In particular, Google has prevented manufacturers wishing to pre-install Google apps from selling even a single smart mobile device running on alternative versions of Android that were not approved by Google (so-called "Android forks"). - https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_18_...
Meaning a billionaire was unable to hire OnePlus/Motorola/Samsung to build a privacy-first phone running GrapheneOS, because their contracts with Google prevented them from manufacturing such a phone.
The restriction is on hardware - phone manufacturers that wish to sell phones with Google's software preinstalled are contractually forbidden (by Google) from selling versions with Android forks. Meaning you cannot hire any phone manufacturer if you want to sell phones with forked Android installed - you have to set up your own production lines.
You could root phones, but then the many apps (such as banking) that detect this will refuse to work. You would not have a commercially viable product, because only geeks will buy it.
Essentially, Google made sure that any kind of privacy-first alternative cannot develop, because it would involve burning too much money, even for billionaires.
