History of Jeff Bezos in Timeline
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.
January 12, 1964: Jeffrey Preston Bezos Born
On January 12, 1964, Jeffrey Preston Bezos was born as Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen.
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.
July 1969: Apollo 11 Mission
In July 1969, the Apollo 11 mission's S-1C stage launched into space. Engines from this mission were recovered by Bezos Expeditions in 2013.
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.
1986: Offered Jobs and First Employment
In 1986, after college, Bezos was offered jobs at multiple companies and first worked at Fitel, a fintech telecommunications start-up.
1988: Product Manager at Bankers Trust
From 1988, Bezos transitioned into the banking industry when he became a product manager at Bankers Trust.
1990: Joins D. E. Shaw & Co.
From 1990, Bezos worked at D. E. Shaw & Co, a hedge fund emphasizing mathematical modeling.
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.
July 5, 1994: Amazon Founded in a Garage
On July 5, 1994, Bezos and MacKenzie Scott founded Amazon in a rented garage in Bellevue, Washington, after writing its business plan during a cross-country drive.
1994: Leaves D. E. Shaw & Co.
By 1994, Bezos had become D. E. Shaw's fourth senior vice-president, and he left the company that year.
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.
1994: Amazon Founded
In mid-1994, Bezos founded Amazon during a road trip from New York City to Seattle. The company initially started as an online bookstore.
1996: Drove a 1996 Honda Accord
In 1996, Jeff Bezos drove a Honda Accord.
1997: Amazon Equity Offering
In 1997 Amazon raised $54 million during an equity offering to finance aggressive acquisitions of smaller competitors.
1997: Became a Millionaire
Jeff Bezos became a millionaire in 1997 after raising $54 million through Amazon's initial public offering (IPO).
1998: Diversification into Music and Video
In 1998, Bezos diversified Amazon into the online sale of music and video.
1998: Invested in Google
In 1998, Jeff Bezos became one of the first shareholders in Google, investing $250,000 through Bezos Expeditions.
1998: Shareholder Letter Principles
Since 1998, Jeff Bezos has published an annual letter for Amazon shareholders wherein he frequently refers to five principles: focus on customers, not competitors; take risks for market leadership; facilitate staff morale; build a company culture; and empower people.
1999: Bill Gates First Centibillionaire
Bill Gates became the first ever centibillionaire since 1999.
1999: Purchase of Stake in Pets.com
In 1999, Bezos purchased a majority stake in pets.com.
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.
September 2000: Founded Blue Origin
In September 2000, Jeff Bezos founded Blue Origin, a human spaceflight startup, expressing his long-held interest in space travel and the development of human life in the Solar System.
2000: Purchase of Stake in Kozmo.com and Borrowing $2 Billion
By the end of 2000, Bezos borrowed $2 billion from banks and purchased a portion of kozmo.com for $60 million.
2000: Blue Origin Founded
In 2000, Bezos founded the aerospace manufacturer and sub-orbital spaceflight services company Blue Origin.
2002: Launch of Amazon Web Services and Layoffs
In 2002, Bezos led Amazon to launch Amazon Web Services. Due to stagnating revenues, he closed distribution centers and laid off 14% of the Amazon workforce.
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.
2003: Amazon Rebounds with Profit
In 2003, Amazon rebounded from financial instability and turned a profit of $35 million.
2003: Rob Meyerson Led Blue Origin
In 2003, Rob Meyerson began leading Blue Origin and served as its first president until 2017.
2005: Net Worth Increased
From 2005 to 2007, Jeff Bezos quadrupled his net worth to $8.7 billion.
2006: Purchased Land in West Texas
In 2006, Blue Origin purchased a large tract of land in West Texas to build a launch and test facility.
November 2007: Launch of Amazon Kindle
In November 2007, Bezos launched the Amazon Kindle.
2007: Quadrupled Net Worth
From 2005 to 2007, Jeff Bezos quadrupled his net worth to $8.7 billion.
2008: Flow State in Reading
According to a 2008 Time profile, Bezos wanted to create a device that allowed a "flow state" in reading similar to the experience of video games.
2009: Donations to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Between 2009 and 2017, Jeff Bezos donated to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center multiple times.
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.
September 2011: Prototype Vehicle Crash
In September 2011, one of Blue Origin's uncrewed prototype vehicles crashed during a short-hop test flight, which was viewed as a setback, though the company's overall progress was noted.
