Early Life and Education of Jeff Bezos: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Jeff Bezos, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Jeff Bezos is an American businessman renowned as the founder and former CEO of Amazon, a global leader in e-commerce and cloud computing. His estimated net worth of over $209 billion makes him one of the wealthiest individuals globally. Bezos held the title of the world's richest person from 2017 to 2021, solidifying his position as a pivotal figure in both the business and technology sectors.

Sections (6)

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

January 12, 1964: Jeffrey Preston Bezos Born

On January 12, 1964, Jeffrey Preston Bezos was born as Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen.

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June 1965: Parents' Divorce Filing

In June 1965, Jacklyn, Jeff Bezos' mother, filed for divorce from Ted Jorgensen when Jeff was 17 months old.

April 1968: Mother's Remarriage and Adoption

In April 1968, Jeff Bezos' mother married Miguel "Mike" Bezos, who then adopted 4-year-old Jeff, legally changing his surname from Jorgensen to Bezos.

1982: Awards and Graduation Speech

In 1982, Bezos was high school valedictorian, a National Merit Scholar, and a Silver Knight Award winner. In his graduation speech, he expressed his dream of mankind colonizing space.

1982: Attended Princeton University

In 1982, after graduating from high school, Bezos attended Princeton University.

1986: Graduation from Princeton University

In 1986, Bezos graduated from Princeton University with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science.

1992: Bezos Meets MacKenzie Tuttle

In 1992, while working for D. E. Shaw in Manhattan, Jeff Bezos met novelist MacKenzie Tuttle, who was a research associate at the firm.

1994: Bezos and MacKenzie Move to Seattle and Found Amazon

In 1994, Jeff Bezos and his now ex-wife MacKenzie moved to Seattle, Washington, where Bezos founded Amazon.

1996: Drove a 1996 Honda Accord

In 1996, Jeff Bezos drove a Honda Accord.

1997: Became a Millionaire

Jeff Bezos became a millionaire in 1997 after raising $54 million through Amazon's initial public offering (IPO).

1999: Bezos Buys Apartments at 25 Central Park West

In 1999, Jeff Bezos purchased three adjoining apartments at 25 Central Park West in Manhattan for $7.65 million.

1999: Worth $10 Billion

In 1999, Jeff Bezos was worth $10 billion, yet he drove a 1996 Honda Accord, reflecting a public image of prudence and parsimony.

1999: First Included on Forbes World's Billionaires List

Jeff Bezos was first included on the Forbes World's Billionaires list in 1999 with an estimated net worth of $10.1 billion, placing him 19th in the world and 10th in the USA.

March 2003: Bezos Survives Helicopter Crash

In March 2003, Jeff Bezos was a passenger in a helicopter that crashed in West Texas while surveying land for Blue Origin. All four occupants survived with Bezos sustaining only minor injuries.

2005: Net Worth Increased

From 2005 to 2007, Jeff Bezos quadrupled his net worth to $8.7 billion.

2007: Quadrupled Net Worth

From 2005 to 2007, Jeff Bezos quadrupled his net worth to $8.7 billion.

2010: Bezos Donates Against Income Tax

In 2010, Jeff Bezos donated $100,000 towards a movement against a Washington state income tax for "top earners".

2010: Wealth Increased by 85.2%

Jeff Bezos's wealth rose by 85.2% in 2010, leaving him with $12.6 billion and ascending him to the 43rd spot on the ranking from 68th.

2012: Bezos Supports Same-Sex Marriage

In 2012, Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Bezos contributed $2.5 million to Washington United for Marriage, supporting a yes vote on Washington Referendum 74, which affirmed a same-sex marriage law enacted in the state.

2012: Bezos Buys Fourth Unit

In 2012, Jeff Bezos bought a fourth unit in the building at 25 Central Park West for $5.3 million.

2014: Net Worth Rose to $30.5 Billion

In 2014, after a rumor broke out that Amazon was developing a smartphone, Jeff Bezos's net worth rose to $30.5 billion.

