JEFF BEZOS
Founder of Amazon, who rebuilt global retail and, through AWS, the infrastructure of the modern internet.
Fast Facts
Summary
Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore and turned it into the dominant force in global e-commerce and cloud computing. Amazon Web Services, launched in 2006, became the profit engine and the backbone much of the internet runs on. Though he stepped down as CEO in 2021, his Amazon stake remains the core of his fortune, supplemented by Blue Origin (space) and The Washington Post.
Personal Life
Born in Albuquerque, Bezos worked on Wall Street before founding Amazon in a Seattle garage. He now focuses on Blue Origin and philanthropy.
Did you know?Bezos wrote Amazon’s original business plan during a cross-country drive, and the company was nearly named "Cadabra".
Asset Breakdown
- Amazon72%
- Blue Origin12%
- Cash / Investments13%
- Other3%
Wealth History
Hover to reveal net worth by year
In Their Words
- “Your margin is my opportunity.”
- “We are stubborn on vision. We are flexible on details.”
- “If you double the number of experiments you do per year, you’re going to double your inventiveness.”
FAQ
How did Jeff Bezos make his money?+
Almost entirely through Amazon, the e-commerce and cloud-computing company he founded in 1994. His remaining Amazon stake is the bulk of his net worth.
Is Jeff Bezos still CEO of Amazon?+
No. Bezos stepped down as CEO in 2021 and became executive chairman, handing day-to-day leadership to Andy Jassy while focusing on Blue Origin and other ventures.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon stock is the foundation of his fortune.
- AWS turned Amazon into the infrastructure layer of the internet.
- Now focused on Blue Origin and philanthropy.