History of Jeff Bezos in Timeline
"Jeffrey Preston Bezos is a highly successful American entrepreneur, investor, and media mogul best known for founding Amazon, the global leader in e-commerce and cloud computing. He served as Amazon's CEO and president, playing a pivotal role in its growth into one of the world's most valuable companies. His extraordinary success has made him one of the wealthiest individuals globally, consistently ranking among the top billionaires, according to Bloomberg and Forbes."
January 12, 1964: Birth of Jeff Bezos
On January 12, 1964, Jeff Bezos was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He would later become known for founding Amazon.
June 1965: Parents' Divorce
When Jeff Bezos was 17 months old, in June 1965, his mother filed for divorce from his biological father, Ted Jorgensen.
April 1968: Adoption by Miguel Bezos
Jeff Bezos was legally adopted by his stepfather, Miguel "Mike" Bezos, in April 1968, changing his surname from Jorgensen to Bezos.
July 1969: Apollo 11 Mission Launches
The Apollo 11 mission, the first manned mission to land on the Moon, launched in July 1969. Two of the engines from this mission would later be recovered by Jeff Bezos.
1982: Enrollment at Princeton University
After graduating high school in 1982, Jeff Bezos enrolled at Princeton University, initially pursuing physics before switching to electrical engineering and computer science.
1982: Bezos Expresses Space Travel Ambitions
In 1982, during his high school valedictorian speech and in a subsequent interview, an 18-year-old Jeff Bezos shared his interest in space travel, including the development of hotels, amusement parks, and colonies in orbit, with the goal of preserving Earth's resources.
1982: High School Graduation and Aspirations
Jeff Bezos graduated as high school valedictorian in 1982, expressing his dream of space colonization and envisioning a future where humanity lives beyond Earth.
1986: Entry into the Workforce
Upon graduating from college in 1986, Jeff Bezos received numerous job offers. He accepted a position at Fitel, a fintech telecommunications startup.
1986: Graduation from Princeton University
Jeff Bezos graduated from Princeton University in 1986 with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science.
1986: Graduation from Princeton University
In 1986, Jeff Bezos graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE). He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi.
1988: Transition to Banking
Jeff Bezos transitioned into the banking industry in 1988 when he became a product manager at Bankers Trust, a role he held until 1990.
1990: Joining D.E. Shaw & Co
From 1990 to 1994, Jeff Bezos worked at D.E. Shaw & Co, a hedge fund, where he eventually rose to become the fourth senior vice-president by the age of 30.
1992: Bezos Meets Future Wife, MacKenzie Tuttle
While employed at D. E. Shaw in Manhattan in 1992, Jeff Bezos became acquainted with MacKenzie Tuttle, a research associate at the firm. They would go on to marry the following year.
July 5, 1994: Founding of Amazon
Jeff Bezos, along with his then-wife MacKenzie Scott, founded Amazon on July 5, 1994, in a rented garage in Bellevue, Washington. The company was initially an online bookstore.
1994: Bezos Founds Amazon in Seattle
Following their move across the country to Seattle, Washington, in 1994, Jeff Bezos established the company Amazon.
1994: Leaving D.E. Shaw & Co
In 1994, Jeff Bezos left his position at D.E. Shaw & Co to pursue his entrepreneurial ambition of starting an online bookstore, which would later become Amazon.
1994: Founding of Amazon
In mid-1994, during a road trip from New York City to Seattle, Jeff Bezos founded Amazon, initially an online bookstore that expanded significantly.
1996: Bezos Drives a 1996 Honda Accord
Jeff Bezos, despite his wealth, was known for his modest lifestyle, driving a 1996 Honda Accord.
1997: Aggressive Acquisition Strategy
Using the $54 million raised from a 1997 equity offering, Jeff Bezos pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy, acquiring smaller competitors to bolster Amazon's market position.
1997: Estimated Net Worth Had Bezos Retained All Shares Since Amazon's IPO
The Motley Fool estimated that if Jeff Bezos had not sold any shares since Amazon's initial public offering in 1997, his net worth would have reached $181 billion by 2018.
1997: Bezos Becomes a Millionaire
Jeff Bezos became a millionaire in 1997 following Amazon's successful initial public offering (IPO), which raised \$54 million.
