In 2015, an unusual and widely publicized incident occurred when Sanmay Ved, a former Google employee, briefly became the owner of the domain Google.com, one of the most valuable and recognizable digital addresses in the world. While browsing Google Domains late at night, Ved noticed something that seemed impossible: Google.com was listed as available for purchase for just 12 USD. Believing it to be a glitch, he proceeded through the checkout process out of curiosity. To his astonishment, the transaction succeeded. Within seconds, he received confirmation emails indicating that the domain had transferred to his account, effectively giving him temporary control of Google’s primary web address.
For roughly one minute, Ved held ownership of a domain typically deemed “priceless” in the digital landscape. During this time, he could see administrative notifications flowing into his account, confirming that the system recognized him as the legitimate domain holder. Rather than exploiting the situation for financial or technical gain, Ved acted with integrity. He immediately contacted Google’s security team to report the mistake and relinquish control of the domain. According to coverage by BBC News and The Washington Post, Google quickly revoked the transfer after validating his report, citing the incident as a rare but insightful error in their domain registration process.
In recognition of his honesty and responsible behavior, Google rewarded Ved through its Vulnerability Rewards Program. The company offered him 6,006.13 USD, a numerically playful amount chosen because the digits resemble the word “Google” when inverted—an inside joke the company had used in previous reward payouts. Rather than keeping the money, Ved requested that Google donate the entire sum to the Art of Living India Foundation, a charity focused on providing educational support to underprivileged children in India. Demonstrating further goodwill, Google not only approved the request but doubled the donation to 12,000 USD, turning the incident into a positive and widely admired story about ethical conduct in the tech world.
The episode quickly circulated across major international media outlets, including The Guardian, CNN, and Forbes, which highlighted how an ordinary late-night search on a domain platform unexpectedly evolved into a lesson in transparency, corporate responsibility, and personal integrity. Many commentators noted that while domain glitches are not unheard of, it is rare for an individual to handle such a situation with the level of honesty shown by Ved. Google later stated that the incident contributed to refining internal systems, ensuring similar anomalies would be caught before a transaction could be completed.
Ultimately, the brief ownership of Google.com stands as a remarkable anecdote in internet history. What could have been a chaotic episode instead became a story characterized by trust and goodwill. Through Ved’s actions and Google’s charitable response, the event offered a refreshing example of ethical behavior in an industry often challenged by security flaws, opportunism, and high-stakes digital assets. The incident remains a testament to how responsible choices—made within moments—can transform an unexpected mistake into a moment of shared positive impact.
