Google worker charged with using internal data to make $1.2m on bets

A Google engineer, Michele Spagnuolo, was charged in the Southern District of New York for allegedly using internal company data to place profitable bets on Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction platform. Spagnuolo, an Italian citizen living in Switzerland, allegedly accessed confidential Google marketing materials—including search trends—to make bets between October and December 2024, generating over $1.2 million in winnings. The FBI and US Attorney’s office arrested Spagnuolo on December 11, 2024, after tracing his activity through an Italian identification card linked to one of his Polymarket accounts. He was released on a $2.25 million bond. Google confirmed Spagnuolo had been placed on leave and was cooperating with law enforcement, calling the use of confidential data for betting a serious policy violation. Spagnuolo’s most profitable bets reportedly predicted Google’s 2025 ‘Most Searched’ results, including correctly wagering that musician D4vd—currently jailed for murder—would top the list, despite near-zero odds. Court documents claim he exploited early access to Google’s internal search data to make these predictions. Polymarket, which operates on blockchain and only accepts cryptocurrency, stated it had worked closely with authorities during the investigation. The platform emphasized that blockchain’s transparency helped identify Spagnuolo’s activity. Google’s spokeswoman reiterated that while the tool used to access data was available to all employees, its misuse for betting violated company policies. Spagnuolo, who worked at Google for over 12 years as an information security engineer, began using Polymarket in early 2024. His bets totaled $2.7 million, with profits exceeding $1 million. The case marks one of the first instances of insider trading allegations tied to blockchain-based prediction markets.