2011: Alexa Project Inspiration
In 2011, Jeff Bezos told Greg Hart that the goal of the project that became Alexa was to create "the Star Trek computer."
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.
May 2013: Met with Richard Branson
In May 2013, Jeff Bezos met with Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Galactic, to discuss commercial spaceflight opportunities and strategies.
August 5, 2013: Announced Purchase of The Washington Post
On August 5, 2013, Jeff Bezos announced his purchase of The Washington Post for $250 million in cash, using Nash Holdings as the holding company.
October 1, 2013: Sale of The Washington Post Closed
On October 1, 2013, the sale of The Washington Post closed, and Nash Holdings took control of the newspaper.
2013: Funded Recovery of Rocket Engines
In 2013, Bezos Expeditions funded the recovery of two Saturn V first-stage Rocketdyne F-1 engines from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, which were identified as belonging to the Apollo 11 mission's S-1C stage from July 1969.
2013: Purchase of The Washington Post
In 2013, Bezos purchased The Washington Post newspaper for $250 million.
2013: Amazon Web Services Secures CIA Contract
In 2013, Bezos secured a $600-million contract with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on behalf of Amazon Web Services.
2013: Pledge to Worldreader
In 2013, Jeff Bezos pledged $500,000 to Worldreader, a non-profit founded by a former Amazon employee.
May 2014: Named "World's Worst Boss"
In May 2014, the International Trade Union Confederation named Jeff Bezos the "World's Worst Boss," citing the inhumanity of employers promoting the North American corporate model.
2014: Amazon Wins Cloud Computing Contract with CIA
In 2014, Amazon won a bid for a cloud computing contract with the CIA valued at $600 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.
2015: Blue Origin's New Shepard Reached Space
In 2015, Blue Origin's New Shepard vehicle reached space and successfully landed back on Earth.
2015: Announced New Orbital Launch Vehicle
In 2015, Jeff Bezos announced that a new orbital launch vehicle was under development with the first flight planned for the late-2010s. Also in November 2015, Blue Origin's New Shepard space vehicle successfully reached space and executed a vertical landing.
2015: Denounced New York Times Piece
In 2015, Jeff Bezos sent a memo to employees denouncing a New York Times piece that was critical of Amazon.
January 2016: Reinvent Newspaper as Media and Technology Company
In January 2016, Jeff Bezos set out to reinvent The Washington Post as a media and technology company by reconstructing its digital media, mobile platforms, and analytics software.
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.
May 2016: Sold Shares of Amazon
In May 2016, Bezos sold slightly more than one million shares of his holdings in the company for $671 million, the largest sum he had ever raised from selling some of his Amazon stock.
August 4, 2016: Sold More Shares of Amazon
On August 4, 2016, Bezos sold another million of his shares for $756.7 million.
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: Facility Tour for Journalists
In 2016, Jeff Bezos allowed select journalists to visit, tour, and photograph his Blue Origin facility.
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.
2016: Hopes to Colonize Solar System
Since 2016, Jeff Bezos has spoken more freely about his hopes to colonize the solar system and has been selling $1 billion in Amazon stock each year to capitalize Blue Origin.
2016: Public Criticism for Lack of Philanthropy
Since 2016, Jeff Bezos' relative lack of philanthropy compared to other billionaires has drawn a negative response from the public.
January 2017: Bezos's Net Worth Increases
From January 2017 to January 2018, Jeff Bezos's net worth increased by $33.6 billion, an increase that outstripped the economic development of more than 96 countries around the world.
May 2017: Donation to Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
In May 2017, Jeff Bezos gave $1 million to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
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.
July 27, 2017: Briefly Became World's Wealthiest Person
On July 27, 2017, Bezos momentarily became the world's wealthiest person over Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates when his estimated net worth increased to just over $90 billion.
October 10, 2017: Bezos Makes $6.24 Billion in 5 Minutes
On October 10, 2017, Jeff Bezos made an estimated $6.24 billion in 5 minutes, an amount slightly less than the then annual gross domestic product of Kyrgyzstan.
October 2017: Bezos Sporadically Surpasses Gates
Throughout October 2017, Jeff Bezos sporadically surpassed Bill Gates as the richest person in the world as Amazon's share price fluctuated.
November 24, 2017: Wealth Surpassed $100 Billion
On November 24, 2017, Bezos' wealth surpassed $100 billion for the first time.
