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They pay to be the default search engine. It's just the cherry on top, that as long as Firefox survives, Google can deflect browser-monopoly accusations.

Google is currently facing a search engine monopoly case where their purchase of the default search in other browsers is being used against them.

Being the default search has value. It's why Google pays Apple billions a year for the same thing.

I would think the monopoly deflection is much more valuable to Google than being Firefox's default search engine. 3% marketshare, comprised primarily of, if I had to guess, people who are the most likely userbase of any browser to know how to change their default search engine.

For one side it's an existential question, the other side its just a rounding error..

There is no explicit loss of value for Google, they save money + get more chrome users..

Now if MS comes into play or are already playing in the background, then is a totally different story..

Google is the default search engine for official FF binaries.

Oh, but that wouldn't be just a "donation" then..