Google is celebrating its 27th birthday on Saturday with a Doodle that brings back the company’s original 1998 logo, even though the actual founding date does not match September 27.
The company was formally incorporated on September 4, 1998, by Stanford PhD students Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Its journey began a month earlier when Sun Microsystems co-founder Andy Bechtolsheim handed them a $100,000 check, giving life to Google Inc.
Why the birthday falls weeks later remains something of a mystery. In its early years, Google marked the occasion on different September dates, possibly tied to public milestones. Since 2006, the company has consistently used September 27, which is thought to coincide with a breakthrough in web indexing.
From those uncertain beginnings, Google has grown into one of the world’s most powerful technology companies. Its reach extends from search to Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, Android, Pixel devices and artificial intelligence research through its Gemini platform.
Google now operates under parent company Alphabet Inc., established in 2015 to oversee its expanding businesses. Co-founders Page and Brin have stepped away from day-to-day management but retain control through special shares. Sundar Pichai leads both Google and Alphabet as chief executive officer.
Whether counted from September 4 or September 27, the anniversary highlights the transformation of a garage startup into a global tech giant shaping the digital era.
