In 2015, Google.com, one of the most visited websites on Earth, was accidentally listed for sale — and a former employee bought it.
Here’s what happened…
The $12 Mistake
At 1:20 AM on September 29, 2015, Google’s primary domain, Google.com, appeared for sale on Google Domains.
The price?
Just $12.
Most would assume it was a glitch — but Sanmay Ved, a former Google employee, saw it for what it was: a real, critical mistake.
He Bought Google… Literally
Ved added the domain to his cart, entered his card details, and hit “purchase” — expecting an error.
But to his surprise…
- The payment went through.
- He owned Google.com.
- He had access to internal systems.
For a few surreal minutes, Sanmay had full control of the world’s most powerful domain — including access to Google Webmaster Tools and site data.
What He Did Next Was Even More Surprising
Ved didn’t abuse his sudden power.
- No redirects.
- No ransom.
- No bragging.
Instead, he alerted Google immediately.
Within a minute, Google took back the domain — and offered him a reward of $6,006.13 (a clever leetspeak spelling of “Google”).
But Ved Said “No”
Rather than keep the money, he asked Google to donate it to The Art of Living India Foundation — an NGO that supports over 1,200 schools for underprivileged children.
Google, moved by his integrity, doubled the donation.
The Bigger Lesson
Sanmay Ved’s story is more than a quirky internet tale — it’s a reminder that:
Integrity is choosing to give when you could have taken.
In a world obsessed with profit, he proved that the most valuable thing isn’t money — it’s character.
🔎 Next time you’re online, just remember:
Even Google isn’t immune to mistakes… but what you do when opportunity knocks is what defines you.
