FBI says Google engineer used internal search data to win $1.2M on Polymarket
A Google engineer has been charged with insider trading after allegedly using confidential internal data to win $1.2 million on a prediction market. Michele Spagnuolo accessed Google's internal systems to place bets on the most searched names for 2025. Google has suspended the employee and is cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation.
- ▪Michele Spagnuolo was arrested and charged with commodities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.
- ▪He allegedly made a profit of $1.2 million by betting on Polymarket using confidential Google data.
- ▪Spagnuolo's account, 'AlphaRaccoon', made bets with near-perfect accuracy on unlikely outcomes.
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Prediction market bets FBI says Google engineer used internal search data to win $1.2M on Polymarket FBI: Googler who knew outcome of bets in advance made $1.2M profit on Polymarket. Jon Brodkin – May 28, 2026 3:01 pm | 65 Credit: Getty Images | Josh Edelson Credit: Getty Images | Josh Edelson Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav The US charged a Google software engineer with insider trading after he allegedly made a profit of $1.2 million on Polymarket bets related to which public figures would top Google’s rankings for the most searched names in 2025.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Ars Technica.
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