December 2017: New Shepard Flew and Landed Dummy Passengers
In December 2017, New Shepard successfully flew and landed dummy passengers, pushing its human space travel start date into late 2018.
2017: Donations to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Between 2009 and 2017, Jeff Bezos donated to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center multiple times.
2017: Google Stock Value
By 2017, Jeff Bezos's $250,000 investment in Google resulted in 3.3 million shares of Google stock, worth about $3.1 billion.
2017: Rob Meyerson left Blue Origin
In 2017, Rob Meyerson departed from his role at Blue Origin after having served as its first president since 2003.
2017: Wealthiest Person
In 2017, according to Forbes and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Bezos became the wealthiest person in the world.
2017: Portrayed on Saturday Night Live
Since 2017, Jeff Bezos has been portrayed on Saturday Night Live by Kyle Mooney and Steve Carell, usually as an undercutting, domineering figure.
January 2018: Bezos's Net Worth Increase Compared to Countries' GDP
Between January 2017 and January 2018, Jeff Bezos's net worth increased by $33.6 billion. This increase outstripped the economic development (in GDP terms) of more than 96 countries around the world.
January 2018: Donation to TheDream.US
In January 2018, Jeff Bezos made a $33 million donation to TheDream.US, a college scholarship fund for undocumented immigrants.
January 2018: Announcement of New Healthcare Company
In January 2018, an announcement was made concerning Jeff Bezos's role within a new, unnamed healthcare company, later named Haven, which is expected to be a partnership between Amazon, JPMorgan, and Berkshire Hathaway.
January 19, 2018: Amazon Stock Holdings Appreciated
On January 19, 2018, his Amazon stock holdings had appreciated to slightly over $109 billion.
January 29, 2018: Featured in Amazon's Super Bowl Commercial
On January 29, 2018, Bezos was featured in Amazon's Super Bowl commercial.
February 1, 2018: Amazon Reported Highest Profit
On February 1, 2018, Amazon reported its highest ever profit with quarterly earnings of $2 billion.
March 6, 2018: Designated World's Wealthiest Person
On March 6, 2018, Bezos was formally designated the wealthiest person in the world by Forbes with a net worth of $112 billion.
March 2018: Expansion in India and Trump's Criticism
In March 2018, Bezos dispatched Amit Agarwal to India with $5.5 billion to localize operations. Also in March 2018, President Trump accused Amazon and Bezos of sales tax avoidance and anti-competitive practices, causing Amazon's share price to fall.
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.
May 1, 2018: Probable Phone Hack via WhatsApp
On May 1, 2018, forensic analysis concluded that it was "highly probable" that Jeff Bezos's phone was hacked using a malicious file hidden in a video sent in a WhatsApp message from the personal account of the crown prince.
May 2018: Blue Origin's Primary Goal
In May 2018, Jeff Bezos maintained that the primary goal of Blue Origin is to preserve Earth's natural resources by making the human species multi-planetary and that New Shepard would begin transporting humans into sub-orbital space by November 2018.
June 2018: Donation to Breakthrough Energy Ventures
In June 2018, Jeff Bezos donated to Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a philanthropic fund founded by Bill Gates aimed at promoting emissions-free energy.
July 2018: Inquiries about Amazon's Face Recognition Software
During July 2018, members of the U.S. Congress called on Bezos to detail the applications of Amazon's face recognition software, Rekognition.
July 2018: Richest Man in Modern History
In July 2018, Bezos was named the "richest man in modern history" after his net worth increased to $150 billion.
July 2018: Bezos's Net Worth Reaches $150 Billion
In July 2018, Jeff Bezos's net worth reached $150 billion, an amount sufficient to purchase the entire stock markets of Nigeria, Hungary, Egypt, Luxembourg, and Iran. Following this report, Amazon workers in Poland, Germany, and Spain participated in demonstrations and labor strikes to protest the growing wealth disparity and demand better compensation, labor rights, and working conditions.
July 2018: Priced Commercial Spaceflight Tickets
In July 2018, it was announced that Jeff Bezos had priced commercial spaceflight tickets from $200,000 to $300,000 per person.
July 17, 2018: Bezos Designated Wealthiest Person in Modern History
On July 17, 2018, Jeff Bezos was designated the "wealthiest person in modern history" by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Fortune, MarketWatch, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes.
