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{{short description|American entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, Inc.}}
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{{Use American English|date=July 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jeff Bezos
| image = Jeff Bezos at Amazon Spheres Grand Opening in Seattle - 2018 (39074799225) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Bezos in January 2018
| birth_name = Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|01|12}}
| birth_place = [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]], U.S.<!-- Do not change format. -->
| alma_mater = [[Princeton University]]<!-- No degrees/graduation dates/majors, etc. -->
| occupation = {{hlist|Technology entrepreneur|investor|philanthropist}}
| title = Chairman, CEO and [[President (corporate title)|President]] of Amazon
| known_for = Founding [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] and [[Blue Origin]]
| networth = <!-- No Δ or ∇ per Talk:Jeff Bezos FAQ #Q2-->[[US dollar|$]]147.3 billion (October 2018)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/jeff-bezos|title=Forbes Profile: Jeff Bezos|work=Forbes|access-date=<!--Don't add access date, its real time.--> |others=Real Time Net Worth|editor-link=Forbes|publication-place=Online: updated every 24-hour [[Business cycle|market cycle]] |quote=[''Forbes'' real time net worths] are calculated from locked in [[stock price]]s and [[exchange rates]] from around the globe.... as well as the vetting of [[High-net-worth individual|personal balance sheets]]...}}</ref>
| spouse = {{marriage|[[MacKenzie Bezos]]<br/>|1993}}
| children = 4
}}
'''Jeffrey Preston Bezos''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|eɪ|z|oʊ|s}};{{efn|His surname is pronounced through the standard [[Cuban Spanish]] variety as {{respell|BAY|zohss}} according to Bezos<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/posttv/national/jeff-bezos-pronounces-his-name/2013/08/07/c6992b0a-ffa9-11e2-96a8-d3b921c0924a_video.html |title=Jeff Bezos pronounces his name |year=2009 |website=The Washington Post |accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> and Robinson (2010), p. 7.}} ''né'' '''Jorgensen'''; January 12, 1964) is an American technology entrepreneur, investor, and [[philanthropy|philanthropist]].<!-- Do not remove 'philanthropist'; see: Talk:Jeff Bezos/Archive 1, item 25, Talk: Jeff Bezos: Episode VII – The Philanthropist Strikes Back, and the philanthropy section of this article. --> He is best known as the founder, chairman, and [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] of [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]].
Bezos was born in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]] and raised in [[Houston, Texas]]. He graduated from [[Princeton University]] in 1986 with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science. He worked on [[Wall Street]] in a variety of related fields from 1986 to early 1994. He founded Amazon in late 1994 on a cross-country road trip from [[New York City]] to [[Seattle]]. The company began as an online bookstore and has expanded to a variety of products and services, including video and audio streaming. It is currently the world's largest online sales company, as well as the world's largest provider of cloud infrastructure services via its [[Amazon Web Services]] arm.
Bezos added to his business interests when he founded [[aerospace]] company [[Blue Origin]] in 2000. A Blue Origin test flight successfully first reached [[Outer space|space]] in 2015 and Blue has plans to begin commercial [[Sub-orbital spaceflight|suborbital]] [[human spaceflight]] as early as late 2018. He purchased ''[[The Washington Post]]'' in 2013 for {{US$|250 million|link=yes}} in cash. Bezos manages other business investments through his venture capital fund, [[Jeff Bezos#Bezos Expeditions|Bezos Expeditions]].<!-- Do not change 4th paragraph until you reference the wealth section below in the body and Talk:Jeff Bezos FAQ #Q2. -->
On July 27, 2017, he became the [[The World's Billionaires|world's wealthiest person]] when his estimated [[net worth]] increased to just over $90 billion. His wealth surpassed $100 billion for the first time on November 24, he was formally designated the wealthiest person in the world by ''[[Forbes]]'' on March 6, 2018 with a net worth of $112 billion. The first [[Billionaire|centi-billionaire]] on the ''Forbes'' wealth index, he was designated the "wealthiest person in modern history" after his net worth increased to $150 billion in July 2018.
== Early life ==
Bezos was born Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen on January 12, 1964, in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]], the son of Jacklyn Gise Jorgensen and [[Chicago]] native Ted Jorgensen.<ref>Robinson (2010), pp. 14, 100</ref> At the time of his birth, his mother was a 17-year-old high school student and his father was a bike shop owner.<ref>Robinson (2010), pp. 14–15</ref> After Jacklyn divorced Ted, she married Cuban immigrant Miguel "Mike" Bezos in April 1968.<ref>Robinson (2010), p. 14, 18</ref> Shortly after the wedding, Mike adopted four-year-old Jorgensen, whose surname was then changed to Bezos.<ref>Robinson (2010), p. 15</ref> The family moved to [[Houston, Texas]], where Mike worked as an engineer for [[Exxon]] after he received a degree from the [[University of New Mexico]].<ref name="Robinson 2010, p. 17">Robinson (2010), p. 17</ref> Bezos attended [[River Oaks Elementary School (Houston)|River Oaks Elementary School]] in Houston from fourth to sixth grade.<ref name="Robinson 2010, p. 18">Robinson (2010), p. 18</ref>
Bezos was the maternal grandson of Lawrence Preston Gise, a regional director of the [[United States Atomic Energy Commission|U.S. Atomic Energy Commission]] (AEC) in Albuquerque.<ref>Robinson (2010), p. 16</ref> Gise retired early to his family's ranch near [[Cotulla, Texas]], where Bezos would spend many summers in his youth.<ref name="Robinson 2010, p. 17" /> Bezos would later purchase this ranch, and grow it from {{convert|25,000|acre|km2 sqmi|0}} to {{convert|300,000|acre|km2 sqmi|0}}.<ref name="Frank">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/15/business/media/jeff-bezos-amazon-rich-charity.html |title=At Last, Jeff Bezos Offers a Hint of His Philanthropic Plans |last=Frank |first=Robert |date=June 15, 2017 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref><ref name="parkhurst2015">{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2015/08/jeff-bezos-just-sold-534-million-worth-of-amazon.html |title=Jeff Bezos just sold $534 million worth of Amazon stock |last=Parkhurst |first=Emily |date=August 5, 2015 |website=[[Puget Sound Business Journal]] |accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref> His maternal grandmother was Mattie Louise Gise (''née'' Strait), through whom he is a cousin of country singer [[George Strait]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/retail/2017/09/07/amazoncoms-jeff-bezos-big-roots-intexas-give-state-edge |title=Jeff Bezos' roots could give Texas an edge as Amazon.com looks for new HQ site |author= |date=September 7, 2017 |website=dallasnews.com |accessdate=March 10, 2018}}</ref> Bezos often displayed scientific interests and technological proficiency; he once rigged an electric alarm to keep his younger siblings out of his room.<ref>Robinson (2010), p. 19</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/bez0bio-1 |title=Biography and Video Interview of Jeff Bezos at Academy of Achievement |publisher=Achievement.org |accessdate=August 10, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/65rP9SPPk?url=http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/bez0bio-1 |archivedate=March 2, 2012}}</ref>
The family moved to [[Miami, Florida]], where Bezos attended [[Miami Palmetto High School]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article1953866.html |title=Jeff Bezos: A rocket launched from Miami's Palmetto High |last=Yanez |first=Luisa |date=August 5, 2013 |website=miamiherald|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=February 11, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/1999/03/bezos-3/ |title=The Inner Bezos |last=Bayers |first=Chip |website=WIRED |accessdate=February 11, 2018}}</ref> While Bezos was in high school, he worked at [[McDonald's]] as a short-order [[Chef de partie|line cook]] during the breakfast shift.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/42412/face-time-jeff-bezos |title=Face Time With Jeff Bezos |last=Fishman |first=Charles |date=January 31, 2001 |work=Fast Company|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US}}</ref> He attended the Student Science Training Program at the [[University of Florida]]. He was high school [[valedictorian]], a [[National Merit Scholarship Program|National Merit Scholar]]<ref name="Robinson 2010, p. 24" /><ref name="st20120331">{{cite web |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017883721_amazonbezos25.html |title=Amazon.com's Bezos invests in space travel, time |last=Martinez |first=Amy |date=March 31, 2012 |accessdate=August 10, 2013 |newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref>, and a [[Silver Knight Awards|Silver Knight Award]] winner in 1982.<ref name="Robinson 2010, p. 24">Robinson (2010), p. 24</ref> In 1986, he graduated from [[Princeton University]] with a 4.2 grade point average and [[Bachelor of Science]] degrees in [[electrical engineering]] and [[computer science]] and was a member of [[Phi Beta Kappa]].<ref>Robinson (2010), p. 26</ref><ref name="Inside the Mind of Jeff Bezos">{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/50541/inside-mind-jeff-bezos-4 |title=Inside the Mind of Jeff Bezos |last=Deutschman |first=Alan |date=August 1, 2004 |website=Fast Company|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> While at Princeton, he was also elected to [[Tau Beta Pi]] and was the president of the Princeton chapter of the [[Students for the Exploration and Development of Space]].<ref>Robinson (2010), pp. 25–27</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/bez0int-6 |title=Jeff Bezos Interview |publisher=Achievement.org |date=April 17, 2008 |accessdate=August 10, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727231249/http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/bez0int-6 |archivedate=July 27, 2013}}</ref>
== Business career ==
=== Early career ===
After Bezos graduated from Princeton in 1987, he was offered jobs at [[Intel]], [[Bell Labs]], and [[Andersen Consulting]], among others.<ref name="Robinson 2010, p. 72">Robinson (2010), p. 7</ref> He first worked at Fitel, a financial telecommunications [[Startup company|start-up]], where he was tasked with building a network for [[international trade]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/7.03/bezos_pr.html |title=The Inner Bezos |last=Bayers |first=Chip |date=July 2003 |website= |publisher=[[Wired magazine|Wired]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> Bezos was promoted to head of development and director of customer service thereafter.<ref name="Bayers" /> He transitioned into the banking industry when he became a product manager at [[Bankers Trust]]; he worked there from 1988 to 1990.<ref name="Bayers" /> He then joined [[D. E. Shaw & Co.|D. E. Shaw & Co]], a newly founded [[hedge fund]], in 1990 and worked there until 1994. Bezos became D. E. Shaw's fourth senior vice-president at the age of 30.<ref name="Bayers" /><ref name="Robinson 2010, p. 72" />
=== Amazon ===
{{Main|Amazon (company)|l1=Amazon}}[[File:Jeff Bezos visits the Robot Co-op in 2005.jpg|thumb|Bezos (center) at a cooperative for robotics in 2005]]
In late 1993, Bezos decided to start an [[Online shopping|online bookstore]].<ref>Robinson (2010), p. 39</ref> He left his job at D. E. Shaw and founded [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] in his garage on July 5, 1994, after writing its [[business plan]] on a trip from [[New York City|New York]] to [[Seattle]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/27/how-amazon-founder-jeff-bezos-went-from-the-son-of-a-teen-mom-to-the-worlds-richest-person.html |title=How Amazon's Jeff Bezos went from the son of a teen mom to the richest person in the world |last=Clifford |first=Catherine |date=October 27, 2017 |website=CNBC |accessdate=March 6, 2018}}</ref><ref name="portfolio.com2">{{cite web |url=http://www.portfolio.com/resources/executive-profiles/Jeffrey-P-Bezos-1984 |title=Top Executive Profiles – Jeffrey P. Bezos |publisher=Portfolio.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204204126/http://www.portfolio.com/resources/executive-profiles/Jeffrey-P-Bezos-1984 |archivedate=February 4, 2009 |deadurl=yes}}</ref> Bezos named his new company "Amazon" after the [[Amazon River]] in [[South America]], in part because the name begins with the letter "A," which is at the beginning of the alphabet.<ref name="Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts">{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Amazoncom |title=Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> He accepted an estimated $300,000 from his parents and invested in Amazon.<ref name="portfolio.com2" /> He warned many early investors that there was a 70% chance that Amazon would fail or go [[Bankruptcy|bankrupt]].<ref>Robinson (2010), p. 56</ref> Although Amazon was originally an online bookstore, Bezos had always planned to expand to other products.<ref name="Bayers" /><ref name="Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts" /> Three years after Bezos founded Amazon, he took it public with an [[initial public offering]] (IPO).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2017/05/15/amazon-stock-20-years-ipo/ |title=If You Invested in Amazon at Its IPO, You Could Have Been a Millionaire |last=Shen |first=Lucinda |date=May 15, 2017 |website=Fortune|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> In response to critical reports from ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' and ''[[Barron's (newspaper)|Barron's]]'', Bezos maintained that the growth of the internet would overtake competition from larger book retailers such as [[Borders Group|Borders]] and [[Barnes & Noble]].<ref name="Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts" /> {{multiple image
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| image1 = Amazon CEO calls on PM Modi.jpg
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| caption1 = Bezos with Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] in 2014
| image2 = Naturalization Ceremony (27590970472).jpg
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| caption2 = Bezos receives the [[Smithsonian Institution|James Smithson Bicentennial]] medal in 2016 for his work with Amazon.