1998: Bezos invests \$250,000 in Google
In 1998, Jeff Bezos became an early investor in Google, investing \$250,000 in the company.
1998: Expansion into Music and Video Sales
In 1998, Jeff Bezos decided to expand Amazon's offerings by venturing into the online sale of music and video products.
1998: Bezos Starts Annual Shareholder Letter
Since 1998, Jeff Bezos has written an annual letter to Amazon shareholders, outlining his business philosophy and vision for the company.
1999: Bill Gates as Richest Man
Before Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates held the title of the richest person in the world in 1999.
1999: Bezos Acquires Three Apartments in Manhattan
In 1999, Jeff Bezos purchased three adjoining apartments at 25 Central Park West in Manhattan for $7.65 million.
1999: Bezos Becomes a Billionaire
In 1999, Jeff Bezos's net worth reached \$10 billion, making him a billionaire for the first time.
1999: Bezos Debuts on Forbes World's Billionaires List
Jeff Bezos was listed on the Forbes World's Billionaires list for the first time in 1999, with an estimated net worth of \$10.1 billion, ranking him 19th globally and 10th in the United States.
September 2000: Bezos Founds Blue Origin
Jeff Bezos established Blue Origin, a human spaceflight startup company, in September 2000.
2000: Blue Origin Founded
Jeff Bezos established Blue Origin, an aerospace manufacturer and sub-orbital spaceflight services company, in 2000.
2000: Securing a $2 Billion Loan
As Amazon's cash balances dwindled to $350 million in 2000, Jeff Bezos secured a $2 billion loan from banks to support the company's growth.
2002: Launch of Amazon Web Services
Under Jeff Bezos' leadership, Amazon launched Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2002, initially compiling data from weather channels and website traffic.
March 2003: Bezos Survives Helicopter Crash
In March 2003, Jeff Bezos was involved in a helicopter crash in West Texas during a land survey for his company Blue Origin. Despite sustaining minor injuries, Bezos was released from a local hospital the same day. The other passengers, pilot Charles "Cheater" Bella, Amazon lawyer Elizabeth Korrell, and rancher Ty Holland, also survived.
2003: Amazon's Rebound and Profitability
After facing financial difficulties in 2002, Amazon, under Jeff Bezos' guidance, experienced a significant turnaround in 2003, achieving a profit of $35 million.
2003: Meyerson Leads Blue Origin
Rob Meyerson took on the role of president of Blue Origin in 2003, becoming the first person to hold that position. He continued to lead the company until 2017.
2005: Bezos' Net Worth Quadruples
Between 2005 and 2007, Jeff Bezos's net worth experienced substantial growth, quadrupling to \$8.7 billion.
2006: Blue Origin Acquires Land for Space Facility
Blue Origin purchased a large piece of land in West Texas in 2006, intending to use it for a launch and test facility.
November 2007: Launch of Amazon Kindle
In November 2007, Jeff Bezos introduced the Amazon Kindle, an e-reader designed to enhance the reading experience.
2007: Bezos' Net Worth Reaches \$8.7 Billion
By 2007, at the peak of his wealth before the financial crisis, Jeff Bezos's net worth reached \$8.7 billion.
2008: Bezos' Vision for Kindle
In 2008, Jeff Bezos expressed his desire to create a device, the Kindle, that would allow readers to experience a "flow state" similar to that of playing video games.
2009: Donations to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Jeff Bezos began making donations to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in 2009.
2010: Opposition to Washington State Income Tax
Jeff Bezos donated $100,000 to oppose a proposed income tax on "top earners" in Washington state in 2010.
2010: Bezos' Net Worth Rebounds
After experiencing a decline in wealth during the financial crisis, Jeff Bezos's net worth rebounded significantly in 2010, increasing by 85.2% to \$12.6 billion. This surge moved him up to 43rd place on the Forbes World's Billionaires list from his previous position of 68th.
September 2011: Blue Origin Test Flight Crash
In September 2011, an uncrewed prototype vehicle developed by Blue Origin experienced a crash during a short test flight.
2011: Bezos's Vision for Alexa Inspired by "Star Trek"
During his initial discussions about what would become Alexa with his technical advisor Greg Hart in 2011, Jeff Bezos revealed his goal of creating a technology akin to "the Star Trek computer".
