If you were Sergei or Larry, how would you feel about the company you started nearly 10 years ago? Obviously you have a lot of money, and you are probably thinking more about the mark you made now, than how much money you need. You are probably proud that you built the biggest search engine, and were part of Android, Adwords, Ansense, Google Maps and many other products. But now Google is a corporation that you don't have as much governance of now, and that corporation must please stock holders. The "Do no evil" mantra is a lot more complicated now, as politicians and investors vie for some control of the company. You are more often being compared to the behemoth Microsoft, and people say you will follow a similar path that seeks dominance in many markets and puts competitors out of business. You keep trying to say "we're different". But are you really? Or do investors have you like they do so many other companies?
Yes, certainly their ability to solve large problems is heightened by their wealth. The ability to change people's lives can be done with the stroke of a pen or keyboard. I hope they do.
Start putting the money they make back into the environment, even though they've probably indirectly saved a few forests with the obsolescence of paper/printed directories.
I think they are doing some great things and should be very happy. I know they do lots of philanthropy but I would like to see and hear about more.
Remember: Great people have a lot of responsibility and have to toil hard further to sustain as well as carry forward their goal; so too the google founders. If I were them, I would burn my midnight oil.
Great article about Larry Page http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/03/mf_larrypage/all/1 Maybe there is hope still!
I'd do a talent show on tv which awards an angel investment of 2 million dollars, which is nothing for Page and Brin
Google nowadays is just like Microsoft, try to monopolize the market, no new ideas, just buy small companies and try to shut down every possible competitors in their beginning.