}}In 1998, Bezos diversified into the online sale of music and video; by the end of the year, he had also expanded the company's products to include a variety of [[Final good|consumer goods]].<ref name="Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts" /> Bezos used the $54 million raised during the company's 1997 equity offering to finance aggressive acquisition of smaller competitors.<ref name="Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts" /> In 2002, Bezos led Amazon to launch [[Amazon Web Services]], which compiled data from weather channels and [[Web traffic|website traffic]].<ref name="Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts" /> In late 2002, rapid spending from Amazon caused it financial distress when revenues stagnated.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/10/business/yourmoney/a-retail-revolution-turns-10.html |title=A Retail Revolution Turns 10 |last=Rivlin |first=Gary |date=October 7, 2005 |work=The New York Times|access-date=April 3, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 2000, Bezos borrowed $2 billion from banks, as its cash balances dipped to only $350 million.<ref name="Rivlin">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/10/business/yourmoney/a-retail-revolution-turns-10.html |title=A Retail Revolution Turns 10 |last=Rivlin |first=Gary |date=July 10, 2005 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> After the company nearly went [[Bankruptcy|bankrupt]], he closed distribution centers and laid off 14% of the Amazon workforce.<ref name="Rivlin" /> In 2003, Amazon rebounded from financial instability and turned a profit of $400 million.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bezos |first=Jeff |title=The electricity metaphor for the web's future |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/jeff_bezos_on_the_next_web_innovation |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> In November 2007, Bezos launched the [[Amazon Kindle]].<ref name="Amazon: Reinventing the Book">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/amazon-reinventing-book-96909 |title=Amazon: Reinventing the Book |date=November 17, 2007 |website=Newsweek |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> According to a 2008 ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' profile, Bezos wished to create the same [[Flow (psychology)|flow state]] found in video game simulations in books; he wished readers would fully engage with books.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1733748_1733758_1736345,00.html |title=The 2008 Time 100 – Time |last=Quittner |first=Josh |date=May 12, 2008 |website=Time |accessdate=March 7, 2018 |issn=0040-781X}}</ref> In 2013, Bezos secured a $600 million contract with the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) on behalf of Amazon Web Services.<ref name="Davenport">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/how-jeff-bezos-was-selected-but-never-joined-the-defense-innovation-board/2018/02/23/e3dd42d6-1828-11e8-8b08-027a6ccb38eb_story.html |title=How Jeff Bezos was selected for, but never joined, the Defense Innovation Board |last=Davenport |first=Christian |date=February 23, 2018 |website=Washington Post |accessdate=March 7, 2018 |last2=Lamothe |first2=Dan |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In October that year, Amazon was recognized as the largest online shopping retailer in the world.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2013/01/14/bezos-i-never-expected/ |title=Bezos: I never expected this' |last= |first= |date=January 4, 2013 |work=Digital Commerce 360|access-date=March 11, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US}}</ref>
In May 2016, Bezos sold slightly more than one million shares of his holdings in the company for $671 million, largest sum he had ever raised from selling some of his Amazon stock.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidermole.com/insider/bezos-jeffrey-p/transactions |title=Bezos Jeffrey P.: Insider Trading Transactions |publisher=InsiderMole.com |accessdate=July 14, 2016}}</ref> On August 4, 2016, Bezos sold another million of his shares for $756.7 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.davemanuel.com/net-worth/jeff-bezos |title=Jeff Bezos Net Worth |website=Davemanuel.com |accessdate=December 29, 2017 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230114711/https://www.davemanuel.com/net-worth/jeff-bezos/ |archivedate=December 30, 2017}}</ref> A year later, Bezos took on 130,000 new employees when he ramped up hiring at company distribution centers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/amazon-posts-profits-of-19-billion-its-highest-ever/2018/02/01/402aa9c2-06c5-11e8-94e8-e8b8600ade23_story.html |title=Amazon posts quarterly profit of $1.9 billion, its highest ever |last=Bhattarai |first=Abha |date=February 1, 2018 |work=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> By January 19, 2018, his Amazon stock holdings had appreciated to slightly over $109 billion; months later he began to sell stock to raise cash for other enterprises, in particular, [[Blue Origin]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-bezos-amazon-blue-origin-20180312-story.html |title=Bezos is putting $1 billion a year into rocket-maker Blue Origin by selling Amazon stock |last=Bloomberg |first= |date=March 12, 2018 |website=latimes.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> On January 29, 2018, he was featured in Amazon's [[Super Bowl commercials|Super Bowl commercial]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/308222 |title=Billionaire Jeff Bezos Will Star in Amazon's Super Bowl Ad |last=Belanger |first=Lydia |date=January 29, 2018 |work=Entrepreneur|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref> On February 1, 2018, Amazon reported its highest ever profit with quarterly [[earnings]] of $2 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-com-results/amazon-posts-largest-profit-in-its-history-on-sales-tax-boost-idUSKBN1FL6H0 |title=Amazon posts largest profit in its history on sales, tax boost |last=Dastin |first=Jeffrey |date=February 1, 2018 |work=Reuters|access-date=April 30, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> Due to the growth of [[Alibaba Group|Alibaba]] in China, Bezos has often expressed interest in expanding Amazon into [[India]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/after-losing-china-jeff-bezos-really-wants-to-win-in-india/articleshow/63204865.cms |title=After losing China, Jeff Bezos really wants to win in India – Times of India |last=Bloomberg |first= |date=March 9, 2018 |work=The Times of India|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=April 30, 2018}}</ref>
In March 2018, Bezos dispatched Amit Agarwal, Amazon's global senior vice president, to India with $5.5 billion to localize operations throughout the company's [[supply chain]] routes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-05/five-things-you-need-to-know-to-start-your-day-jeeqzcof |title=Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day |date=March 5, 2018 |website=Bloomberg.com |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> Later in the month, U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] accused Amazon–and Bezos, specifically–of [[sales tax]] avoidance, misusing [[Mail|postal routes]], and [[Anti-competitive practices|anti-competitive]] business practices.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/03/forget-zuckerberg-trump-is-obsessed-with-breaking-jeff-bezos |title=Forget Zuckerberg: Why Trump Is "Obsessed" with Breaking Bezos |last=Kosoff |first=Maya |date= |work=The Hive|access-date=January 2, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref> Amazon's share price fell by 9% in response to the President's negative comments; this reduced Bezos's personal wealth by $10.7 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2018/03/29/amazon-stock-amzn-jeff-bezos-net-worth/ |title=The World's Richest Man Just Lost $10.7 Billion as Trump Tweets About Amazon |last=Shen |first=Lucinda |date=January 2, 2018 |work=Fortune|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref> Weeks later, Bezos recouped his losses when academic reports out of [[Stanford University]] indicated that Trump could do little to regulate Amazon in any meaningful way.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-a-trump-led-antitrust-case-against-amazon-is-a-long-shot-1522501200 |title=Why a Trump-Led Antitrust Case Against Amazon Is a Long Shot |last=Stevens |first=Laura |date=April 9, 2018 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> During July 2018, a number of members of the U.S. Congress called on Bezos to detail the applications of Amazon’s [[Facial recognition system|face recognition]] software, ''Rekognition''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90209707/congress-demands-jeff-bezos-explain-amazons-face-recognition-software|title=Congress demands Jeff Bezos explain Amazon’s face recognition software|last=Captain|first=Sean|date=July 26, 2018|work=Fast Company|access-date=July 26, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Additionally, statements by the Trump administration, in favour of overturning the antitrust law known as the [[Paramount Decree]], have been predicted to help Amazon acquire the [[Landmark Theaters]] chain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://time.com/5369085/amazon-buy-landmark-theatres/|title=Amazon is trying to buy movie chain Landmark Theaters|first1=Anousha |last1=Sakoui|first2=Nabila |last2=Ahmed |first3=Spencer |last3=Soper|publisher=Time|date=2018-08-16|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref>
Criticism of Amazon's business practices continued in September 2018 when Senator [[Bernie Sanders]] introduced the Stop Bad Employers by Zeroing Out Subsidies (Stop BEZOS) Act and accused Amazon of receiving [[corporate welfare]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/09/05/bernie-sanders-introduces-stop-bezos-act-senate/|title=Bernie Sanders introduces "Stop BEZOS Act"|first=Abha|last=Bhattarai|publisher=The Washington Post|date=2018-09-05|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> This followed revelations by the non-profit group New Food Economy which found that one third of Amazon workers in [[Arizona]], and one tenth of Amazon workers in [[Pennsylvania]] and [[Ohio]], relied on food stamps.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/5/17819450/bernie-sanders-stop-bezos-amazon-worker-pay-corporate-welfare-tax-bill|title=Bernie Sanders introduces "Stop BEZOS" bill to tax Amazon for underpaying workers|first=Adi|last=Robertson|publisher=The Verge|date=2018-09-05|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> While preparing to introduce the bill, Sanders opined "Instead of attempting to explore Mars or go to the moon, how about Jeff Bezos pays his workers a living wage?"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/9/5/17822810/bernie-sanders-bill-bezos-amazon-ro-khanna|title=Bernie Sanders's BEZOS bill takes aim at how Amazon pays workers|first=Emily|last=Stewart|publisher=Vox|date=2018-09-05|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> He later said "Bezos could play a profound role. If he said today, nobody who is employed at Amazon will receive less than a living wage, it would send a message to every corporation in America."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bernie-sanders-amazon-walmart-with-100-tax/|title=Bernie Sanders targets Amazon, Walmart with 100% tax|first=Kate|last=Gibson|publisher=CBS|date=2018-09-05|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> Sanders's efforts elicited a response from Amazon which pointed to the 130,000 jobs it created in 2017 and called the $28,446 figure for its median salary "misleading" as it included part-time workers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.aboutamazon.com/company-news/response-to-senator-sanders|title=Response to Senator Sanders|publisher=Amazon|date=2018-08-29|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> However, Sanders countered that the companies targeted by his proposal have placed an increased focus on part-time workers to escape benefit obligations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-amazon_us_5b8eecade4b0511db3dcfd55|title=What the Bernie Sanders Amazon welfare fight is really about|first1=Arthur|last1=Delaney|first2=Dave|last2=Jamieson|publisher=Huffington Post|date=2018-09-05|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> On October 2, Bezos announced a company-wide wage increase which Sanders applauded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/02/business/amazon-minimum-wage.html|title=Amazon to raise minimum wage to $15 for all U.S. workers|first=Karen|last=Weise|publisher=The New York Times|date=2018-10-02|accessdate=2018-10-22}}</ref> The American workers who were being paid the minimum wage had this increased to $15 per hour — a decision that was interpreted as support for the [[Fight for $15]] movement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/story/why-amazon-really-raised-minimum-wage/|title=Why Amazon really raised its minimum wage to $15|first=Louise|last=Matsakis|publisher=Wired|date=2018-10-02|accessdate=2018-10-22}}</ref>
=== Blue Origin ===
{{Main|Blue Origin}}<!-- This section is NOT about Blue Origin. It is about how Bezos relates (interacts) to (with) Blue Origin. Any other contributions can be taken to the main article. -->{{multiple image
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| image1 = NASA Deputy Administrator Tours Blue Origin.jpg
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| caption1 = Bezos giving NASA Deputy Administrator [[Lori Garver]] (fourth from left) a tour of Blue Origin's crew capsule in 2011.
