything effectively passes through a narrow circle of decision-makers.

⚖️ Why Change Is Nearly Impossible

While shareholder groups have repeatedly called for a “one share, one vote” policy, such reforms never stand a chance. Because founders hold most of the voting power through Class B shares, any proposal to change the system can — and routinely does — get voted down immediately.

This structure locks in control indefinitely, insulating top leadership from criticism, activism, or accountability to the broader investor base.

💭 What It Means for Investors

If you own GOOG or GOOGL shares, you’re effectively a silent partner. You share in Alphabet’s profits, but not in its power. The founders’ iron grip ensures they call the shots — no matter what public investors think.

For a company that champions open access to information and global transparency, Alphabet’s governance system remains deeply undemocratic. It’s a reminder that even the world’s most innovative corporations can be built on structures that favor control over fairness.