2012: Bezos Purchases Additional Apartment in Manhattan Building
Adding to his real estate portfolio, Jeff Bezos bought a fourth unit in the same building at 25 Central Park West in Manhattan for $5.3 million in 2012.
2012: Support for Same-Sex Marriage and Political Contributions
In 2012, Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos donated $2.5 million to support the legalization of same-sex marriage in Washington state.
May 2013: Bezos and Branson Discuss Spaceflight
Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson, the chairman of Virgin Galactic, met in May 2013 to discuss opportunities and strategies related to commercial spaceflight.
August 5, 2013: Jeff Bezos buys The Washington Post
On August 5, 2013, Jeff Bezos bought The Washington Post for \$250 million in cash.
October 1, 2013: Bezos' Nash Holdings takes control of The Washington Post
On October 1, 2013, the sale of The Washington Post was finalized, and Jeff Bezos' holding company, Nash Holdings, took control of the newspaper.
2013: Acquisition of The Washington Post
Jeff Bezos purchased The Washington Post, a major American newspaper, for $250 million in 2013.
2013: Donation to Worldreader
Jeff Bezos pledged $500,000 to Worldreader, a non-profit organization focused on digital literacy, in 2013.
2013: Bezos Funds Recovery of Apollo 11 Engines
In 2013, Jeff Bezos, through his company Bezos Expeditions, funded the recovery of two Saturn V first-stage Rocketdyne F-1 engines from the Apollo 11 mission from the Atlantic Ocean.
2013: CIA Contract and Global Recognition
In 2013, Jeff Bezos secured a $600 million contract with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for Amazon Web Services. In October of the same year, Amazon was recognized as the world's largest online shopping retailer.
March 2014: Bezos lifts paywall for several local newspapers
In March 2014, Jeff Bezos made his first significant change as the owner of The Washington Post by removing the online paywall for subscribers of several U.S. local newspapers in Texas, Hawaii, and Minnesota.
May 2014: Bezos Named "World's Worst Boss"
The International Trade Union Confederation named Jeff Bezos the "World's Worst Boss" in May 2014, criticizing his aggressive business practices.
2014: Amazon Wins CIA Cloud Computing Contract
Amazon secured a $600 million contract with the CIA for cloud computing services in 2014.
2014: Bezos's Net Worth Rises to $30.5 Billion
In 2014, following a rumor about Amazon developing a smartphone, Jeff Bezos's net worth climbed to $30.5 billion.
2015: New Shepard's First Successful Landing
In 2015, Blue Origin's New Shepard vehicle achieved a significant milestone by reaching space and successfully landing back on Earth.
2015: Bezos Announces New Orbital Launch Vehicle
In 2015, Jeff Bezos announced that Blue Origin was in the process of developing a new orbital launch vehicle, with plans for its first flight in the late 2010s.
2015: Bezos Defends Amazon Against Criticism
In 2015, Jeff Bezos publicly challenged a critical article published in The New York Times, demonstrating his willingness to defend Amazon against negative portrayals.
January 2016: Bezos reinvents The Washington Post as a media and technology company
In January 2016, Jeff Bezos set out to reinvent The Washington Post by reconstructing its digital media, mobile platforms, and analytics software, aiming to transform it into a media and technology company.
March 2016: Bezos's Net Worth Registered at $45.2 Billion
By March 2016, when Forbes calculated the annual wealth rankings, Jeff Bezos's net worth was recorded at $45.2 billion.
May 2016: Bezos Sells Amazon Shares
In May 2016, Jeff Bezos sold over one million shares of his Amazon stock, raising $671 million, the largest sum he had earned from selling his stock at that time.
August 4, 2016: Bezos Sells Amazon Shares
On August 4, 2016, Jeff Bezos sold one million shares of his Amazon stock for $756.7 million.
October 2016: Bezos's Wealth Surges, Placing Him Third Richest Globally
In October 2016, Jeff Bezos experienced a significant boost to his net worth, which increased by $16.2 billion to reach $66.5 billion. This jump unofficially positioned him as the third-wealthiest person worldwide, trailing behind Warren Buffett.
2016: Invitation to Trump's Defense Innovation Advisory Board
Following the 2016 presidential election, Jeff Bezos was invited to join Donald Trump's Defense Innovation Advisory Board.