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| caption2 = U.S. Secretary of Defense [[Ash Carter]] meets with Bezos in 2016 at [[The Pentagon]].
}}In September 2000, Bezos founded [[Blue Origin]], a [[human spaceflight]] startup company.<ref name="msnbc2007-01-03">{{cite web |last=Boyle |first=Alan |title=Blue Origin Revealed |url=http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/03/26062.aspx |publisher=MSNBC |date=December 9, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223032428/http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/03/26062.aspx |archivedate=December 23, 2009}}</ref> Bezos has long expressed an interest in space travel and the development of [[Extraterrestrial life|human life in the solar system]].<ref name="st20120331" /> He was the [[valedictorian]] when he graduated from high school in 1982. His speech was followed up with a ''[[Miami Herald]]'' interview in which he expressed an interest to build and develop hotels, amusement parks, and colonies for human beings who were in orbit.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.economist.com/node/21548487 |title=Taking the long view |last= |first= |date=March 3, 2012 |website=The Economist |language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=April 29, 2018}}</ref> The 18-year-old Bezos stated that he wanted to preserve Earth from overuse through [[resource depletion]].<ref name="wp20130810">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/for-bezos-the-post-represents-new-frontier/2013/08/10/ba7cfeb6-013c-11e3-9a3e-916de805f65d_story.html |title=For Jeff Bezos, a new frontier |last=Whoriskey |first=Peter |date=August 12, 2013 |accessdate=February 20, 2014 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>
After its founding, Blue Origin maintained a low profile until 2006, when it purchased a large tract of land in [[West Texas]] for a launch and test facility.<ref name="wsj20061110">{{cite web |title=Buzz in West Texas is about Jeff Bezos space craft launch site |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116312683235519444?mod=googlenews_wsj |last=Mangalindan |first=Mylene |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=November 10, 2006 |accessdate=May 28, 2008}}</ref> After the company gained the public's attention during the late 2000s, Bezos additionally indicated his interest in reducing the [[Human spaceflight|cost of space travel]] for humans while also increasing the safety of extraterrestrial travel.<ref name="wired20111113">{{cite web |last=Levy |first=Steven |title=Jeff Bezos Owns the Web in More Ways Than You Think |date=November 13, 2011 |url=https://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/11/ff_bezos/all/1 |website=Wired |accessdate=December 9, 2011}}</ref> In September 2011, one of the company's unmanned prototype vehicles crashed during a short-hop test flight. Although the crash was viewed as a setback, news outlets noted how far the company went from its founding-to-date in advancing [[spaceflight]].<ref name="economist20120303">{{cite web |url=http://www.economist.com/node/21548487 |title=Taking the long view: Jeff Bezos, the founder and chief executive of Amazon, owes much of his success to his ability to look beyond the short-term view of things |date=March 3, 2012 |website=[[The Economist]] |accessdate=August 10, 2013 |quote=''Mr Bezos's willingness to take a long-term view also explains his fascination with space travel, and his decision to found a secretive company called Blue Origin, one of several start-ups now building spacecraft with private funding.''}}</ref> In May 2013, Bezos met with [[Richard Branson]], chairman of [[Virgin Galactic]], in 2013 to discuss commercial spaceflight opportunities and strategies.<ref name="ut20130527">{{cite web |last=Veverka |first=Mark |title=Unplugged: Richard Branson's otherworldly space quest |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/05/27/richard-branson-space-flight-jeff-bezos-elon-musk-amazon-spacex/2356245 |accessdate=May 28, 2013 |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=May 27, 2013}}</ref> He has been compared to Branson and [[Elon Musk]] as all three are billionaires who prioritize spaceflight among their business interests.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/04/three-billionaires-are-racing-to-space--who-will-win-/ |title=Three Billionaires Are Racing to Space. Who Will Win? |last=Worrall |first=Simon |date=April 7, 2018 |work=National Geographic|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=}}</ref>
In 2015, Bezos announced that a new [[orbital launch vehicle]] was under development and would make its first flight in the late-2010s.<ref name="sn20150915">{{cite web |last1=Foust |first1=Jeff |title=Bezos Not Concerned About Competition, Possible ULA Sale |url=http://spacenews.com/bezos-not-concerned-about-competition-possible-ula-sale |accessdate=September 16, 2015 |website=Space News |date=September 15, 2015}}</ref> Later in November, Blue Origin's ''[[New Shepard]]'' space vehicle successfully rocketed into space and reached its planned test altitude of 329,839 feet (100.5 kilometers) before executing a [[VTVL|vertical landing]] back at the launch site in West Texas. In 2016, Bezos allowed select journalists to visit, tour, and photograph his facility.<ref name="gw20160308">{{cite web |last=Boyle |first=Alan |url=http://www.geekwire.com/2016/jeff-bezos-lifts-curtain-blue-origin-rocket-factory-vision-space |title=Jeff Bezos lifts curtain on Blue Origin rocket factory, lays out grand plan for space travel that spans hundreds of years |website=[[GeekWire]] |date=March 8, 2016 |accessdate=March 11, 2016}}</ref> He has repeatedly called for increased inter-space energy and industrial manufacturing to decrease the negative costs associated with [[Pollution|business-related pollution]].<ref name="ars20160310">{{cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/03/jeff-bezos-says-he-wants-to-fly-into-space-as-soon-as-possible |title=Jeff Bezos says he wants to fly into space "as soon as possible" |website=[[Ars Technica]] |date=March 10, 2016 |accessdate=March 11, 2016 |quote=Bezos: ''I want to change the whole cost structure of accessing space.''}}</ref>
In December 2017, ''New Shepard'' successfully flew and landed [[Crash test dummy|dummy passengers]], amending and pushing its human space travel start date into late 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.space.com/39111-blue-origin-mannequin-skywalker-dummy-launch.html |title=Later, Vader! Watch Blue Origin Fly 'Mannequin Skywalker' to Space and Back |last=Malik |first=Tariq |date= |work=Space.com|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=}}</ref> To execute this program, Blue Origin built six of the vehicles to support all phases of testing and operations: no-passenger test flights, flights with test passengers, and commercial-passenger weekly operations.<ref name="sn20160308">{{cite web |url=http://spacenews.com/blue-origin-plans-growth-spurt-this-year |title=Blue Origin plans growth spurt this year |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=March 8, 2016 |website=[[SpaceNews (publication)|SpaceNews]] |accessdate=March 11, 2016}}</ref> Since 2016, Bezos has spoken more freely about his hopes to [[Extraterrestrial life|colonize the solar system]], and has been selling $1 billion in Amazon stock each year to capitalize Blue Origin in an effort to support this endeavor.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/science/blue-origin-rocket-jeff-bezos-amazon-stock.html |title=Jeff Bezos Says He Is Selling $1 Billion a Year in Amazon Stock to Finance Race to Space |last=St. Fluer |first=Nicholas |date=April 5, 2017 |website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=April 8, 2017 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/29279/20160927/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-colonize-solar-system.htm |title=Jeff Bezos: Blue Origin Wants to Colonize the Solar System |last=Ayque |first=Jamie |date=September 27, 2016 |website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=September 27, 2016}}</ref> In May 2018, Bezos maintained that the primary goal of Blue Origin is to preserve the [[Natural resource|natural resources of Earth]] by making the human species [[Extraterrestrial life|multi-planetary]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/jeff-bezos-isdc-space-vision/ |title=Jeff Bezos: ‘We will have to leave this planet … and it’s going to make this planet better’ |last=Boyle |first=Alan |date=May 29, 2018 |work=GeekWire|access-date=May 31, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> He announced that ''New Shepard'' would begin transporting humans into [[Sub-orbital spaceflight|sub-orbital space]] by November 2018.<ref name=":2" /> In July 2018, it was announced that Bezos had priced commercial spaceflight tickets from $200,000 to $300,000 per person.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-blueorigin-exclusive/exclusive-jeff-bezos-plans-to-charge-at-least-200000-for-space-rides-sources-idUSKBN1K301R |title=Exclusive: Jeff Bezos plans to charge at least $200,000 for space... |last=Johnson |first=Eric M. |date=July 16, 2018 |work=Reuters|access-date=July 18, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== ''The Washington Post'' ===
On August 5, 2013, Bezos announced his purchase of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' for $250 million in cash.<ref name="wp201308">{{cite web |last=Farhi |first=Paul |title=Washington Post to be sold to Jeff Bezos |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/washington-post-to-be-sold-to-jeff-bezos/2013/08/05/ca537c9e-fe0c-11e2-9711-3708310f6f4d_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |accessdate=August 5, 2013 |date=August 6, 2013}}</ref> To execute the sale, he established '''<!-- Nash Holdings is a re-direct to this section. -->Nash Holdings''', a [[Limited liability company|limited liability]] [[holding company]] that legally owns the paper.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/08/06/jeff-bezos-is-buying-the-washington-post-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-sale/ |title=Jeff Bezos is buying The Washington Post. Here’s what you need to know about the sale. |last=Matthews |first=Dylan |date=August 8, 2013 |work=Washington Post|access-date=March 11, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> The sale closed on October 1, 2013, and Nash Holdings took control.<ref name="wp20131001">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/washington-post-closes-sale-to-amazon-founder-jeff-bezos/2013/10/01/fca3b16a-2acf-11e3-97a3-ff2758228523_story.html |title=The Washington Post closes sale to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=October 1, 2013 |newspaper=The Washington Post |accessdate=March 31, 2014}}</ref> In March 2014, Bezos made his first significant change at ''The Washington Post'' and lifted the online paywall for subscribers of a number of U.S. local newspapers in [[Texas]], [[Hawaii]], and [[Minnesota]].<ref name="time20140319">{{cite web |last=Luckerson |first=Victor |title=Jeff Bezos Makes His First Major Move at the Washington Post |url=http://time.com/30243/jeff-bezos-makes-his-first-major-move-at-the-washington-post |accessdate=February 20, 2016 |newspaper=Time |date=March 19, 2014}}</ref> In January 2016, Bezos set out to reinvent the newspaper as a media and technology company by reconstructing its digital media, mobile platforms, and analytics software.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40495770/the-washington-post-is-a-software-company-now |title=The Washington Post Is a Software Company Now |last=McCrakken |first=Harry |date=November 17, 2017 |work=Fast Company|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> Throughout the early years of ownership, Bezos was accused of having a potential [[conflict of interest]] with the paper.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/business/expecting-the-unexpected-from-jeff-bezos.html |title=Expecting the Unexpected From Jeff Bezos |last=Streitfeld |first=David |date=August 17, 2013 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=March 9, 2018 |last2=Haughney |first2=Christine |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Bezos and the newspaper's [[editorial board]] have dismissed accusations that he unfairly controlled the paper's content and Bezos maintains the paper's independence.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=209584962 |title=Washington Post' May Find Conflicts in Amazon Coverage |last=Block |first=Melissa |date= |work=NPR.org|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Fortune">{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2017/10/27/amazon-jeff-bezos-washington-post/ |title=How Jeff Bezos Reacts to 'Negative' Amazon Articles in the Washington Post |last=Wieczner |first=Jen |date= |work=Fortune|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> After a surge in online readership in 2016, the paper was profitable for the first time since Bezos made the purchase in 2013.<ref name="Fortune" />
=== Bezos Expeditions ===