September 2018: Commitment to Homelessness and Preschool Funds
In September 2018, Jeff Bezos announced he would commit approximately $2 billion to a fund to deal with American homelessness and establish a network of non-profit preschools, including the "Day 1 Families Fund" and the "Day 1 Academies Fund".
September 2018: Donation to With Honor
In September 2018, Jeff Bezos donated $10 million to With Honor, an organization that works to increase the number of veterans in political office.
September 2018: Senator Sanders Introduces Stop BEZOS Act
In September 2018, Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the Stop Bad Employers by Zeroing Out Subsidies (Stop BEZOS) Act and accused Amazon of receiving corporate welfare, following a report about Amazon workers relying on food stamps.
September 2018: Giving Pledge and Day 1 Fund Questions
In September 2018, it was reported that Jeff Bezos had not signed the Giving Pledge. Janet Camarena raised questions about Bezos's new Day 1 Fund, including its structure and funding.
October 2, 2018: Company-Wide Wage Increase
On October 2, 2018, Bezos announced a company-wide wage increase, raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour for American workers.
November 2018: Scheduled Start of Human Transport to Space
By November 2018, Jeff Bezos announced that New Shepard would begin transporting humans into sub-orbital space.
2018: Controversy over JEDI Project Contract
In 2018, controversy arose over the $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) project contract with the Pentagon, with allegations that it was written to favor Amazon.
2018: Revealed Giving Up on Physics Dream
In 2018, during a talk, Bezos revealed that, some thirty years prior, his Princeton classmate Yasantha Rajakarunanayake had defeated him in solving a mathematical problem, causing him to give up on his dreams of becoming a theoretical physicist.
2018: Limited Meetings with Investors
In 2018, it was reported that Jeff Bezos met with Amazon investors for just six hours a year and instead required high-level employees to present information with six-page narratives.
2018: Washington Post Employees Criticize Bezos
In 2018, more than 400 Washington Post employees wrote an open letter to Jeff Bezos criticizing his poor wages and benefits for his employees.
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.
February 7, 2019: Bezos Accuses AMI of Extortion
On February 7, 2019, Jeff Bezos published an online essay accusing American Media, Inc. owner David Pecker of "extortion and blackmail" for threatening to publish intimate photos of Bezos and Lauren Sánchez if he did not halt his investigation into how his text messages and photos had been leaked to the National Enquirer.
March 2019: Accusations of Phone Hacking by Saudi Government
In March 2019, Jeff Bezos's security consultant accused the Saudi government of hacking Bezos's phone, linking it to the Washington Post's coverage of Jamal Khashoggi's murder.
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.
November 2019: Amazon Files Lawsuit over JEDI Contract Award
In November 2019, Amazon filed a lawsuit after the $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) project contract was awarded to Microsoft, alleging that the bidding process was biased.
2019: Harvard Business Review Ranking
In 2019, Harvard Business Review, which had ranked Jeff Bezos the best-performing CEO for 4 years in a row since 2014, did not rank him even in the top 100, citing Amazon's "relatively low ESG scores".
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.
2019: PAC Linked to Bezos Attempts to Defeat Sawant
In 2019, a PAC linked to Jeff Bezos spent over $1 million in an unsuccessful attempt to defeat the reelection bid of Seattle city council member and activist Kshama Sawant.
January 2020: Report on Hack Initiation
In January 2020, The Guardian reported that the hacking of Jeff Bezos's phone was initiated before the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, but after Khashoggi wrote critically about the crown prince in the Washington Post.
February 2020: Pledge to Combat Climate Change
In February 2020, Jeff Bezos pledged $10 billion to combat climate change through the Bezos Earth Fund.
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.
April 2020: Donation to Food Banks
In April 2020, early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeff Bezos donated $100 million to food banks through Feeding America.
August 2020: Net Worth Exceeds $200 Billion
In August 2020, Bezos had a net worth exceeding $200 billion.
February 2, 2021: Email to Amazon Employees
On February 2, 2021, Bezos sent an email to all Amazon employees, stating the transition would allow him to focus on other projects, including the Day 1 Fund, the Bezos Earth Fund, Blue Origin, and The Washington Post.
February 2021: Announcement of Stepping Down as CEO
In February 2021, Bezos announced that he would step down from his role as CEO of Amazon in the third quarter of 2021 to become the Executive Chairman of the Amazon Board.
