Alphabet Inc.’s (GOOGL) Google Chrome browser may sell for up to $20 billion if a judge forces them to sell, according to a Bloomberg valuation. The Justice Department is proposing Alphabet to sell the business in what would be a historic crackdown on Google. US judge Amit Mehta ruled in August that Google illegally monopolized the search market. The DOJ is now asking this judge to order a mandatory sale.
Per Bloomberg analyst Mandeep Singh, Google Chrome’s sale would be worth “at least $15-$20 billion.” The internet browser averages roughly 3 billion active users per month, making it one of the most popular web browsers in the world. This is one of Alphabet’s biggest streams of income, and the forced sale would be a huge blow to Google and its profits. Google has also been using Chrome to direct users to its flagship AI product, Gemini.
Fate of Google Chrome Sale Sits in US Government’s Hands
The US government has the option to decide whether a Chrome sale is necessary at a later date if some of the other aspects of the remedy do not create a more competitive market. The goal of the forced sale is to loosen Google’s monopoly chokehold on the industry. Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, said the Justice Department “continues to push a radical agenda that goes far beyond the legal issues in this case.” She added, “the government putting its thumb on the scale in these ways would harm consumers, developers and American technological leadership at precisely the moment it is most needed.”
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Furthermore, in response to the proposed sale, Google said in a blog post that if other companies owned Chrome, they wouldn’t have the incentive to invest as heavily in it or keep it free. Thus, the tech giant would likely have to change its business model, affecting the way users use Chrome.
The DOJ has yet to comment on the attempt to force a sale. GOOGL stock was unaffected by the news, with shares up 1% since trading opened Tuesday morning. The stock is up 8.5% in the last 30 days. The judge has set a two-week hearing in April on what changes Google must make to remedy the illegal behavior and plans to issue a final ruling by August 2025.