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Larry Page

Larry Page is an American computer scientist and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Google with Sergey Brin.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Larry Page is an American computer scientist and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Google with Sergey Brin. He later served as CEO of Google and then Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, before stepping down from day-to-day executive roles in 2019. He remains a controlling shareholder and board member of Alphabet.

Early life and education

Larry Page was born in 1973 in East Lansing, Michigan, and studied computer engineering at the University of Michigan before pursuing graduate study at Stanford University. He met Sergey Brin at Stanford, where their collaboration led to the creation of Google.

Google and PageRank

Page and Brin developed PageRank as part of their work at Stanford, using links between websites to help rank search results. Their research project became Google, which launched in 1998 and grew into one of the world's most widely used internet services.

Leadership at Google and Alphabet

Page served as Google's CEO in the company's early years and returned as CEO in 2011. In 2015, he became CEO of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, and left executive management in 2019. He served as CEO of Google from 1997 to 2001 and again from 2011 to 2015, and as CEO of Alphabet from 2015 until stepping down in 2019.

Wealth and influence

Page is widely described as one of the richest people in the world, with his net worth fluctuating significantly over time based on Alphabet's share value. He remains a major figure in the history of internet search and technology entrepreneurship.

Key facts

  • Co-founded Google with Sergey Brin while studying at Stanford University.
  • Helped develop PageRank, the ranking algorithm that became central to Google Search.
  • Served as CEO of Google from 1997 to 2001 and again from 2011 to 2015.
  • Became CEO of Alphabet Inc. in 2015 and stepped down from executive roles in 2019.
  • Remains a board member and controlling shareholder of Alphabet.
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Canadian context

Google has had major use in Canada through search, advertising, Android devices, and other services associated with Alphabet, making Larry Page relevant to Canadian internet and technology history.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Larry Page?
Larry Page is an American computer scientist and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Google and a former CEO of Google and Alphabet.
What did Larry Page create?
He helped create PageRank, an early search-ranking algorithm that became a core part of Google Search.
When was Larry Page born?
He was born on March 26, 1973.
Where did Larry Page study?
He studied at the University of Michigan and later at Stanford University.
Was Larry Page CEO of Alphabet?
Yes. He served as CEO of Alphabet Inc. from 2015 until stepping down from executive roles in 2019.
Does Larry Page still work at Alphabet?
He is reported to remain an Alphabet board member, employee, and controlling shareholder.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Page
    Supports: Birth date, co-founding Google, CEO roles, Alphabet role, current board and shareholder status, net worth context.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/money/Larry-Page
    Supports: Identity, nationality, birth details, and role as co-founder of Google.
  3. CNN — https://www.cnn.com/us/larry-page-fast-facts
    Supports: Birth date and place, education, marriage, children, and early Google timeline.
  4. EBSCO Research Starters — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/larry-page
    Supports: Education, PageRank, Google founding, CEO history, and role at Alphabet.