SUMMARY

• Alphabet's investment in YouTube, despite being a novel platform in 2006, has shown remarkable growth over the years, catapulting it into the world's most popular video platform.
• The number of videos on YouTube has exploded from 25 million in March 2006 to an estimated tens of billions in 2023, highlighting an exceptional growth rate.
• Apart from its video platform, YouTube's music service has also flourished, recently crossing the 50 million paying subscribers mark, contributing significantly to Alphabet's overall revenues.

Over a decade and a half ago, Google, now the principal subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL, GOOG), acquired the then fledgling video platform, YouTube, for a staggering $1.65 billion. This announcement, which took place on October 9, 2006, could initially be deemed an audacious gamble considering the relatively short lifespan of YouTube, which was less than two years old at that time. Nevertheless, this venture has since proven to be an astoundingly lucrative investment, with the platform growing exponentially ever since its inception.

Before the arrival of YouTube, there were hardly any noteworthy video streaming websites. However, YouTube's entrance onto the digital stage was a revolutionary one, triggering a continuous surge in its user base, thus demonstrating the relentless appetite for video content amongst internet users worldwide.

According to the renowned reference work Britannica, YouTube's video library crossed the 25 million mark within just three months of its launch in December 2005. Fast forward to the present day, and the platform is reported to house an astronomical number of videos, with estimates ranging in the tens of billions, encapsulating the sheer scale of YouTube's growth.

Moreover, another facet of YouTube's success story is its music service, which is reported to have recently amassed over 50 million paying subscribers. This prompted an exploration into the financial implications of Google's decision to acquire YouTube, more specifically, the degree to which it contributed to Google's revenues.

We can decipher this by analyzing two key parameters: YouTube's annual revenues and its contribution to Alphabet's overall financial performance. Additionally, an examination of the 'Big Money' trajectory of the stock can provide valuable insights into future trends.

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