Bezos makes personal investments through his [[venture capital]] vehicle,<!-- Bezos Expeditions is a re-direct to this section. --> '''Bezos Expeditions'''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/29/inside-jeff-bezos-80-billion-empire.html |title=Inside Jeff Bezos' $80 billion empire |last=Hess |first=Abigail |date=August 29, 2017 |website=CNBC |accessdate=September 13, 2017}}</ref> He was one of the first [[investor|shareholders]] in [[Google]], when he invested $250,000 in 1998. That $250,000 investment resulted in 3.3 million shares of Google stock, worth about $3.1 billion in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.growthink.com/content/story-jeff-bezos%E2%80%99-250000-investment-google-1998 |title=The Story of Jeff Bezos' $250,000 Investment into Google in 1998 |last=Turo |first=Jay |website=Growthink|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=February 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://allthingsd.com/20091005/new-yorker-bezos-initial-google-investment-was-250000-in-1998-because-i-just-fell-in-love-with-larry-and-sergey |title=New Yorker: Bezos' Initial Google Investment Was $250K in 1998 Because 'I Just Fell in Love with Larry and Sergey' |last=Swisher |first=Kara |date=2009 |website=All Things D |accessdate=February 28, 2017}}</ref> He also invested in Unity Biotechnology, a life-extension research firm hoping to slow or stop the process of aging.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/31/google-co-founders-and-silicon-valley-billionaires-try-to-live-forever.html |title=Google's co-founders and other Silicon Valley billionaires are trying to live forever |last=Bloom |first=Ester |date=March 31, 2017 |website=CNBC |accessdate=June 29, 2017}}</ref> Bezos is involved in the healthcare sector, which includes investments in Unity Biotechnology, Grail, Juno Therapeutics, and ZocDoc.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/03/bezos-health-investments-reveal-strategy.html |title=We can learn a lot about Jeff Bezos' health strategy by looking at his investments |last1=Farr |first1=Christina |date=February 3, 2018 |accessdate=February 4, 2018 |publisher=CNBC}}</ref> In January 2018, an announcement was made concerning Bezos's role within a new, unnamed healthcare company. This venture is expected to be a partnership between Amazon, [[JPMorgan Chase|JPMorgan]], and [[Berkshire Hathaway]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2018/01/31/jeff-bezos-amazon-health-care/ |title=Why Jeff Bezos Might Be the One to Crack the Health Care Challenge |last1=Lashinsky |first1=Adam |date=January 31, 2018 |accessdate=February 4, 2018 |work=Fortune}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/30/technology/amazon-berkshire-hathaway-jpmorgan-health-care.html |title=Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Team Up to Try to Disrupt Health Care |last1=Wingfield |first1=Nick |date=January 30, 2018 |accessdate=February 4, 2018 |work=The New York Times |last2=Thomas |first2=Katie |last3=Abelson |first3=Reed}}</ref>
== Public image ==
[[File:Jeff_Bezos_Painting.jpg|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jeff_Bezos_Painting.jpg|thumb|293x293px|[[Thierry Ehrmann]]'s "Jeff Bezos" on the [[Abode of Chaos]] in [[Saint-Romain-au-Mont-d'Or]], France, 2017]]
Journalist [[Nellie Bowles]] of ''The New York Times'' has described the [[Persona|public persona]] and personality of Bezos as that of "a brilliant but mysterious and coldblooded corporate titan".<ref name="Wingfield 2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/12/technology/jeff-bezos-amazon.html |title=Jeff Bezos, Mr. Amazon, Steps Out |last=Wingfield |first=Nick |date=2018 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=March 9, 2018 |last2=Bowles |first2=Nellie |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> During the 1990s, Bezos earned a reputation for relentlessly pushing Amazon forward, often at the expense of [[Charitable organization|public charity]] and social welfare.<ref name="Wingfield 2018" /><ref name="Kakutani">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/29/books/the-everything-store-jeff-bezos-and-the-age-of-amazon.html |title='The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon' |last=Kakutani |first=Michiko |date=October 28, 2013 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=March 9, 2018 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> His business practices projected a public image of [[prudence]] and parsimony with his own wealth and that of Amazon. Bezos was a multi-billionaire who hung his clothes on a rack in his Amazon headquarters office and drove a 1996 [[Honda Accord]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2013/biz/news/amazon-uses-60-minutes-to-unveil-automated-delivery-drones-1200907633/ |title=Amazon Uses ’60 Minutes’ To Unveil Automated Delivery Drones |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=February 12, 2012 |work=Variety|access-date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US}}</ref> Throughout the early 2000s, he was perceived to be geeky or nerdy, often wearing ill-fitting clothing and making a variety of [[Faux pas|social missteps]].<ref name="fastcompany.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/50541/inside-mind-jeff-bezos-4 |title=Inside the Mind of Jeff Bezos |last=Deutschman |first=Alan |date=August 1, 2004 |work=Fast Company|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MxnrDQAAQBAJ |title=Geektionary: From Anime to Zettabyte, An A to Z Guide to All Things Geek |last=Bergman |first=Gregory |last2=Lambert |first2=Josh |date=December 18, 2010 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=9781440511882}}</ref><ref name="Bryan">{{cite web |url=https://mashable.com/2017/10/20/jeff-bezos-old-photos/ |title=If Jeff Bezos really wanted to rule the world, he'd pose for corny photos like he used to |last=Bryan |first=Chloe |work=Mashable |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref>
Bezos was seen by the public as needlessly quantitative and data-driven.<ref name="forbes.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/retailwire/2013/10/22/is-jeff-bezos-a-horrible-boss-and-is-that-good/ |title=Is Jeff Bezos a Horrible Boss and Is That Good? |last=Anderson |first=George |work=Forbes |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/why-trump-went-after-bezos-two-billionaires-across-a-cultural-divide/2018/04/05/22bb94c2-3763-11e8-acd5-35eac230e514_story.html |title=Why Trump went after Bezos: Two billionaires across a cultural divide |last=Fisher |first=Marc |date=April 4, 2018 |work=Washington Post|access-date=April 6, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> This perception was detailed by Alan Deutschman who described him as "talking in lists" and "[enumerating] the criteria, in order of importance, for every decision he has made."<ref name="fastcompany.com" /> Select accounts of his persona have drawn controversy and public attention. Notably, journalist [[Brad Stone (journalist)|Brad Stone]] wrote [[The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon|an unauthorized book]] that described Bezos as a demanding boss as well as [[Competition (companies)|hyper-competitive]].<ref name="Kakutani" /><ref name="forbes.com" /> Studies involving former Amazon employees have noted interactions with Bezos as [[Darwinism|Darwinian]] in nature but praised the dynamic for maintaining a well-run company.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2013/10/25/4-former-amazon-employees-on-what-its.html |title=4 former Amazon employees on what it's like working for Jeff Bezos |last=Upadhyaya |first=Preeti |date= |website=www.bizjournals.com |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> Bezos has been [[stereotype]]d as a notoriously opportunistic CEO who operates with little concern for obstacles and [[Externality|externalities]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.inc.com/business-insider/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-leadership-management-style-work-culture.html |title=9 Shocking Anecdotes That Reveal Jeff Bezos's Cutthroat Management Style |last=Caine |first=Aine |date=November 14, 2017 |work=Inc.com |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/amazon-jeff-bezos-prime/ |title=How Jeff Bezos Became a Power Beyond Amazon |last=Lashinsky |first=Adam |date= |work=Fortune|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> This depiction has been challenged by Bezos himself, his wife, Amazon employees, and the public as a mischaracterization.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/50106/inside-mind-jeff-bezos-5 |title=Inside the Mind of Jeff Bezos |date=August 1, 2004 |work=Fast Company |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref>
During the early 2010s, Bezos solidified his reputation for imperialistic business practices, and his public image began to shift. Bezos started to wear [[Tailor|tailored clothing]]; he [[Weight training|weight trained]], pursued a regimented diet and began to freely spend his money.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/11/jeff-bezos-used-to-eat-a-lot-of-pillsbury-biscuits.html |title=Guess How Many Pillsbury Biscuits Jeff Bezos Used to Eat Daily |last=Kircher |first=Madison Malone |work=Select All |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> His physical transformation has been compared to the [[Timeline of Amazon.com|transformation of Amazon]]; he is often referred to as the [[metonym]] of the company.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40525448/how-amazon-got-swole-just-like-ceo-jeff-bezos |title=How Amazon Got Swole Just Like CEO Jeff Bezos |last=Lidsky |first=David |date=February 27, 2018 |work=Fast Company|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{cite web |url=https://www.mensfitness.com/life/entertainment/jeff-bezos-man-who-turned-amazon-empire |title=Jeff Bezos: The man who turned Amazon into an empire |work=Men's Fitness |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> His physical appearance increased the public's perception of him as a symbolically dominant figure in business and in [[popular culture]], wherein he has been [[Parody|parodied]] as an enterprising [[Supervillain|super villain]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/entertainment/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-stuns-everyone-with-his-new-macho-look-twitter-users-go-crazy-compare-him-with-the-rock-vin-diesel/764306/ |title=Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos stuns everyone with his macho look, Twitter users compare him with The Rock, Vin Diesel |date=July 15, 2017 |work=The Financial Express |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/jeff-bezoss-latest-sideline-has-lots-of-people-comparing-him-to-a-comic-book-supervillain-2018-02-20 |title=Jeff Bezos's latest sideline has lots of people comparing him to a comic-book supervillain |last=MarketWatch |work=MarketWatch |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://dealbreaker.com/2018/02/jeff-bezos-who-is-not-a-super-villain-is-building-a-giant-clock-inside-a-mountain-because-hes-not-a-super-villain/ |title=Jeff Bezos, Who Is Not A Super-Villain, Is Building A Giant Clock Inside A Mountain, Because He's NOT A Super-Villain |last=McEnery |first=Thornton |work=Dealbreaker |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> Bezos eats exotic foods, such as [[Octopus as food|breakfast octopus]] and roasted [[iguana]].<ref name="Jones">{{Cite news |url=https://gizmodo.com/jeff-bezos-eats-iguana-vows-to-make-space-travel-cheap-1823695265 |title=Jeff Bezos Eats Iguana, Vows to Make Space Travel Cheaper With 'Amazon Lottery Winnings' |last=Jones |first=Rhett |date= |work=Gizmodo|access-date=March 3, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.inc.com/john-boitnott/how-you-can-benefit-from-jeff-bezos-sleeping-habits.html |title=What You Can Learn from Jeff Bezos's Sleep Habits |last= |first= |date=March 9, 2015 |work=Inc.com |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl= |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/275968 |title=5 Things Jeff Bezos Does Other Than Work |last=Mimaroglu |first=Alp |date=May 24, 2016 |work=Entrepreneur |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> In May 2014, the [[International Trade Union Confederation]] named Bezos, the "World's Worst Boss" with its general secretary [[Sharan Burrow]] saying "Jeff Bezos represents the inhumanity of employers who are promoting the North American corporate model."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ituc-csi.org/amazon-s-jeff-bezos-wins-ituc-s |title=Amazon's Jeff Bezos Wins ITUC's World's Worst Boss Poll |publisher=Ituc-csi.org |date=May 22, 2014 |accessdate=October 27, 2015}}</ref> During the late 2010s, Bezos reversed his reputation for being reluctant to spend money on non-business related expenses.<ref name="Frank" /> His relative lack of philanthropy compared to other billionaries, has drawn a negative response from the public since 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-31/for-bezos-now-world-s-richest-philanthropy-is-saved-for-later |title=For Bezos, Now World's Richest, Philanthropy Is 'Saved for Later' |last=Bass |first=Diane |date=October 31, 2017 |work=Bloomberg.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Frank" /> Bezos has been known to publicly contest claims made in critical articles, as exemplified in 2015 when he sent a memo to employees denouncing a ''New York Times'' piece.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/10/amazon-responds-new-york-times/411232/|title=Amazon launches a scathing response to Times story|first=Krishnadev|last=Calamur|publisher=The Atlantic|date=2015-10-19|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/08/17/432555175/jeff-bezos-responds-to-new-york-times-report-on-amazons-workplace|title=Jeff Bezos responds to 'New York Times' report on Amazon's workplace|publisher=NPR|date=2015-08-17|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref>
=== Leadership style ===
{{quote box
| title = <span style="font-size:90%">"Day 1" Management Philosophy</span>
| quote = Day 1: [[Startup company|start up]]<br>Day 2: [[Punctuated equilibrium|stasis]]<br>Day 3: [[Relative market share|irrelevance]]<br>Day 4: "excruciating, painful decline"<br>Day 5: [[Bankruptcy|death]]