2016: Bezos's Increased Advocacy for Space Colonization
Since 2016, Jeff Bezos has been more open about his aspirations to colonize the solar system, selling $1 billion worth of Amazon stock annually to fund Blue Origin in support of this goal.
2016: Criticism of Bezos' Philanthropy Grows
Public criticism of Jeff Bezos's relatively low levels of philanthropy compared to other billionaires began to escalate in 2016.
2016: Bezos Makes Cameo Appearance in "Star Trek Beyond"
Jeff Bezos, driven by his interest in speech recognition and connection to Alexa, secured a cameo role in the 2016 film "Star Trek Beyond" as a Starfleet official. He even participated in a screening with the cast and crew at San Diego Comic-Con.
2016: Bezos Allows Media Visit to Blue Origin Facility
Jeff Bezos granted select journalists access to tour and photograph the Blue Origin facility in 2016.
2016: Bezos Experiences Rapid Wealth Growth
From 2016 to 2017, Jeff Bezos experienced remarkable growth in his wealth, prompting various analyses of his earnings over specific periods.
January 2017: Bezos's Wealth Experiences Significant Growth, Outstripping GDP of Numerous Countries
Between January 2017 and January 2018, Jeff Bezos witnessed a staggering increase in his net worth, adding $33.6 billion. This growth surpassed the economic output (measured in GDP) of over 96 countries worldwide.
May 2017: Donation to Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Jeff Bezos donated $1 million to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press in May 2017 to support legal services for journalists.
June 15, 2017: Request for Philanthropic Ideas
On June 15, 2017, Jeff Bezos used Twitter to solicit ideas for his philanthropic endeavors, stating he was seeking long-term strategies.
July 2017: Bezos Briefly Becomes World's Richest Person
Due to fluctuations in Amazon's share price, Jeff Bezos briefly surpassed Bill Gates to become the wealthiest person in the world in July 2017.
July 27, 2017: Bezos Briefly World's Richest Person
On July 27, 2017, Jeff Bezos's estimated net worth exceeded $90 billion, making him the world's wealthiest person for a short time, surpassing Bill Gates.
October 10, 2017: Bezos Earns Estimated $6.24 Billion in Five Minutes
On October 10, 2017, Jeff Bezos reportedly earned an estimated $6.24 billion in just five minutes, a sum slightly lower than the annual gross domestic product of Kyrgyzstan at the time.
October 2017: Bezos's Net Worth Fluctuates Above Gates's Fortune
Throughout October 2017, Jeff Bezos's net worth continued to fluctuate, occasionally exceeding Bill Gates's wealth due to variations in Amazon's share price.
November 24, 2017: Bezos's Net Worth Surpasses $100 Billion
On November 24, 2017, Jeff Bezos's net worth surpassed $100 billion for the first time.
December 2017: New Shepard's Successful Test Flight with Dummy Passengers
In December 2017, Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft successfully completed a test flight carrying dummy passengers. This success led to the rescheduling of the company's first human spaceflight to late 2018.
2017: Amazon's Job Creation Highlighted
In 2017, Amazon created 130,000 new jobs.
2017: Meyerson Steps Down From Blue Origin
Rob Meyerson, the president of Blue Origin, stepped down from his role in 2017 after leading the company for 14 years.
2017: Wealthiest Person
Jeff Bezos became the wealthiest person in the world in 2017, a title he held according to both Bloomberg and Forbes.
2017: Bezos Parodied on Saturday Night Live
From 2017 onwards, Jeff Bezos became a frequent subject of parody on Saturday Night Live, often portrayed as a ruthless and dominant figure.
2017: Bezos' Google investment reaches \$3.1 Billion
By 2017, Jeff Bezos' initial \$250,000 investment in Google had resulted in 3.3 million shares, valued at approximately \$3.1 billion.
2017: Continued Support for Cancer Research
Jeff Bezos continued his support for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center with donations through 2017.
January 2018: Bezos announces healthcare venture
In January 2018, Jeff Bezos announced his involvement in a new healthcare company. The venture, later named Haven, was a partnership between Amazon, JPMorgan, and Berkshire Hathaway.
January 2018: Bezos's Wealth Equals that of 2.7 Million Americans
In the context of 2017-2018, Jeff Bezos's wealth was equivalent to that of 2.7 million Americans.