July 5, 2021: Stepped down as CEO and President of Amazon
On July 5, 2021, Bezos stepped down as the CEO and president of Amazon and took on the role of executive chairman. Andy Jassy became the new CEO and president of Amazon.
July 6, 2021: Pentagon Cancels JEDI Contract
On July 6, 2021, the Pentagon cancelled the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract with Microsoft, citing that "due to evolving requirements, increased cloud conversancy, and industry advances, the JEDI Cloud contract no longer meets its needs."
July 2021: Courage and Civility Award Announcement
In July 2021, Jeff Bezos announced the Courage and Civility Award and donated $100 million each to lawyer Van Jones and chef José Andrés.
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).
September 2021: Co-founded Altos Labs
In September 2021, Bezos co-founded Altos Labs with Yuri Milner.
November 2021: Pledge Towards Restructuring Food Systems and Nature Conservation
In November 2021, Jeff Bezos pledged to donate $2 billion towards restructuring food systems and nature conservation at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
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.
January 19, 2022: Altos Labs Launched
On January 19, 2022, Altos Labs launched with a start capital of $3 billion and an executive team led by Hal Barron.
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.
November 22, 2022: Award to organizations engaged in relocating homeless families
On November 22, 2022, Jeff Bezos awarded $123 million to organizations that are engaged in relocating homeless families to permanent housing. Day 1 Families Fund grants were sent to 40 organizations across the country.
May 22, 2023: Sanchez and Bezos Engagement
On May 22, 2023, Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos became engaged.
December 2023: Washington Post Employees Strike
In December 2023, around 750 employees at The Washington Post went on a brief strike in response to Jeff Bezos' plans to lay off staff.
2023: Bezos Ranked Second-Wealthiest Person in America
According to Forbes, in 2023, Jeff Bezos was the second-wealthiest person in America and the third-wealthiest person in the world.
2023: Bezos Becomes Resident of Indian Creek
Since 2023, Jeff Bezos has been a resident of Indian Creek, Florida, which is near Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago.
February 2024: Bezos' Net Worth
As of February 2024, Jeff Bezos' net worth is about $197 billion, making him the second-wealthiest person in the world according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
February 2024: Bezos Sells Amazon Shares
In February 2024, Bezos sold 24 million shares in Amazon at a total value of $4 billion, also announcing his intention to sell 50 million shares in Amazon over the next year.
March 2024: Donations to Eva Longoria and Bill McRaven
In March 2024, Jeff Bezos donated $50 million each to actress Eva Longoria and retired admiral Bill McRaven.
July 2024: Phone Conversation with Donald Trump
In July 2024, Jeff Bezos had a private phone conversation with then-candidate Donald Trump, which, according to Axios, planted the seeds of a "Bezos-Trump alliance."
December 2024: Bezos Dedicates Time to AI Initiatives at Amazon
During an interview at the DealBook Summit in December 2024, Bezos said that he was dedicating 95% of his time to artificial intelligence initiatives at Amazon.
2024: Positive Relationship with Trump
According to the Financial Times, in 2024, Jeff Bezos worked to have a positive relationship with Donald Trump during Trump's second term to further his business interests and support Trump's policies.
2024: Bezos Blocks Washington Post 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 from staff.
2024: Criticism Regarding Editorial Interference
In 2024, criticisms arose regarding Jeff Bezos' alleged interference with the editorial and opinion pages of The Washington Post.
January 2025: Cartoonist Resigns from Post
In January 2025, editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes resigned from The Washington Post after it refused to run a satirical cartoon critical of the relationship between American billionaires and President Donald Trump.
February 2025: Bezos Announces Opinion Section Changes
In February 2025, Jeff Bezos announced that The Washington Post's opinion section would give voice only to opinions that support "personal liberties" and "free markets," leading to the resignation of opinion editor David Shipley and a loss of over 75,000 digital subscribers.
February 2025: Dinner with Trump and Changes to Washington Post's opinion policies
In February 2025, Jeff Bezos reportedly dined with Donald Trump again. On the same night, he announced changes to the Washington Post's opinion policies to promote "free markets and personal liberties" and suppress divergent opinions.
2025: Bezos' Net Worth
As of March 12, 2025, Bezos' estimated net worth was US$209.5 billion, making him the second richest individual in the world.
2030: Saudi Vision 2030
Saudi Vision 2030 investment opportunities were discussed with Mohammad bin Salman in March 2018.
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