Google co-founder Larry Page has jumped ahead of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos to become the world’s third-richest person, after his wealth surged by $7.6 billion in a single day to reach $240 billion. The sharp rise came as Alphabet’s stock climbed 3.3% to a record $304.25. The rally followed Google’s launch of Gemini 3, its most advanced AI model yet, which is being praised as a major breakthrough in reasoning and real-world performance.
The rally capped a whirlwind week for Alphabet, where investor euphoria over the model’s Ph.D.-level problem-solving prowess and seamless integration into Google Search overshadowed earlier antitrust jitters. “This isn’t just an upgrade; it’s a leap toward AI that thinks like a human or better,” said Sundar Pichai, Alphabet’s CEO, during Tuesday’s launch event. As the dust settles, Page’s ascent underscores how AI breakthroughs are not only reshaping tech but redrawing the billionaire pecking order in real time.
Billionaire Shuffle: Page and Brin Ride the AI Wave
Page’s 3.2% stake in Alphabet, the parent of Google, YouTube, and DeepMind – translated the stock’s momentum into personal billions, edging him ahead of Bezos’s $233.6 billion haul. Fellow co-founder Sergey Brin wasn’t far behind, pocketing $7 billion from his 2.9% ownership to hit $215 billion and snag the fifth spot globally.
The duo’s three-month haul now tops $50 billion combined, trailing only Oracle’s Larry Ellison in yearly wealth gains among tech titans. At the pinnacle, Elon Musk holds firm with $466.2 billion, while Ellison clocks in at $276.5 billion in second place.
| Rank | Name | Net Worth (USD) | Primary Source | Change Since Gemini Launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elon Musk | $466.2B | Tesla/SpaceX | +$2.1B (stable) |
| 2 | Larry Ellison | $276.5B | Oracle | +$1.4B (AI synergies) |
| 3 | Larry Page | $240B | Alphabet | +$7.6B |
| 4 | Jeff Bezos | $233.6B | Amazon | -$1.2B (stock dip) |
| 5 | Sergey Brin | $215B | Alphabet | +$7B |
Data from Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List, as of November 20 close. Figures approximate and fluctuate with markets.
Gemini 3: From Code Wizardry to Everyday Agents
Launched on November 18, Gemini 3 promises to “push the frontiers of intelligence,” blending multimodal mastery – handling text, images, video, and code with agentic smarts for multi-step tasks. Key upgrades include:
- Ph.D.-Level Reasoning: A 74% performance leap over Gemini 2, excelling in math, science, and long-context planning solving benchmarks that tripped up rivals like OpenAI’s GPT-5.
- Vibe Coding & Generative Interfaces: Users can “vibe code” apps in plain English, spawning interactive 3D visuals or magazine-style layouts. The experimental Gemini Agent even handles chores like email triage or trip booking.
- Search Integration: For the first time, it’s baked into Google Search from day one, routing tough queries to AI Mode for cleaner, hallucination-free answers with embedded visuals and sources.
Analysts are buzzing. “Rave reviews all around Gemini 3 is the current state-of-the-art,” gushed D.A. Davidson’s team, upgrading their outlook on Alphabet. Robert W. Baird’s Colin Sebastian echoed the praise, contrasting it with GPT-5’s “mixed bag” reception. Early tests show it topping LMSYS Arena leaderboards, with developers at JetBrains noting a 50% benchmark solve rate jump.
On X, the hype is palpable: “Larry Page just leveled up Gemini 3 has Alphabet flying,” posted @trustmebroshow, capturing the sentiment as shares hit record volumes. Another user quipped, “AI isn’t just rewriting tech; it’s shuffling the billionaire deck.”
Buffett’s Billion-Dollar Bet Seals the Deal
The stars aligned further with Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway disclosing a $4.3 billion Q3 stake in Alphabet, its 10th-largest holding and a rare value-investor nod to Big Tech. This came atop Alphabet’s blockbuster Q3: Over $100 billion in revenue, double-digit growth across Search, Cloud, and YouTube.
Loop Capital’s recent “Strong Buy” upgrade to $320 target price cites Gemini’s edge in user adoption, with AI Overviews now boasting 2 billion monthly users. Yet, not all is rosy: Antitrust closing arguments loom Friday, and AI bubble fears linger amid Nvidia’s earnings glow.
For Page — the reclusive visionary who stepped back in 2019 but retains board sway this is vindication. From a Stanford dorm project to AI overlord, his empire’s $3.5 trillion valuation now rivals nations. As one X post summed it: “OGs like Page don’t build for fun; they build fortunes.”
With Gemini 3 rolling out to apps, Vertex AI, and beyond, the question isn’t if Alphabet surges more, it’s how high. In the AI arms race, Page is armed and ascendant.
Read more: Bitcoin Plunges Below $87,000 in Brutal Sell-Off: $910 Million Liquidated as “Weak Hands” Capitulate