January 2018: Donation to TheDream.US
Jeff Bezos donated $33 million to TheDream.US in January 2018, a scholarship fund supporting undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children.
January 19, 2018: Amazon Stock Holdings Soar
By January 19, 2018, Bezos's Amazon stock holdings had increased in value to over $109 billion.
January 29, 2018: Bezos in Super Bowl Commercial
Jeff Bezos was featured in Amazon's Super Bowl commercial on January 29, 2018.
February 1, 2018: Amazon Reports Record Profits
On February 1, 2018, Amazon announced its highest ever quarterly earnings, reaching $2 billion in profit.
March 6, 2018: Bezos Officially Named World's Richest
Forbes officially designated Jeff Bezos as the world's wealthiest person on March 6, 2018, with a net worth of $112 billion.
March 2018: Meeting with Mohammad bin Salman
Jeff Bezos met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Seattle in March 2018 to discuss potential investments related to Saudi Vision 2030.
March 2018: Amazon Expands in India, Faces Trump's Criticism
In March 2018, Bezos sent Amit Agarwal, Amazon's global senior vice president, to India with $5.5 billion to expand Amazon's presence in the country. During this same month, President Trump accused Amazon of tax avoidance, misusing postal routes, and anti-competitive practices, causing Amazon's share price to drop and impacting Bezos's personal wealth.
May 1, 2018: Alleged Hacking Through WhatsApp Message
Forensic analysis suggested that the alleged hack of Jeff Bezos's phone may have been executed using a malicious file sent through a WhatsApp message from the Saudi crown prince's personal account on May 1, 2018.
May 2018: Bezos Outlines Blue Origin's Vision for Colonization
Jeff Bezos, in May 2018, emphasized that the main objective of Blue Origin was to help preserve Earth's resources by making humanity a multi-planetary species. He revealed his plan to begin transporting humans into sub-orbital space using New Shepard by November 2018.
June 2018: Support for Breakthrough Energy Ventures
Jeff Bezos made a donation to Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a philanthropic fund established by Bill Gates to promote clean energy, in June 2018.
July 2018: Bezos's Net Worth Could Purchase Entire Stock Markets of Multiple Countries
According to Quartz, in July 2018, Jeff Bezos's net worth of $150 billion was substantial enough to acquire the entire stock markets of Nigeria, Hungary, Egypt, Luxembourg, and Iran.
July 2018: Blue Origin Announces Commercial Spaceflight Ticket Prices
In July 2018, Blue Origin released the prices for its commercial spaceflights, which ranged from $200,000 to $300,000 per person.
July 2018: Congressional Scrutiny of Amazon's Facial Recognition Software
In July 2018, members of the United States Congress requested details from Jeff Bezos regarding the use of Amazon's facial recognition software, Rekognition.
July 2018: Richest Man in Modern History
Jeff Bezos' net worth reached $150 billion in July 2018, earning him the title of "richest man in modern history".
July 17, 2018: Bezos Named "Wealthiest Person in Modern History"
On July 17, 2018, Jeff Bezos was recognized as the "wealthiest person in modern history" by several publications, including Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Fortune, MarketWatch, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes.
September 2018: Donation to With Honor
In September 2018, Jeff Bezos donated $10 million to With Honor, a nonpartisan organization focused on increasing the number of veterans in political office.
September 2018: Questions Raised About Bezos's Philanthropy
In September 2018, Business Insider reported that Jeff Bezos was the only one of the top five billionaires globally who had not signed the Giving Pledge. There were also questions raised about the structure and funding of Bezos's new Day 1 Fund.
September 2018: Announcement of Day 1 Fund
In September 2018, Jeff Bezos unveiled the Day 1 Fund, committing $2 billion to address homelessness and establish preschools for low-income communities.
September 2018: Criticism of Amazon's Labor Practices
Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the Stop BEZOS Act in September 2018, criticizing Amazon's labor practices and accusing the company of receiving corporate welfare while some employees relied on food stamps.
October 2, 2018: Bezos Announces Amazon Wage Increase
On October 2, 2018, Jeff Bezos announced a company-wide wage increase for Amazon employees, raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
November 2018: Planned Human Spaceflights with New Shepard
Jeff Bezos announced in May 2018 that Blue Origin was planning to start human spaceflights using its New Shepard spacecraft by November 2018.
