Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Jeff Bezos

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 20, 2026

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Jeff Bezos.

Jeff Bezos is an American businessman, best known as the founder, executive chairman, and former CEO of Amazon.com, a global leader in e-commerce and cloud computing. With an estimated net worth of US$284.1 billion in 2026, he is consistently ranked among the wealthiest people in the world. He held the title of wealthiest person from 2017 to 2021. His ventures have significantly impacted the technology and retail industries.

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Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

May 2014: Bezos Named "World's Worst Boss"

In May 2014, the International Trade Union Confederation named Jeff Bezos the "World's Worst Boss", criticizing his promotion of the North American corporate model.

2015: Bezos Denounces New York Times Piece

In 2015, Jeff Bezos sent a memo to employees denouncing a New York Times article critical of Amazon, demonstrating his tendency to publicly contest claims made in critical articles.

2016: Public Criticism of Bezos' Philanthropy

Since 2016, Jeff Bezos has faced public criticism for his relative lack of philanthropy compared to other billionaires.

May 1, 2018: Alleged Hacking of Bezos's Phone

On May 1, 2018, a malicious file was allegedly sent in a WhatsApp message to Jeff Bezos from the personal account of Mohammad bin Salman, potentially leading to the hacking of Bezos's phone.

July 2018: Called on to Detail Rekognition Applications

During July 2018, members of the U.S. Congress called on Bezos to detail the applications of Amazon's face recognition software, Rekognition.

September 2018: Questions About Day 1 Fund

In September 2018, Janet Camarena of Foundation Center raised questions about Bezos's new Day 1 Fund, including its structure and funding.

September 2018: Senator Sanders introduces the Stop BEZOS Act

In September 2018, Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the Stop Bad Employers by Zeroing Out Subsidies (Stop BEZOS) Act, accusing Amazon of receiving corporate welfare after a report showed many Amazon workers relied on food stamps. Sanders urged Bezos to pay his workers a living wage instead of focusing on space exploration.

2018: JEDI Project Controversy

In 2018, a $10 billion contract with the Pentagon, known as the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) project, allegedly favored Amazon, leading to controversy.

2018: Employee Criticism at The Washington Post

In 2018, more than 400 Washington Post employees wrote an open letter to Jeff Bezos criticizing his poor wages and benefits for his employees.

February 7, 2019: Accusations of Extortion and Blackmail

On February 7, 2019, Jeff Bezos published an online essay in which he accused American Media, Inc. owner David Pecker of "extortion and blackmail" for threatening to publish intimate photos.

March 2019: Accusation of Saudi Government Hacking Bezos's Phone

In March 2019, Jeff Bezos's security consultant accused the Saudi government of hacking Bezos's phone.

November 2019: Amazon Files Lawsuit Over JEDI Contract

In November 2019, after the JEDI contract was awarded to Microsoft, Amazon filed a lawsuit alleging bias in the bidding process.

2019: Harvard Business Review Downgrades Bezos' CEO Ranking

In 2019, Harvard Business Review, which previously ranked Jeff Bezos the best-performing CEO for 4 years in a row since 2014, did not rank him in the top 100, citing Amazon's low ESG scores.

January 2020: Report on Timing of Phone Hack

In January 2020, The Guardian reported that the hack of Bezos's phone was initiated before the murder of Jamal Khashoggi but after Khashoggi wrote critically about the crown prince in the Washington Post.

July 6, 2021: Pentagon Cancels JEDI Contract

On July 6, 2021, the Pentagon cancelled the JEDI contract with Microsoft, stating that it no longer met its needs due to evolving requirements and industry advances.

December 2023: Strike at The Washington Post

About 750 employees at The Washington Post went on a brief strike in December 2023 in response to Jeff Bezos' plans to lay off staff.

2024: Scrutiny and criticism regarding Bezos' influence on The Washington Post's content

In 2024, Bezos' ownership of the Post has been subject to scrutiny and criticism regarding his influence on the paper's content, in particular interference with the editorial and opinion pages.

2024: Bezos Blocks Editorial Endorsement

In 2024, Jeff Bezos blocked the Washington Post's editorial board from endorsing Kamala Harris in the presidential election, leading to criticism and resignations.

January 2025: Cartoonist Resignation from The Post

In January 2025, editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes resigned from the Post after it refused to run a satirical cartoon critical of the relationship between American billionaires and President Donald Trump.

February 2025: Announcement of Opinion Section Direction

In February 2025, Jeff Bezos announced that the opinion section of the Post will give voice only to opinions that support "personal liberties" and "free markets", and that divergent opinions will not be published by the Post.