A Google engineer saw what we were searching for, then used our secrets to win a million-dollar bet

Prosecutors say Michele Spagnuolo used private search data to make a $1.2 million profit on a betting site.

When we type our deepest thoughts and fears into a search bar, we trust that our information stays private. But federal agents say a tech insider treated those private searches like a cheat code to get rich.

WHAT HAPPENED

Michele Spagnuolo worked as a software engineer for Google. Prosecutors say he had special access to secret, live data showing what people were searching for online.

In 2025, a singer named D4vd was arrested for the murder of a 14-year-old girl. Millions of people rushed to search his name. This surge made him the most searched person on Google, passing Kendrick Lamar.

The public did not know this search data yet. But prosecutors say Spagnuolo saw it and used it to bet less than $1,000 on the site Polymarket. Because the odds were against it, he walked away with a $1.2 million payout.

WHAT THE MONEY/EVIDENCE SHOWS

Spagnuolo used an account named "AlphaRaccoon" on the betting site Polymarket.

• He bet less than $1,000 on two polls about search rankings.
• His bets won him a $1.2 million payout.
• He was released on a $2.25 million bond after his arrest on Wednesday.
• The singer D4vd remains jailed for the murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

THE BIGGER QUESTION

This case raises a scary question about the tech giants we rely on every day. How much of our private data is open to regular employees? We trust these platforms with our secrets, but they might just be tools for insiders to make a quick buck.

THE OTHER SIDE

Spagnuolo appeared in court but did not enter a plea. His defense team has not yet released a public statement about the fraud charges. At this point, the digital trail of account names and search access presented by prosecutors appears very strong.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

This arrest could force big tech companies to lock down who can see our search data. It also shows that online betting sites are now a major target for federal investigators. Regular users may face stricter rules as these platforms try to stop insider trading.

WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW

How did Google fail to notice an employee looking at this secret data for personal bets?

• Will Polymarket take back the $1.2 million payout?
• Did Spagnuolo use private user data to make other bets in the past?