2018: Controversy over JEDI Contract Bidding
In 2018, controversy arose surrounding the bidding process for the Pentagon's $10 billion JEDI cloud computing contract, with allegations that it favored Amazon.
2018: Bezos' Limited Investor Meetings
It was reported in 2018 that Jeff Bezos only met with Amazon investors for a total of six hours annually.
2018: Washington Post Employees Demand Fair Wages and Benefits
In 2018, over 400 Washington Post employees penned an open letter to Jeff Bezos, expressing concerns about inadequate wages and benefits provided to staff members. The letter called for "Fair wages; fair benefits for retirement, family leave and health care; and a fair amount of job security".
January 2019: Bezos Announces Divorce, Affair Revealed
Jeff Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie, issued a joint statement in January 2019, revealing their decision to divorce after 25 years of marriage. Shortly after, the National Enquirer exposed Bezos's extramarital affair with media personality Lauren Sánchez, which had been ongoing for several months.
February 7, 2019: Bezos Accuses American Media, Inc. of Extortion
In an online essay published on February 7, 2019, Jeff Bezos accused American Media, Inc. owner David Pecker of extortion and blackmail. Bezos alleged that Pecker threatened to release compromising photos of him and his then-girlfriend, Lauren Sánchez, if Bezos didn't halt his investigation into the leak of his private messages and photos to the National Enquirer.
March 2019: Allegations of Saudi Hacking
Jeff Bezos's security consultant accused the Saudi government of hacking Bezos's phone in March 2019, potentially in retaliation for The Washington Post's coverage of Jamal Khashoggi's murder.
April 4, 2019: Bezos Divorce Finalized
Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Bezos finalized their divorce on April 4, 2019, with Jeff retaining 75% of their Amazon stock and all voting rights, while MacKenzie received 25%, valued at $35.6 billion.
June 2019: Bezos Makes Major Real Estate Purchase in Manhattan
June 2019 saw Jeff Bezos acquire three adjacent apartments, including a penthouse, in Manhattan for a combined cost of US$80 million. This purchase ranked among the most expensive real estate deals in New York City that year.
November 2019: Amazon Files Lawsuit over JEDI Contract
In November 2019, Amazon filed a lawsuit alleging bias in the bidding process for the Pentagon's $10 billion JEDI cloud computing contract after Microsoft was awarded the contract.
2019: Bezos's Divorce Settlement Impacts His Wealth
In 2019, Jeff Bezos's wealth was affected by his divorce from MacKenzie Bezos. Despite the potential for an equitable division of assets under Washington state's common law, MacKenzie Bezos received 25% of Jeff Bezos's Amazon shares, valued at approximately $36 billion, in the settlement.
2019: Harvard Business Review Drops Bezos from Top CEO Ranking
In 2019, Harvard Business Review, despite previously ranking Bezos as a top CEO, removed him from its top 100 ranking due to concerns over Amazon's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.
2019: Political Spending Against Kshama Sawant
A political action committee with ties to Jeff Bezos spent over $1 million in an attempt to defeat Seattle city council member Kshama Sawant's reelection bid in 2019, but the effort was unsuccessful.
January 2020: Report on Timing of Alleged Hacking
The Guardian reported in January 2020 that the alleged hacking of Jeff Bezos's phone likely began before Jamal Khashoggi's murder but after he published critical articles about the Saudi crown prince in The Washington Post.
February 2020: Bezos Sets Record with Warner Estate Purchase
In a record-breaking deal, Jeff Bezos acquired the Warner Estate from David Geffen for $165 million in February 2020. This purchase marked the highest price ever paid for a residential property in the Los Angeles area, surpassing the previous record of $150 million.
February 2020: Pledge to Combat Climate Change
Jeff Bezos committed $10 billion to fight climate change through the Bezos Earth Fund in February 2020.
April 2020: Donation to Food Banks During Pandemic
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeff Bezos donated $100 million to Feeding America to support food banks in April 2020.
August 2020: Net Worth Exceeds $200 Billion
In August 2020, Jeff Bezos' net worth surpassed $200 billion, according to Forbes.
February 2, 2021: Bezos Announces CEO Transition
On February 2, 2021, Jeff Bezos sent an email to Amazon employees, informing them of his plan to step down as CEO and transition to Executive Chairman of the Amazon Board in the third quarter of 2021.
