Google sets all-time records as search and YouTube profits soar

Last quarter, Google roared out of the post-pandemic-peak period with a record $17.9 billion in profit, finally joining other tech giants that had been raking it in despite (or perhaps because of) the rise of COVID-19. But Alphabet’s Q2 2021 earnings do it one better — the company just set an all-time record revenue of $61.9 billion this quarter, and record profits for the fourth quarter in a row. (Profit was $18.5 billion, compared to $17.9 billion in Q1.) Some of the numbers the company’s posting today (PDF) are nearly double those it reported a year ago.

Google search appears to be the big driver, shooting up over $14 billion since this time last year to $35.8 billion total (that’s nearly $4 billion higher than it did last quarter as well). YouTube advertising revenue grew tremendously as well, nearly doubling to $7 billion, compared to $3.8 billion last year. That’s $1 billion more than YouTube pulled in last quarter, too. The company also says its YouTube Shorts have been a huge success, hitting 15 billion global daily views (up from 6.5 billion in March).

Google’s second quarter revenue: 2021: $61.9 billion 2020: $38.3 billion 2019: $38.9 billion 2018: $32.7 billion 2017: $26.0 billion 2016: $21.5 billion 2015: $17.7 billion 2014: $15.9 billion 2013: $13.1 billion 2012: $11.8 billion 2011: $9.0 billion 2010: $6.8 billion

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