Google co-founder Sergey Brin has achieved a remarkable financial milestone. The 52-year-old tech pioneer now ranks as the world's third richest person. This development marks a significant shift in global wealth rankings.
Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List Update
Forbes' Real-Time Billionaires List reveals impressive numbers. Brin's net worth increased by $4.9 billion recently. His total wealth now stands at $255.6 billion. This substantial growth propelled him past two notable billionaires.
Brin surpassed Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who holds $253.2 billion. He also overtook Oracle's Larry Ellison with $251.3 billion. The Google co-founder now sits comfortably in third position globally.
Current Top Billionaires
Only two individuals currently rank above Brin. Another Google co-founder, Larry Page, holds second place with $277 billion. Tesla CEO Elon Musk maintains the top spot with $725.3 billion. The gap between these tech titans remains substantial.
Alphabet Reaches $4 Trillion Milestone
Brin's wealth surge coincides with Alphabet's remarkable achievement. Google's parent company became the fourth firm to reach a $4 trillion market value this week. This places Alphabet among an elite group of technology giants.
Only three other companies have achieved this valuation. Nvidia, Microsoft and Apple previously reached the $4 trillion mark. Alphabet's entry into this exclusive club demonstrates its enduring market strength.
Stock Performance and AI Impact
Alphabet's stock performance tells an impressive story. The company's shares grew by 1.3% to just over $337 billion on Tuesday, January 13. More remarkably, Alphabet's stock increased by 65% in 2025 alone.
This represents the largest single-year jump since 2009. That year saw shares increase by nearly 93%. The current surge primarily stems from Google's advancements in artificial intelligence.
Apple Partnership Drives Growth
A major development fueled Alphabet's recent success. Apple announced a partnership with Google earlier this week. The iPhone maker will use Google's Gemini technology as the foundation for its AI models.
This collaboration extends to Apple's virtual assistant. The next generation of Siri will incorporate Gemini's capabilities. The multi-year agreement represents a significant vote of confidence in Google's AI technology.
Joint Statement Details
Apple and Google issued a joint statement about their collaboration. The companies confirmed a multi-year partnership. Apple's foundation models will now utilize Google's Gemini models and cloud technology.
These models will power future Apple Intelligence features. A more personalized Siri will debut this year. Apple conducted careful evaluation before selecting Google's AI technology.
The tech giant determined Google provides the most capable foundation. Apple expressed excitement about innovative experiences for its users. Apple Intelligence will maintain the company's privacy standards.
Google's AI Advancements
Google has made substantial progress in artificial intelligence. The company released multiple Gemini models last year. The latest iteration, Gemini 3, debuted in November 2025.
Google also unveiled Ironwood this year. This represents the seventh generation of its AI chips. The development comes amid growing competition with Nvidia in the AI hardware space.
These technological advancements contributed significantly to Alphabet's market performance. The company's focus on AI innovation continues to drive growth and investor confidence.
Sergey Brin's journey from Google co-founder to world's third richest person reflects broader industry trends. The artificial intelligence revolution continues reshaping global wealth distribution. Technology pioneers like Brin remain at the forefront of this transformation.