February 2021: Bezos to Step Down as Amazon CEO
In February 2021, Jeff Bezos announced his intention to step down from his role as CEO of Amazon in the third quarter of that year and to transition to the role of Executive Chairman of the Amazon Board. Andy Jassy was named as his successor.
July 5, 2021: Stepping Down as Amazon CEO
Jeff Bezos stepped down from his role as CEO and President of Amazon on July 5, 2021, transitioning to the position of executive chairman.
July 6, 2021: Pentagon Cancels JEDI Contract
On July 6, 2021, the Pentagon canceled the $10 billion JEDI cloud computing contract with Microsoft, initially awarded in 2019, citing evolving requirements and industry advancements.
July 2021: Courage and Civility Award Recipients
In July 2021, Jeff Bezos launched the Courage and Civility Award, awarding $100 million each to lawyer Van Jones and chef José Andrés.
July 20, 2021: Bezos Launches into Space
On July 20, 2021, Jeff Bezos, along with his brother Mark, Wally Funk, and Oliver Daemen, launched into space on Blue Origin's NS-16 mission. This event occurred nine days after Richard Branson's spaceflight with Virgin Galactic. Bezos's suborbital flight reached an altitude of 66.5 miles and lasted for over 10 minutes.
September 2021: Bezos co-founds Altos Labs
Jeff Bezos co-founded Altos Labs, a biotechnology company focused on longevity research, in September 2021.
September 2021: Co-founding Altos Labs
In September 2021, Jeff Bezos partnered with Mail.ru founder Yuri Milner to co-found Altos Labs, a biotechnology company focused on cellular rejuvenation.
November 2021: Pledge for Food Systems and Conservation
At the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, Jeff Bezos pledged $2 billion towards improving food systems and promoting nature conservation in November 2021.
November 22, 2021: Donation to Obama Foundation
Jeff Bezos donated $100 million to the Obama Foundation on November 22, 2021, to support leadership programs and requested that the plaza of the Obama Presidential Center be named after John Lewis.
2021: Wealthiest Person
Jeff Bezos remained the wealthiest person in the world until 2021, as per Bloomberg Billionaires Index and Forbes.
January 19, 2022: Altos Labs launches with \$3 Billion
Altos Labs, the biotechnology company co-founded by Jeff Bezos, launched publicly on January 19, 2022, with an initial capital of \$3 billion.
February 2022: Bezos Expands Real Estate Holdings with Manhattan Apartment Purchase
Further expanding his real estate holdings, Jeff Bezos purchased a $16.13 million apartment in a 24-story boutique condominium across from Madison Square Park in February 2022. Notably, Bezos already owned all units on the top floors of this building in Manhattan's Flatiron neighborhood.
November 22, 2022: Jeff Bezos awards $123 million to support homeless families
On November 22, 2022, Jeff Bezos awarded $123 million to organizations involved in relocating homeless families to permanent housing. The grants, through the Day 1 Families Fund, will be distributed to 40 organizations across the country.
May 22, 2023: Bezos and Sanchez Engagement
On May 22, 2023, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez announced their engagement.
December 2023: Washington Post Employees Strike Over Layoff Plans
In December 2023, about 750 employees at The Washington Post, owned by Jeff Bezos, participated in a short strike. This action was a response to Bezos's intentions to reduce staff numbers.
2023: Bezos Ranked Second-Wealthiest in America and Third-Wealthiest Globally
Forbes ranked Jeff Bezos as the second-wealthiest individual in America and the third-wealthiest globally in 2023.
February 2024: Bezos's Net Worth Estimated at US$197 Billion
As of February 2024, Jeff Bezos holds the position of the world's second-wealthiest person according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, with an estimated net worth of approximately US$197 billion.
February 2024: Bezos Sells Amazon Shares, Announces Future Sales
In February 2024, Jeff Bezos sold 24 million shares of Amazon stock, totaling $4 billion. He also made it known that he planned to sell 50 million more shares in the coming year.
March 2024: Donations to Eva Longoria and Bill McRaven
Jeff Bezos donated $50 million each to actress Eva Longoria and retired admiral Bill McRaven in March 2024.
May 19, 2024: Net Worth Update
As of May 19, 2024, Jeff Bezos' net worth was estimated at $207 billion, making him the second wealthiest person globally.