| source = Bezos has stated "it is always Day 1" to describe his [[Mindset|growth mindset]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.recode.net/2017/4/12/15274220/jeff-bezos-amazon-shareholders-letter-day-2-disagree-and-commit |title=This is the Jeff Bezos playbook for preventing Amazon’s demise |last=Del Ray |first=Jason |date=April 12, 2017 |work=Recode|access-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazons-bezos-could-teach-large-companies-a-thing-or-two-about-strategy-2017-04-20 |title=Amazon’s Bezos could teach large companies a thing or two about strategy |last=Atsmon |first=Yuval |date=April 22, 2017 |work=MarketWatch|access-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US}}</ref>
| align = right
| width = 20em
| bgcolor = #CCDDFF
| qalign = left
| salign = left
}}Bezos used what he called a "regret-minimization framework" while he worked at [[D. E. Shaw & Co.|D. E. Shaw]] and again during the early years of Amazon.<ref name="wired.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/1999/03/bezos-3/ |title=The Inner Bezos |last=Bayers |first=Chip |work=WIRED |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> He described this [[Lebensphilosophie|life philosophy]] by stating: "When I'm 80, am I going to regret leaving Wall Street? No. Will I regret missing the beginning of the Internet? Yes."<ref name="wired.com" /> During the 1990s and early 2000s at Amazon, he was characterized as trying to quantify all aspects of running the company, often listing employees on spreadsheets and basing executive decisions on data.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/50541/inside-mind-jeff-bezos-4 |title=Inside the Mind of Jeff Bezos |last=Deutschman |first=Alan |date=August 1, 2004 |work=Fast Company|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> To push Amazon forward, Bezos developed the [[mantra]] "Get Big Fast", which spoke to the company's need to [[Economies of scale|scale]] its operations and establish market dominance.<ref name="Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts" /> He favored diverting Amazon profits back into the company in lieu of allocating it amongst shareholders in the form of [[dividend]]s.<ref name="fastcompany.com" />
Bezos uses the term "work–life harmony" instead of the more standard [[work–life balance]] because he believes balance implies that you can have one and not the other.<ref name="Constine">{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/05/jeff-bezos-guide-to-life/ |title=Jeff Bezos' guide to life |last=Constine |first=Josh |work=TechCrunch |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> He believes that work and home life are interconnected, informing and calibrating each other.<ref name="Constine" /> Journalist [[Walt Mossberg]] dubbed the idea that someone who cannot tolerate criticism or critique shouldn't do anything new or interesting, "[[q:Jeff Bezos|The Bezos Principle]]".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boingboing.net/2016/06/01/what-amazons-jeff-bezos-thin.html |title=What Amazon's Jeff Bezos thinks about Peter Thiel and Hulk Hogan vs. Gawker / Boing Boing |last=Mossberg |first=Walt |date=June 2, 2016 |website=boingboing.net |language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=April 22, 2018}}</ref> Bezos does not schedule early morning meetings and enforces a two pizza rule–a preference for meetings to be small enough to where two [[pizza]]s can feed everyone in the board room.<ref name="businessinsider.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-daily-routine-2017-7?op=0#when-he-does-call-a-meeting-bezos-employs-a-two-pizza-rule-he-never-organizes-a-meeting-where-two-pizzas-couldnt-feed-the-entire-group-5 |title=A day in the life of the richest person in history, Jeff Bezos — who made $6.44 billion in one day and still washes the dishes after dinner |last=Caine |first=Aline |date= |work=Business Insider|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> When interviewing candidates for jobs at Amazon he has stated he considers three inquiries: can he admire the person, can the person raise the [[Status quo|common standard]], and under what circumstances could the person become exemplary.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/01/jeff-bezos-questions-amazon-used-to-hire-employees.html|title=This is Jeff Bezos' 3-question test for new Amazon employees|last=Montag|first=Ali|date=August 1, 2018|work=CNBC|access-date=August 7, 2018}}</ref>
He meets with Amazon investors for a total of only six hours a year.<ref name="businessinsider.com" /> Instead of using [[Microsoft PowerPoint|PowerPoints]], Bezos requires high-level employees to present information with six-page narratives.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/20/technology/kevin-week-in-tech-bezos.html |title=Kevin’s Week in Tech: Jeff Bezos Reminds Tech Who’s Boss |last=Roose |first=Kevin |date=April 20, 2018 |work=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Starting in 1998, Bezos publishes an annual letter for Amazon shareholders wherein he frequently refers to five principles: focus on customers not competitors, take risks for [[Market share|market leadership]], facilitate staff morality, build a [[Organizational culture|company culture]], and empower people.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/05/13/5-key-business-lessons-from-amazons-jeff-bezos.html |title=5 key business lessons from Amazon's Jeff Bezos |first=Tim |last=Mullaney |date=January 12, 2017 |work=CNBC |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2017/04/14/data-sheet-be-like-jeff-bezos/ |title=What Makes Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Such a Visionary Leader |last=Lashinsky |first=Adam |date= |work=Fortune|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> Bezos maintains the email address "jeff@[[Amazon (company)|amazon.com]]" as an outlet for customers to reach out to him and the company.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/bezos-explains-his-dreaded-one-character-emails-2018-4 |title=Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos explains his famous one-character emails, known to strike fear in manager's hearts |last=Bort |first=Julie |date=April 21, 2018 |work=Business Insider|access-date=April 21, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=}}</ref> Although he does not respond to the emails, he forwards some of them with a question mark in the subject line to executives who attempt to address the issues.<ref name=":1" /> Bezos has cited [[Warren Buffett]] (of [[Berkshire Hathaway]]), [[Jamie Dimon]] (of [[JPMorgan Chase]]), and [[Bob Iger]] (of [[The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney]]) as major influences on his leadership style.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bushcenter.org/takeover/sessions/forum-leadership/bezos-closing-conversation.html |title=Forum on Leadership: Conversation with Jeff Bezos |last=Hersh |first=Kenneth |date=April 20, 2018 |website=www.bushcenter.org |language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=April 22, 2018}}</ref>
== Recognition ==
In 1999, Bezos received his first major award when ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' named him [[Time Person of the Year|Person of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,992927,00.html |title=Jeffrey Preston Bezos: 1999 Person of the year |website=Time |first=Joshua |last=Cooper Ramo |date=December 27, 1999}}</ref> In 2008, he was selected by ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' as one of America's best leaders.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/articles/news/best-leaders/2008/11/19/americas-best-leaders-jeff-bezos-amazoncom-ceo.html |title=America's Best Leaders: Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com CEO |website=U.S. News & World Report |first=David |last=LaGesse |date=November 19, 2008 |accessdate=November 25, 2008}}</ref> Bezos was awarded an [[honorary doctorate]] in science and technology from [[Carnegie Mellon University]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/2008/April/april22_jeffbezos.shtml |title=April 22: Amazon.com Founder Jeff Bezos to Speak at Carnegie Mellon Business School and Computer Science Diploma Ceremonies – Carnegie Mellon University {{!}} CMU|last=(CMU)|first=Carnegie Mellon University|website=www.cmu.edu|accessdate=March 6, 2018}}</ref> In 2011, ''[[The Economist]]'' gave Bezos and Gregg Zehr an Innovation Award for the [[Amazon Kindle]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.economistconferences.co.uk/press-release/charging-ahead-e-book-design-and-popularity-win-kindle-creators-innovation-award/5908 |title=Charging ahead: e-book design and popularity win Kindle creators Innovation Award |website=The Economist |date=September 19, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414143656/http://www.economistconferences.co.uk/press-release/charging-ahead-e-book-design-and-popularity-win-kindle-creators-innovation-award/5908 |archivedate=April 14, 2012}}</ref> In 2012, Bezos was named Businessperson of the Year by ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/11/16/jeff-bezos-amazon |title=Amazon's Jeff Bezos: The ultimate disrupter |last=Lashinsky |first=Adam |date= |website=Fortune |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809040922/http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/11/16/jeff-bezos-amazon |archivedate=August 9, 2013 |deadurl=yes |accessdate=August 10, 2013}}</ref> He is also a member of the [[Bilderberg Group]] and attended the 2011 Bilderberg conference in [[St. Moritz]], Switzerland,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/participants_2011.html |title=Bilderberg 2011 list of participants |publisher=BilderbergMeetings.org |accessdate=August 24, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828210925/http://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/participants_2011.html |archivedate=August 28, 2011}}</ref> and the [[2013 Bilderberg Conference|2013 conference]] in [[Watford]], Hertfordshire, England. He was a member of the Executive Committee of [[The Business Council]] for 2011 and 2012.<ref name="committee">{{cite web |url=http://www.thebusinesscouncil.org/about/excommittee.aspx |title=Executive Committee |publisher=The Business Council |accessdate=August 10, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721074619/http://www.thebusinesscouncil.org/about/excommittee.aspx |archivedate=July 21, 2013}}</ref> In 2014, he was ranked the best-performing CEO in the world by ''[[Harvard Business Review]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hbr.org/2014/11/the-best-performing-ceos-in-the-world |title=The Best-Performing CEOs in the World |newspaper=Harvard Business Review |accessdate=January 24, 2017}}</ref>
He has also figured in ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]''{{'}}s list of 50 great leaders of the world for three straight years, topping the list in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2014/03/20/worlds-50-greatest-leaders/ |title=The World's 50 Greatest Leaders (2014) |last= |first= |date= |work=Fortune|access-date=March 20, 2014|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref> In September 2016, Bezos received a $250,000 prize for winning the [[Heinlein Prize for Advances in Space Commercialization]], which he donated to the [[Students for the Exploration and Development of Space]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/09/15/jeff-bezos-on-nuclear-reactors-in-space-the-lack-of-bacon-on-mars-and-humanitys-destiny-in-the-solar-system |title=Jeff Bezos on nuclear reactors in space, the lack of bacon on Mars and humanity's destiny in the solar system |last=Davenport |first=Christian |date=September 15, 2016 |website=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=September 16, 2016}}</ref> In February 2018, Bezos was elected to the [[National Academy of Engineering]] for "leadership and innovation in space exploration, autonomous systems, and building a commercial pathway for human space flight".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nae.edu/MediaRoom/20095/177353/178117.aspx |title=National Academy of Engineering Elects 83 Members and 16 Foreign Members |website=NAE Website |accessdate=February 9, 2018}}</ref> In March 2018, he was awarded the Buzz Aldrin Space Exploration Award in recognition of his work with [[Blue Origin]].<ref name="Jones"/> He received Germany's 2018 Axel Springer Award for Business Innovation and Social Responsibility.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-responded-to-reports-on-amazon-warehouse-working-conditions-2018-4 |title=Jeff Bezos responded to reports of poor working conditions at Amazon — here's what he said |last=Schwär |first=Hannah |date=April 26, 2018 |work=Business Insider|access-date=April 26, 2018}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine named him one of the [[Time 100|100 most influential people in the world]] in their 2018 listing.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://time.com/collection/most-influential-people-2018/5217562/jeff-bezos-3/ |title=Jeff Bezos: The World’s 100 Most Influential People |last=Dimon |first=Jamie |date=April 26, 2018 |website=Time |language=en-us|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=April 26, 2018}}</ref>
=== Wealth ===
<!-- Any meaningful changes to this section require editor consensus; see Talk:Jeff Bezos FAQ #Q2. --><!-- Do not change table with estimates of his net worth. See Talk:Jeff Bezos FAQ #Q2 and Talk:Jeff Bezos/Archive 2, item 7. -->
{| class="wikitable" align="right"
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;" |Annual estimates of Jeff Bezos's [[net worth]]{{efn|All currency figures expressed in the [[United States dollar]] (US$) in [[Real versus nominal value (economics)|nominal terms]].}}
|-
! Year
! Billions
! Change
! Year
! Billions
! Change
|-
| 1999
| 10.1
| {{Steady}} 0.0%
| 2009
| 6.8
| {{Decrease}} 17.7%
|-
| 2000
| 6.1
| {{Decrease}} 40.5%
| 2010
| 12.6
| {{Increase}} 85.2%
|-
| 2001
| 2.0
| {{Decrease}} 66.6%
| 2011
| 18.1
| {{Increase}} 43.6%
|-
| 2002
| 1.5
| {{Decrease}} 25.0%
| 2012
| 23.2
