A Google security engineer has been arrested after allegedly using insider information to profit from prediction market bets on Polymarket tied to Google’s 2025 “Year in Search” results.
According to reports, the employee, Michele Spagnuolo, made around $1.2 million by betting that singer-songwriter “d4vd” would be the most-searched person of 2025 — a result he was able to anticipate using nonpublic information from within Google.
Authorities say he tried to conceal the origin of his gains, while Google confirmed he has been placed on leave and is cooperating with law enforcement.
He now faces charges including wire fraud, money laundering and commodities fraud.
Source: 9to5Google
