Who Owns YouTube? Founder, Parent Company, CEO and Ownership History

YouTube is one of the most popular video-sharing platforms in the world. Millions of people use it every day to watch videos, listen to music, learn new skills, follow their favourite creators and enjoy entertainment. From educational tutorials and gaming videos to movies, news and live streaming, YouTube has become an important part of everyday life.

But have you ever wondered who owns YouTube? Who started this famous platform, and which company controls it today?

The simple answer is that YouTube is owned by Google LLC, which operates under its parent company, Alphabet Inc. However, the platform was not originally created by Google. It was founded in 2005 by three former PayPal employees: Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim.

In this article, we will explain who owns YouTube in 2026, its founders, Google’s acquisition, its current CEO and other interesting facts about the platform.

Who Owns YouTube in 2026?

YouTube is owned by Google LLC, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. Google purchased YouTube in November 2006 for approximately $1.65 billion in an all-stock transaction.

Although YouTube was originally an independent company, it became part of Google’s business after the acquisition. Today, Google manages the platform’s operations, technology, advertising systems and business development.

Alphabet Inc. is the parent company of Google. It was established in 2015 when Google reorganised its corporate structure. This means YouTube is part of Google’s business and ultimately belongs to the Alphabet corporate group.

Here is a quick overview of YouTube ownership:

Detail	Information
Platform name	YouTube
Original founders	Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim
Founded	February 2005
Current owner	Google LLC
Parent company	Alphabet Inc.
Acquisition year	November 2006
Acquisition price	Approximately $1.65 billion
Current CEO	Neal Mohan
Main office	San Bruno, California, USA

Who Founded YouTube? Meet the Three Original Founders

YouTube was founded by three people who previously worked at PayPal. Their names are Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim. They wanted to create a simple platform where people could upload videos and share them with others through the internet.

Here is some information about YouTube’s three founders.

1. Chad Hurley

Chad Hurley is one of YouTube’s co-founders. He played an important role in designing the platform’s early interface and served as its first CEO. He helped turn the original idea into a working video-sharing website.

2. Steve Chen

Steve Chen is another co-founder of YouTube. He contributed to the technical development of the platform and helped build the technology that allowed users to upload, process and watch videos online.

3. Jawed Karim

Jawed Karim is the third co-founder of YouTube. He is also famous for uploading the platform’s first video, titled “Me at the zoo”, on April 23, 2005. The short video was recorded at the San Diego Zoo.

All three founders played important roles in creating YouTube. Their idea eventually developed into one of the world’s most recognised online video platforms.

When Did Google Buy YouTube?

Google purchased YouTube in November 2006, around 20 months after the platform was founded.

At that time, YouTube was growing rapidly because people were increasingly interested in watching and sharing videos online. Google recognised the platform’s potential and decided to acquire it rather than build a competing video-sharing community from scratch.

The acquisition was announced in October 2006 and completed later that year. Google paid approximately $1.65 billion in stock for YouTube.

This was an important business decision because it helped Google expand its presence in online video, digital entertainment and advertising.

After the acquisition, YouTube continued operating as a separate video platform under Google’s ownership. It gradually introduced more features, including advertising, creator monetisation, live streaming and subscription services.

Why Did Google Buy YouTube?

There were several business reasons behind Google’s decision to purchase YouTube.

1. Growing Popularity of Online Videos

People were spending more time watching videos on the internet. Google understood that online video could become an important part of the future of digital media.

2. Advertising Opportunities

YouTube offered Google an opportunity to expand its advertising business. Businesses could reach audiences through video advertisements, while creators could earn money from eligible content.

3. Global Audience

YouTube had already attracted a large number of users. Buying the platform helped Google strengthen its position in the online entertainment industry.

4. Future Business Growth

The acquisition gave Google an opportunity to develop new video-related services, subscription products and tools for content creators.

Is YouTube Owned by Google or Alphabet?

Many people get confused about whether YouTube is owned by Google or Alphabet Inc. The answer is that both companies are connected, but they have different positions in the corporate structure.

Google LLC owns and operates YouTube as part of its business. Alphabet Inc. is the parent company of Google and oversees Google’s wider corporate group.

Alphabet was created in 2015 when Google reorganised its business structure. The change allowed different businesses to operate under a larger parent organisation.

You can understand the ownership structure like this:

Alphabet Inc. (Parent Company)

↓

Google LLC (Subsidiary)

↓

YouTube (Video-Sharing Platform)

Therefore, when someone asks who owns YouTube, the most direct answer is Google, while Alphabet Inc. is its ultimate parent company.

Who Is the Current CEO of YouTube in 2026?

Neal Mohan is the current CEO of YouTube. He became CEO in February 2023 after previously serving as YouTube’s Chief Product Officer.

Before becoming CEO, Neal Mohan worked on YouTube’s products, advertising, subscriptions and user experience. He has also held senior positions at Google.

As CEO, he oversees YouTube’s overall direction, product development and business strategy. His responsibilities include supporting content creators, improving the viewing experience and developing new features.

His leadership focuses on expanding YouTube’s position in entertainment, digital advertising, artificial intelligence and the creator economy.

5 Interesting Facts About YouTube

Here are five interesting facts about YouTube that many users may not know.

1. First YouTube Video: The first video was titled “Me at the zoo” and was uploaded by Jawed Karim on April 23, 2005.
2. Original Launch: YouTube was registered as a website on February 14, 2005.
3. Google Acquisition: Google purchased YouTube for approximately $1.65 billion in 2006.
4. Three Founders: Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim created YouTube.
5. Current CEO: Neal Mohan became YouTube’s CEO in February 2023.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

YouTube started as a small video-sharing website in February 2005, created by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim. However, its ownership changed when Google acquired the platform in November 2006 for approximately $1.65 billion.

Today, YouTube operates under Google LLC, which belongs to Alphabet Inc. Neal Mohan is its current CEO in 2026.

So, if anyone asks who owns YouTube, the simple answer is Google, with Alphabet Inc. as its parent company. YouTube’s journey from a small startup to a major global video platform is an interesting example of how technology and innovation can transform the internet.