Google parent Alphabet spent more than $8 million (approximately Rs 68 crore) on personal security for chief executive officer Sundar Pichai in 2024, according to the firm’s latest proxy filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Times of India reported.This marks a 22% increase from the $6.78 million (Rs 57.48 crore) spent in 2023. The company said the figure includes costs linked to residential protection, security consultations, monitoring services, chauffeured transportation, and travel-related safety arrangements.

The report noted that the increase in spending coincided with Pichai’s extensive travel in 2024. “We believe these arrangements and costs are reasonable, appropriate, necessary and in the best interests of Alphabet and its stockholders, as they mitigate risks to our business,” the company stated in the SEC filing.

Alphabet also clarified that these expenses are not classified as a personal benefit to Pichai, but are considered necessary due to the demands of his role.

This comes at a time when Pichai is expected to testify in an ongoing antitrust trial in Washington, where the US Department of Justice is seeking structural changes at Alphabet to increase competition in the online search market. The company has argued that such measures could cause unintended harm to browser developers, smartphone makers and internet users.