| {{Increase}} 28.2%
|-
| 2003
| 2.5
| {{Increase}} 66.6%
| 2013
| 28.9
| {{Increase}} 24.5%
|-
| 2004
| 5.1
| {{Increase}} 104.0%
| 2014
| 30.5
| {{Increase}} 5.5%
|-
| 2005
| 4.1
| {{Decrease}} 5.8%
| 2015
| 50.3
| {{Increase}} 60.9%
|-
| 2006
| 4.3
| {{Decrease}} 10.4%
| 2016
| 45.2
| {{Decrease}} 10.1%
|-
| 2007
| 8.7
| {{Increase}} 102.3%
| 2017
| 72.8
| {{Increase}} 61.6%
|-
| 2008
| 8.2
| {{Decrease}} 5.7%
| 2018
| 112.0
| {{Increase}} 53.8%
|-
| colspan="6" |<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">{{small|1=Main data source: [https://www.forbes.com/profile/jeff-bezos/; ''Forbes'' ''World's Billionaires Estimates'']}}<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">{{small|Additional reference(s): [https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/| ''Bloomberg Billionaires Index'']}}
|}
Bezos first became a millionaire in 1997 after raising $54 million through Amazon's [[initial public offering]] (IPO).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.inc.com/business-insider/when-billionaires-made-their-first-million.html |title=The Age When 17 Self-Made Billionaires Earned Their First Million |last=Elkins |first=Kathleen |date=February 11, 2016 |website=Inc.com |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> He was first included on ''[[Forbes]]'' ''[[The World's Billionaires]]'' list in 1999 with a registered [[net worth]] of $10.1 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx99xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 1999 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> His net worth decreased to $6.1 billion a year later, a 40.5% drop.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx00xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 2000 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> His wealth plummeted even more the following year, dropping 66.6% to $2.0 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx01xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 2001 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> He lost $500 million the following year, which brought his net worth down to $1.5 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx02xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 2002 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> The following year, his net worth increased by 104% to $2.5 billion.<ref name="Casais">{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx03xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 2003 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> From 2005 to 2007, he quadrupled his net worth to $8.7 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/10/Rank_6.html |title=The World's Richest People - Forbes.com |website=www.forbes.com |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> After [[Financial crisis of 2007–2008|the financial crisis]] and [[Great Recession|succeeding economic recession]], his net worth would erode $6.8 billion—a 17.7% drop.<ref name="Casais2">{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx09xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 2009 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx08xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 2008 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> His wealth rose by 85.2% in 2010, leaving him with $12.6 billion. This percentage increase ascended him to the 43rd spot on the ranking from 68th.<ref name="Casais2" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx10xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 2010 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref>
After a rumor broke out that Amazon was developing a [[smartphone]], Bezos's net worth rose to $30.5 billion in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2014/06/05/bezos-net-worth-rises-1-4-billion-on-rumors-of-3-d-amazon-smartphone/ |title=Jeff Bezos' Net Worth Rises $1.4 Billion on Rumors of 3-D Amazon Smartphone |last=Mac |first=Ryan |website=Forbes |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-21/jeff-bezoss-net-worth-dives-in-2014 |title=Jeff Bezos's Net Worth Dives in 2014 |last=Summers |first=Nick |date=April 21, 2014 |website=Bloomberg.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> A year later, Bezos entered the top ten when he increased his net worth to a total of $50.3 billion.<ref name="Vinton">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katevinton/2015/07/23/jeff-bezos-just-gained-7-billion-in-an-hour-to-become-worlds-fifth-richest |title=Jeff Bezos Just Gained $7 Billion in an Hour to Become World's Fifth Richest |last=Vinton |first=Kate |website=Forbes |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> Bezos rose to be the 5th richest person in the world hours before [[Stock market|market close]]; he gained $7 billion in one hour.<ref name="Vinton" /> By the time the ''Forbes'' list was calculated in March 2016, his net worth was registered at $45.2 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chasewithorn/2016/03/01/the-full-list-of-every-american-billionaire-2016/ |title=The Full List of Every American Billionaire 2016 |last=Peterson-Withorn |first=Chase |website=Forbes |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> However, just months later in October 2016, his wealth increased by $16.2 billion to $66.5 billion unofficially ranking him the third richest person in the world behind [[Warren Buffett]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katevinton/2016/07/28/jeff-bezos-net-worth-hits-record-high-as-fortune-jumps-2-6-billion/ |title=Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' Net Worth Hits Record High As Fortune Jumps $2.6 Billion |last=Vinton |first=Kate |website=Forbes |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> After sporadic jumps in Amazon's share price, in July 2017 he briefly unseated [[Microsoft]] cofounder [[Bill Gates]] as the wealthiest person in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://time.com/money/4746795/richest-people-in-the-world/ |title=The Richest People in the World |last=Calfas |first=Jennifer |date= |website=Money|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref>
[[File:Net worth of Jeff Bezos from 1999 to 2018.png|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Net worth of Jeff Bezos from 1999 to 2018.png|left|thumb|257x257px|The [[net worth]] of Jeff Bezos from 1999 to 2018 as estimated by ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine, in the [[Real versus nominal value (economics)|nominal]] [[United States dollar|U.S. dollar]]. His net worth is calculated in the billions by March of each year. ]]
Bezos would continue to sporadically surpass Gates throughout the month of October 2017 after Amazon's share price fluctuated.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katevinton/2017/10/27/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-is-the-richest-person-in-the-world-again/#3cfd84ce1948 |title=Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Is the Richest Person in the World – Again |last=Vinton |first=Kate |date= |work=Forbes|access-date=October 3, 2017|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref> His net worth surpassed $100 billion for the first time on November 24, 2017, after Amazon's [[share price]] increased by more than 2.5%.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://money.cnn.com/2017/11/24/technology/jeff-bezos-100-billion/index.html |title=Jeff Bezos is now worth $100 billion |last=Isidore |first=Chris |website=Money.cnn.com |accessdate=December 29, 2017}}</ref> When the 2017 list was issued, Bezos's net worth was registered at $72.8 billion, adding $27.6 billion from the previous year.<ref name="Dolan">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2017/03/20/forbes-2017-billionaires-list-meet-the-richest-people-on-the-planet/ |title=Forbes 2017 Billionaires List: Meet The Richest People on the Planet |last=Dolan |first=Kerry A. |website=Forbes |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> Bezos was officially ranked as the third wealthiest person in the world up from the 5th spot in 2016.<ref name="Dolan" /> His wealth's rapid growth from 2016 to 2017 sparked a variety of assessments about how much money Bezos earned on a controlled, reduced time scale. On October 10, 2017, he made an estimated $6.24 billion in 5 minutes, slightly less than the annual [[Gross Domestic Product]] of [[Kyrgyzstan]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/jeff-bezos-made-62-billion-in-5-minutes-became-worlds-richest-person-how-was-your-thursday.html |title=Jeff Bezos Made $6.2 Billion in 5 Minutes and Became the World's Richest Person (How Was Your Thursday?) |last=Murphy |first=Bill |date=October 27, 2017 |work=Inc.com|access-date=April 29, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref>
On March 6, 2018, Bezos was officially designated the [[The World's Billionaires|wealthiest person in the world]] with a registered net worth of $112 billion.<ref name="NBC News">{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/trump-slumps-down-forbes-annual-list-billionaires-bezos-rises-top-n854141 |title=America produced the largest number of billionaires in the world |last=Bayly |first=Lucy |date=March 6, 2018 |website=NBC News|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=April 30, 2018}}</ref> He unseated Bill Gates ($90 billion) who was $6 billion ahead of Warren Buffett ($84 billion), ranked third.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/forbes-2018-list-of-worlds-billionaires/ |title=Jeff Bezos moves to top spot on Forbes' annual billionaires list |accessdate=March 6, 2018}}</ref> He is considered the first registered<!-- Do NOT change his status as a centi-billionaire per Talk:Jeff Bezos FAQ #Q2 and Talk:Jeff Bezos#Jeff Bezos: Episode VIII – The First Centi-Billionaire. --> [[Billionaire|centi-billionaire]] (not [[Real versus nominal value (economics)|adjusted for inflation]]).{{efn|Although [[Bill Gates]] momentarily surpassed the $100 billion [[net worth]] mark in April 1999 before the [[Dot-com bubble]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/noahkirsch/2018/01/09/heres-why-jeff-bezos-is-not-truly-the-richest-person-in-history/#78b769f31f06 |title=Here's Why Jeff Bezos Is Not Truly The Richest Person In History |last=Kirsch |first=Noah |date= |work=Forbes|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref> Bezos was the first to register $100 billion with major wealth indexes and has retained the wealth for longer than Gates's three weeks.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2018/03/09/jeff-bezos-net-worth-jump/ |title=Jeff Bezos Had a Record-Breaking One-Year Net Worth Jump |last= |first= |date= |work=Fortune|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/luisakroll/2018/03/06/forbes-billionaires-2018-meet-the-richest-people-on-the-planet/#4a24c86523db |title=Forbes Billionaires 2018: Meet The Richest People On The Planet |last=Kroll |first=Luisa |work=Forbes|access-date=April 4, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/luisakroll/2018/03/06/forbes-billionaires-2018-meet-the-richest-people-on-the-planet/#4a24c86523db |title=Forbes Billionaires 2018: Meet The Richest People On The Planet |last=Kroll |first=Luisa |date= |work=Forbes|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/market/jeff-bezos-worlds-first-centibillionaire-amazon-boss-journey-to-beat-bill-gates-to-the-top-of-fobres-list/1093600/ |title=Jeff Bezos world’s first centibillionaire: Amazon boss’ journey to beat Bill Gates to the top of Forbes list |date=April 4, 2018 |work=The Financial Express|access-date=April 4, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref>}}
His wealth, in 2017–18 terms, equaled that of 2.7 million Americans.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.maxim.com/news/forbes-jeff-bezos-richest-billionaire-2018-3 |title=Jeff Bezos Is Worth $112 Billion, Overtaking Bill Gates as the Richest Man in the World |last=Freeman |first=Thomas |date= |website=Maxim|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> Bezos's net worth increased by $33.6 billion from January 2017 to January 2018. This increase outstripped the economic development (in [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] terms) of more than 96 countries around the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.valuewalk.com/2018/03/jeff-bezos-richest-man/ |title=Bezos' Billions: The Wealth of a 'Centi-Billionaire' |date=March 7, 2018 |website=ValueWalk |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> During March 9, Bezos earned $230,000 every 60-seconds.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://time.com/money/5192998/jeff-bezos-net-worth-2018-worlds-richest-man/ |title=Jeff Bezos Is Making an Insane $230,000 a Minute Right Now |last=Tuttle |first=Brad |date= |website=Money |language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=March 28, 2018}}</ref> ''[[The Motley Fool]]'' estimated that if Bezos had not sold any of his shares from its original public offering in 1997, his net worth would sit at $181 billion in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/02/28/heres-what-amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-would-be-worth-if.aspx |title=Here's How Much Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Would Be Worth if He Never Sold a Single Share |last=Williams |first=Sean |website=The Motley Fool |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> According to ''[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]]'', his net worth of $150 billion in July 2018 was enough to purchase the entire stock markets of [[Nigeria]], [[Hungary]], [[Egypt]], [[Luxembourg]], and [[Iran]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://qz.com/1330631/jeff-bezos-is-now-worth-150-billion-as-much-as-many-entire-stock-markets/ |title=Jeff Bezos is rich enough to buy many of the world’s stock markets outright |last=Karaian |first=Jason |date=July 15, 2018 |work=Quartz|access-date=July 15, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> Following the report by ''Quartz'', Amazon workers in [[Poland]], [[Germany]], and [[Spain]] participated in demonstrations and [[Strike action|labor strikes]] to draw awareness to his growing wealth and the lack of compensation, labor rights, and satisfactory working conditions of select Amazon workers.