March 2016: Net Worth Registered at $45.2 Billion

By the time the Forbes list was calculated in March 2016, Jeff Bezos' net worth was registered at $45.2 billion.

October 2016: Wealth Increased to $66.5 Billion

In October 2016, Jeff Bezos's wealth increased by $16.2 billion to $66.5 billion, unofficially ranking him the third-richest person in the world, behind Warren Buffett.

2016: Bezos Joins Trump's Advisory Board

After the 2016 presidential election, Jeff Bezos was invited to join Donald Trump's Defense Innovation Advisory Board, an advisory council to improve the technology used by the Defense Department.

2016: Bezos Appears in Star Trek Beyond

In 2016, Jeff Bezos portrayed a Starfleet official in the movie Star Trek Beyond and attended a San Diego Comic-Con screening.

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June 15, 2017: Philanthropy Strategy Announcement on Twitter

On June 15, 2017, Jeff Bezos posted a message on Twitter asking for ideas for philanthropy, considering a strategy opposite to his focus on long-term projects.

July 2017: Briefly Unseated Bill Gates as Wealthiest Person

In July 2017, Jeff Bezos briefly unseated Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates as the wealthiest person in the world.

2017: Wealthiest Person

In 2017, according to Forbes and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Bezos became the wealthiest person in the world.

March 2018: Meeting with Mohammad bin Salman

In March 2018, Jeff Bezos met with Mohammad bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, in Seattle to discuss investment opportunities for Saudi Vision 2030.

January 2019: Bezos Announces Divorce

In January 2019, Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie released a joint statement announcing their divorce after 25 years of marriage. Soon after, news of Bezos's affair with Lauren Sánchez was revealed.

April 4, 2019: Bezos Divorce Finalized

On April 4, 2019, Jeff Bezos's divorce was finalized, with Bezos keeping 75% of the couple's Amazon stock and MacKenzie getting the remaining 25% ($35.6 billion).

June 2019: Bezos Purchases Apartments in Manhattan

In June 2019, Jeff Bezos purchased three adjoining apartments overlooking Madison Square Park in Manhattan, including a penthouse, for a combined total of $80 million, making it one of the most expensive real estate purchases within New York City that year.

2019: Bezos's Wealth Reduced by Divorce

In 2019, Jeff Bezos's wealth was reduced due to his divorce from MacKenzie Bezos. MacKenzie received 25% of Bezos's Amazon shares, valued at approximately $36 billion, making her the third-richest woman in the world. Bezos retained his interests in The Washington Post and Blue Origin, as well as voting control of the shares received by his ex-wife.

February 2020: Bezos Purchases Warner Estate

In February 2020, Jeff Bezos purchased the Warner Estate from David Geffen for $165 million, setting a record price for a residence in the Los Angeles area.

August 2020: Net Worth Exceeds $200 Billion

In August 2020, Bezos had a net worth exceeding $200 billion.

July 20, 2021: Launched on NS-16 Mission

On July 20, 2021, Jeff Bezos launched on the NS-16 mission with his half-brother Mark Bezos, Wally Funk, and Oliver Daemen. The suborbital flight lasted over 10 minutes, reaching a peak altitude of 66.5 miles (107.0 km).

November 22, 2021: Bezos Donates to Obama Foundation

On November 22, 2021, Jeff Bezos donated $100 million to the Obama Foundation to "help expand the scope of programming that reaches emerging leaders", and requested the Obama Presidential Center's plaza to be named after John Lewis.

2021: Stepping down as CEO of Amazon

In 2021, Jeff Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon, marking a shift in his focus toward Blue Origin and his engagement to Lauren Sánchez, potentially influencing his political views.

2021: Wealthiest Person

Until 2021, according to Forbes and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Bezos was the wealthiest person in the world.

February 2022: Bezos Expands Residential Holdings

In February 2022, Jeff Bezos expanded his residential holdings by purchasing a $16.13 million apartment in the Flatiron neighborhood of Manhattan, where he already owned all the units on the top floors.