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/07/jeff-bezoss-massive-wealth-becoming-a-problem |title=Is Jeff Bezos’s Massive Wealth Becoming a Problem? |last=Kosoff |first=Maya |date=July 17, 2018 |work=The Hive|access-date=July 17, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> On July 17, 2018 he was designated the "wealthiest person in modern history"{{efn|Many calculations of Bezos' wealth during the late 2010s were not [[Real versus nominal value (economics)|adjusted for inflation]]. When he was designated the "world wealthiest person" on March 6, 2018, the ''Forbes''<nowiki/>' ''[[The World's Billionaires]]'' list stipulated that although Bezos was the first [[Billionaire|centi-billionaire]] (i.e. +[[United States dollar|US$]]100 billion in net worth), it was [[Bill Gates]] who had the most money when taken in [[Real versus nominal value (economics)|real terms]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/noahkirsch/2018/01/09/heres-why-jeff-bezos-is-not-truly-the-richest-person-in-history/#7f101cbe1f06 |title=Here's Why Jeff Bezos Is Not Truly The Richest Person In History |last=Kirsch |first=Noah |date=March 6, 2018 |work=Forbes|access-date=July 17, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> In such terms, Gates had $150 billion while Bezos had $100 billion. However, in July 2018, the net worth of Bezos officially surpassed the $150 billion mark which led most major wealth indexes to label him the wealthiest person in modern history (post-1982).<ref name="Chaykowski">{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathleenchaykowski/2018/07/17/jeff-bezos-net-worth-hits-record-151-billion-after-strong-amazon-prime-day/#60330c62e802 |title=Jeff Bezos' Net Worth Hits Record $151 Billion After Strong Amazon 'Prime Day' |last=Chaykowski |first=Kathleen |date=July 17, 2018 |work=Forbes|access-date=July 17, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>}} <!-- Please see Talk:Jeff Bezos#Jeff Bezos: Episode VIII – The First Centi-Billionaire for more information about the Gates v. Bezos real terms debate. -->by the [[Bloomberg Billionaires Index]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-16/happy-prime-day-jeff-amazon-ceo-s-net-worth-tops-150-billion |title=Jeff Bezos Becomes the Richest Man in Modern History, Topping $150 Billion |last= |first= |date=July 17, 2018 |work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=July 17, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> ''Fortune'',<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2018/07/16/jeff-bezos-richest-man/ |title=Jeff Bezos Is Now the Richest Man in Modern History, Topping $150 Billion |last= |first= |date=July 17, 2018 |work=Fortune|access-date=July 17, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> ''[[MarketWatch]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/jeff-bezos-becomes-the-richest-person-in-modern-history-amid-amazon-prime-day-kickoff-2018-07-16?link=MW_latest_news |title=Jeff Bezos becomes the richest person in modern history amid Amazon Prime Day kickoff |last=French |first=Sally |date=July 17, 2018 |work=MarketWatch|access-date=July 17, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'',<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-jeff-bezos-really-the-richest-of-them-all-1533893580|title=Is Jeff Bezos Really the Richest of Them All?|last=McGinty|first=Jo Craven|date=August 10, 2018|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=August 11, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> and ''Forbes''.<ref name="Chaykowski">{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathleenchaykowski/2018/07/17/jeff-bezos-net-worth-hits-record-151-billion-after-strong-amazon-prime-day/#60330c62e802 |title=Jeff Bezos' Net Worth Hits Record $151 Billion After Strong Amazon 'Prime Day' |last=Chaykowski |first=Kathleen |date=July 17, 2018 |work=Forbes|access-date=July 17, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
In 1992, Bezos was working for [[D. E. Shaw]] in [[Manhattan, New York]], when he met novelist [[MacKenzie Bezos|MacKenzie Tuttle]], who was a research associate at the firm; they were married a year later.<ref name="Bayers">{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/1999/03/bezos-3/ |title=The Inner Bezos |last=Bayers |first=Chip |website=WIRED |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref><ref name="levisilicon">{{cite web |title=Quoted: She Said, He Said — MacKenzie Bezos Vs. Author of Book on Amazon |url=http://www.siliconbeat.com/2013/11/05/quoted-she-said-he-said-mackenzie-bezos-vs-author-of-book-on-amazon/ |website=SiliconBeat |publisher=The Mercury News |author=Levi Sumagaysay |date=November 5, 2013 |quote=I have firsthand knowledge of many of the events. I worked for Jeff (Bezos) at D. E. Shaw}}</ref> In 1994, they moved across the country to [[Seattle, Washington]], where Bezos founded Amazon.<ref name="bezosp">{{cite web |last=Bayers |first=Chip |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.03/bezos_pr.html |title=The Inner Bezos |website=Wired |volume=7 |issue=03 |accessdate=August 23, 2013}}</ref> He and his wife are the parents of four children: three sons, and one daughter adopted from China.<ref name="wp20130810" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/05/us/jeff-bezos-fast-facts |title=Jeff Bezos Fast Facts |publisher=CNN |date=March 24, 2016}}</ref> His brother Mark Bezos is a volunteer firefighter.<ref name="guardian-stingy">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jul/28/jeff-bezos-amazon-rich-charity-warren-buffett|title=Jeff Bezos: How the world's richest man can change his stingy reputation|first=Nathan|last=Robinson|publisher=The Guardian|date=2017-07-28|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref>
In March 2003, Bezos was one of three passengers in a helicopter that crashed in [[West Texas]] after the craft's tail boom hit a tree.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB104742483556702500 |title=Amazon Chief Survives Helicopter Crash in Texas |author=Nick Wingfield |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl= |accessdate=March 7, 2018 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> Bezos sustained minor injuries and was discharged from a local hospital the same day.<ref name="Inside the Mind of Jeff Bezos" />
In 2016, Bezos played a [[Starfleet]] official in the movie ''[[Star Trek Beyond]]'', and joined the cast and crew at a [[San Diego Comic-Con]] screening.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 21, 2016 |title=Amazon founder Jeff Bezos reveals Star Trek Beyond alien cameo |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-36857001 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=February 22, 2017}}</ref>
== Politics ==
According to public [[Campaign finance in the United States|campaign finance records]], Bezos supported the electoral campaigns of [[Patty Murray]] and [[Maria Cantwell]], two [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] U.S. Senators from Washington. He has also supported U.S. representative [[John Conyers]], as well as [[Patrick Leahy]] and [[Spencer Abraham]], U.S. Senators serving on committees dealing with Internet-related issues.<ref name="Sullivan">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2013/08/07/the-politics-of-jeff-bezos/ |title=The politics of Jeff Bezos |last=Sullivan |first=Sean |date=August 7, 2013 |website=Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> Bezos and his wife support the legalization of [[same-sex marriage]], and in 2012 contributed $2.5 million to [[Washington United for Marriage]], a group supporting a yes vote on [[Washington Referendum 74]], which affirmed a same-sex marriage law enacted in the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/28/us-usa-gaymarriage-bezos-idUSBRE86R01320120728 |title=Amazon's Jeff Bezos, wife, make $2.5 million donation for gay marriage |last=Porterfield |first=Elaine |date=July 28, 2012 |accessdate=August 23, 2013 |agency=Reuters}}</ref> Bezos donated $100,000 towards a movement against a higher Washington [[state income tax]] in 2010.<ref name="Sullivan" /> In 2012, he donated to Amazon's [[political action committee]] (PAC),<ref name="Sullivan"/> which has given $56,000 and $74,500 to Democrats and Republicans, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00360354&cycle=2012 |title=Amazon.com Contributions to Federal Candidates, 2012 cycles|publisher=Center for Responsive Politics|accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref>
After the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 presidential election]], Bezos was invited to join [[Donald Trump]]'s [[Defense Innovation Advisory Board]], an advisory council to improve the technology used by the [[United States Department of Defense|Defense Department]]. Bezos declined the offer without further comment.<ref name="Davenport"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://money.cnn.com/2016/08/02/investing/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-billionaires-warren-buffett/index.html |title=The Hillary Clinton billionaires club |last=La Monica |first=Paul R. |date=August 2, 2016 |website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date= |newspaper=CNN}}</ref> Trump has repeatedly attacked Bezos [[Donald Trump on Twitter|via Twitter]], accused Bezos of avoiding [[corporate tax]]es, gaining undue political influence, and undermining his presidency by spreading "[[fake news]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2017/06/28/donald-trump-twitter-jeff-bezos/ |title=How to Understand Donald Trump's #AmazonWashingtonPost Tweet in 3 Easy Steps |last=Abramson |first=Alana |date= |website=Fortune|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/slammed-by-trump-amazons-jeff-bezos-chooses-the-silent-treatment-1523282400 |title=Slammed by Trump, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos Chooses Silence |last=Stevens |first=Laura |date=April 9, 2018 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |last2=Nicholas |first2=Peter |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> Bezos has repeatedly joked about using his rocket company to send Donald Trump into [[outer space]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/02/why-jeff-bezos-is-pouring-amazon-cash-into-trumps-swamp |title=Why Jeff Bezos Is Dumping Cash into Trump's Swamp |last=Kosoff |first=Maya |website=The Hive |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/12/07/donald-trump-called-out-jeff-bezos-on-twitter-then-bezos-called-his-bluff/ |title=Donald Trump called out Jeff Bezos on Twitter. Then Bezos called his bluff. |last=Cillizza |first=Chris |date=December 7, 2015 |website=Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref>
In March 2018, Bezos met in Seattle with [[Mohammad bin Salman]], the crown prince and de facto ruler of [[Saudi Arabia]], to discuss investment opportunities for [[Saudi Vision 2030]].<ref>"[http://www.arabnews.com/node/1276676/saudi-arabia Saudi crown prince meets Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos in Seattle]". ''Arab News''. March 31, 2018.</ref> In 2014, Bezos won a bid for a cloud computing contract with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] valued at $600 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/norman-solomon/why-amazons-collaboration_b_4824854.html|title=Why Amazon's collaboration with the CIA is so ominous — and vulnerable|first=Norman|last=Solomon|publisher=The Huffington Post|date=2014-02-20|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> A 2018, $10 billion contract known as the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure project, this time with the [[United States Department of Defense|Pentagon]], was allegedly written up in a way that favors Amazon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://federalnewsradio.com/contractsawards/2018/08/dods-10b-cloud-contract-comes-under-protest-11-days-after-final-rfp/|title=DoD’s $10B cloud contract comes under protest 11 days after final RFP|first=Jason|last=Miller|publisher=Federal News Radio|date=2018-08-07}}</ref> Controversy over this was raised when General [[James Mattis]] accepted a headquarters tour invitation from Bezos and co-ordinated the deal through Sally Donnelly, a lobbyist who previously worked for Amazon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/08/has-bezos-become-more-powerful-in-dc-than-trump|title="Everybody immediately knew that it was for Amazon": Has Bezos become more powerful in DC than Trump?|first=May|last=Jeong|publisher=Vanity Fair|date=2018-08-13|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> Despite Bezos' support for an open borders policy towards immigrants, Amazon has actively marketed facial recognition software to the [[U.S._Immigration_and_Customs_Enforcement|ICE]].<ref>{{citeweb|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/amazon-pushes-ice-to-buy-its-face-recognition-surveillance-tech|title="Amazon Pushes ICE to Buy Its Face Recognition Surveillance Tech"|first=Jake|last=Laperruque|publisher=The Daily Beast|date=2018-10-23|accessdate=2018-10-23}}</ref>
== Philanthropy ==
[[File:Recovered F-1 Engine parts .jpg|thumb|Bezos funded the retrieval of this [[Rocketdyne F-1|F-1 engine]] from the bottom of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in 2015, eventually donating it to the [[Museum of Flight|Seattle Museum of Flight]].]]
Bezos supports his philanthropic efforts through direct donations and [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit]] projects funded by [[Bezos Expeditions]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/15/technology/jeff-bezos-amazon-twitter-charity.html |title=Jeff Bezos Wants Ideas for Philanthropy, So He Asked Twitter |last=Wingfield |first=Nick |date=June 15, 2017 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> Through Bezos Expeditions, he has funded the Bezos Center for Innovation at the Seattle Museum of History and Industry for $10 million and Bezos Center for Neural Circuit Dynamics at [[Princeton Neuroscience Institute]] for $15 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S32/37/48S39/index.xml?section=topstories |title=Princeton University – Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos donate $15 million to create center in Princeton Neuroscience Institute |last=Stevens |first=Ruth |date= |website=princeton.edu|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=December 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mohai.org/press-media/press-releases/item/2612-jeff-and-mackenzie-bezos-flip-the-switch-on-new-bezos-center-for-innovation-at-mohai-kicking-off-saturday-launch-celebration |title=Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos Flip the Switch on New Bezos Center for Innovation at MOHAI, Kicking Off Saturday Launch Celebration |website=mohai.org |accessdate=December 31, 2017}}</ref> He has donated multiple times to the [[Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center]]: $10 million in 2009, $20 million in 2010, $15 million in 2011, and $35 million in 2017.<ref name="inside">{{cite web |url=http://www.insidephilanthropy.com/guide-to-individual-donors/jeff-bezos.html |title=Guide to Individual Donors: Tech Philanthropists: Jeff Bezos |last= |first= |date= |website=Inside Philanthropy|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=June 26, 2018}}</ref> He also donated $800,000 to [[Worldreader]], a non-profit, founded by a former Amazon employee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geekwire.com/2014/jeff-bezos-donates-20-million-fred-hutchinson-cancer-research-center |title=Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and family donate $20M to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center |last=Soper |first=Taylor |website=GeekWire |accessdate=December 31, 2017}}</ref> In 2015, he funded the recovery of two [[Saturn V]] first-stage [[Rocketdyne F-1]] engines from the floor of the [[Atlantic Ocean]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bezosexpeditions.com/engine-recovery.html |title=F-1 Engine Recovery: Bezos Expeditions |author=DEI Creative in Seattle, WA |website=bezosexpeditions.com}}</ref> They were positively identified as belonging to the [[Apollo 11]] mission's [[S-1C|S-1C stage]] in July 2013.<ref name="Apollo 11 F1 Engines Found">{{cite web |url=http://www.space.com/22044-apollo-rocket-engines-bezos.html |title=Rocket Engine Part Recovered by Amazon CEO Has Apollo 11 History |last=Pearlman |first=Robert Z. |date=July 19, 2013 |newspaper=Space.com |accessdate=August 10, 2013 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6IlYwWLPu?url=http://www.space.com/22044-apollo-rocket-engines-bezos.html |archivedate=August 10, 2013 |deadurl=no |location=New York}}</ref> The engine is currently on display at the [[Museum of Flight|Seattle Museum of Flight]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.museumofflight.org/Exhibits/apollo-f-1-engine-preview |title=Apollo F-1 Engine Preview {{!}} The Museum of Flight|last=|first=|date=|website=www.museumofflight.org|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=April 4, 2018}}</ref> His philanthropic efforts have been negatively compared to those of [[Bill Gates]] and [[Warren Buffett]].<ref name="guardian-stingy" /><ref name="Frank" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.insidesources.com/two-tech-titans-two-very-different-views-of-philanthropy |title=Two tech titans. Two very different views of philanthropy. – InsideSources |work=InsideSources}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon-a-virtual-no-show-in-hometown-philanthropy/|title=Amazon a virtual no-show in hometown philanthropy|last=Martinez|first=Amy|date=2012-03-31|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=2017-12-29|last2=Heim|first2=Kristi|language=en-US}}</ref>
On May 23, 2017, he gave $1 million to the [[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press]], the largest single gift received by the organization.<ref name="https">{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/4038657/jeff-bezos-just-gave-1-million-to-the-reporters-committee-for-freedom-of-the-press |title=Jeff Bezos just gave $1 million to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |last=Grothaus |first=Michael |date=May 24, 2017 |website=Fast Company|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> The committee provides [[pro bono]] legal services to protect the rights of American journalists.<ref name="https" /> In an interview at the [[George W. Bush Presidential Center]] later that month, Bezos voiced his attraction to engaging in strategic philanthropy to address [[Structural inequality|systemic inequalities]] rather than outright [[Charity (practice)|charity]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/worlds-richest-man-jeff-bezos-future-plans-space-tour-philanthropy-more/articleshow/64016666.cms |title=World's richest man Jeff Bezos' future plans: Space tour, philanthropy & more - Times of India |last=Hersh |first=Kenneth |date=May 3, 2018 |work=The Times of India|access-date=June 20, 2018 |quote=Mental incapacity issues are a very hard-to-cure problem, serious drug addiction, a very hard-to-cure problem, but there's another bucket of homelessness which is transient homelessness, which is a woman with kids, the father runs away, and he was the only person providing any income and they have no support system, they have no family. That's transient homelessness. You can really help that person. And you by the way, only need to help them for like six to nine months, you get them trained, you get them a job, they're perfectly productive members of society.}}</ref> On June 15, 2017, he sent a message on [[Twitter]] asking for ideas for philanthropy: "I'm thinking about a philanthropy strategy that is the opposite of how I mostly spend my time—working on the long term".<ref name="Frank" /> At the time of the post, Bezos's lifetime spending on charitable causes was estimated to be $100 million.<ref name="Frank" /> Multiple journalists responded by asking Bezos to pay higher wages to Amazon warehouse workers.<ref name="guardian-stingy" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jeff-bezos-workers_us_59a7220fe4b07e81d354e6e3|first=Frederick|last=Kunkle|title=Jeff Bezos wants to give more money to charity. He should pay his workers first.|publisher=The Huffington Post|date=2017-09-01|accessdate=2018-09-19}}</ref> A year later in June, he tweeted that he would announce two philanthropic foci by the end of summer 2018.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |url=http://observer.com/2018/06/what-has-jeff-bezos-chosen-to-spend-his-140b-on-we-have-4-guesses/ |title=What Has Jeff Bezos Chosen to Spend His $140B On? We Have 4 Guesses. |last=Cao |first=Sissi |date=June 6, 2018 |work=Observer|access-date=June 6, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> An analysis of all 50,000 comments on the post concluded four areas of interest for Bezos' upcoming philanthropy: [[health care]], education, [[Workplace wellness|workplace rights]], and environmentalism.<ref name=":3" />
In January 2018, he made a $33 million donation to TheDream.US, a college scholarship fund for [[Illegal immigration to the United States|undocumented immigrants]] who were brought to the United States when they were minors.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/01/12/jeff-bezos-donates-33-million-to-scholarship-fund-for-dreamers/ |title=Jeff Bezos donates $33 million to scholarship fund for 'dreamers' |last1=O'Keefe |first1=Ed |last2=Anderson |first2=Nick |date=January 12, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> In June 2018, Bezos donated to [[Bill Gates]]' [[Breakthrough Energy Ventures]], a private philanthropic coalition aimed at promoting [[Sustainable energy|emissions-free energy]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/backed-bill-gates-jeff-bezos-breakthrough-energy-ventures-places-first-bets-power-storage/ |title=Backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, Breakthrough Energy Ventures places first bets on power storage |last=Boyle |first=Alan |date=June 18, 2018 |work=GeekWire|access-date=June 18, 2018 |language=en-US |quote=We are committed to doing our part and filling this capital need by coming together in a new coalition. We will form a network of private capital committed to building a structure that will allow informed decisions to help accelerate the change to the advanced energy future our planet needs. Success requires a partnership of increased government research, with a transparent and workable structure to objectively evaluate those projects, and committed private-sector investors willing to support the innovative ideas that come out of the public research pipeline.}}</ref> Bezos announced in September 2018 that he would deploy approximately $2 billion to a fund tasked with alleviating [[Homelessness in the United States|American homelessness]] and establishing a network of non-profit [[Preschool|preschools]] for low income communities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/sep/13/amazon-jeff-bezos-philanthropy-day-one-fund|title=Jeff Bezos to fund schools where 'child will be the customer' with new charity|last=Levin|first=Sam|date=September 13, 2018|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=September 13, 2018}}</ref> He established the "Day 1 Families Fund" to finance "[[Homeless shelter|night shelters]] and [[Child care|day care centers]] for homeless families" and the "Day 1 Academies Fund" for [[early childhood education]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/jeff-bezos-to-create-2-billion-fund-for-homeless-preschools-1536856739|title=Jeff Bezos to Create $2 Billion Fund for Homeless, Preschools|last=Stevens|first=Laura|date=September 13, 2018|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 13, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelauyeung/2018/09/13/jeff-bezos-amazon-philanthropy-giving-billion-dollar-fund/#2fc2c0171570|title=Jeff Bezos Unveils Multibillion-Dollar Plans For Charitable Giving|last=Au-Yeung|first=Angel|date=September 13, 2018|work=Forbes|access-date=September 13, 2018|language=en}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[List of Princeton University people|List of Princeton University alumni]]
* [[Time Person of the Year#Persons of the Year|List of ''Time Person of the Year'' recipients]]
{{Portal bar|Biography|Spaceflight|4=Internet|5=Technology|6=Health and fitness|7=Business|8=Washington}}
== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== Sources ==<!-- Sources used in article by way of footnotes. -->
* {{cite book |title=Jeff Bezos: Amazon.com Architect |first=Tom |last=Robinson |year=2010 |publisher=ABDO Publishing |isbn=9781604537598}}
== Further reading ==
<!--Long, in-depth profiles about Bezos either in book, online, or article formats. Follow established citation format.-->
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* Davenport, Christian. ''The Space Barons; Elon Musk. Jeff Bezos, and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos''. PublicAffairs (2018). {{ISBN|978-1610398299}}
* Fernholz, Tim. ''Rocket Billionaires: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and the New Space Race''. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2018). {{ISBN|978-1-328-66223-1}}
* {{cite book |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-interview-axel-springer-ceo-amazon-trump-blue-origin-family-regulation-washington-post-2018-4 |title=Jeff Bezos reveals what it’s like to build an empire |last=Döpfner |first=Mathias S. |publisher=Business Insider |date=March 28, 2018 |accessdate=April 29, 2018}}
* {{cite book |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2018/04/22/inside-jeff-bezos-dc-life/ |title=Inside Jeff Bezos’s Washington D.C. Life |last=Wofford |first=Ben |publisher=Washingtonian |date=April 22, 2018 |accessdate=April 29, 2018}}
* {{cite book |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/12/technology/jeff-bezos-amazon.html |title=Jeff Bezos, Mr. Amazon, Steps Out |last=Wingfield |first=Nick |publisher=The New York Times |date=January 12, 2018 |accessdate=April 29, 2018}}
* {{cite book |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/jeff-bezos-isdc-space-vision/ |title=Jeff Bezos: ‘We will have to leave this planet … and it’s going to make this planet better’ |last=Boyle |first=Alan |publisher=Geek Wire |date=May 29, 2018 |accessdate=May 31, 2018}}
{{Refend}}
== External links ==
{{Sister project links|wikt=no|commons=Category:Jeff Bezos|n=Jeff Bezos|q=Jeff Bezos|s=no|b=no|voy=no|v=no|d=No|species=no}}
* {{TED speaker}}
* {{C-SPAN|jeffbezos}}
* {{Charlie Rose view|2495}}
* {{Worldcat id|lccn-n99-280137}}
* {{NYT topic|people/b/jeffrey_p_bezos}}
* [http://www.bezosexpeditions.com/ Bezos Expeditions]
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[[Category:1964 births]]
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{{short description|American entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, Inc.}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jeff Bezos
| image = Jeff Bezos at Amazon Spheres Grand Opening in Seattle - 2018 (39074799225) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Bezos in January 2018
| birth_name = Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|01|12}}
| birth_place = [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]], U.S.<!-- Do not change format. -->
| alma_mater = [[Princeton University]]<!-- No degrees/graduation dates/majors, etc. -->
| occupation = {{hlist|Technology entrepreneur|investor|philanthropist}}
| title = Chairman, CEO and [[President (corporate title)|President]] of Amazon
| known_for = Founding [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] and [[Blue Origin]]
| networth = <!-- No Δ or ∇ per Talk:Jeff Bezos FAQ #Q2-->[[US dollar|$]]147.3 billion (October 2018)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/jeff-bezos|title=Forbes Profile: Jeff Bezos|work=Forbes|access-date=<!--Don't add access date, its real time.--> |others=Real Time Net Worth|editor-link=Forbes|publication-place=Online: updated every 24-hour [[Business cycle|market cycle]] |quote=[''Forbes'' real time net worths] are calculated from locked in [[stock price]]s and [[exchange rates]] from around the globe.... as well as the vetting of [[High-net-worth individual|personal balance sheets]]...}}</ref>
| spouse = {{marriage|[[MacKenzie Bezos]]<br/>|1993}}
| children = 4
}}
'''Jeffrey Preston Bezos''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|eɪ|z|oʊ|s}};{{efn|His surname is pronounced through the standard [[Cuban Spanish]] variety as {{respell|BAY|zohss}} according to Bezos<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/posttv/national/jeff-bezos-pronounces-his-name/2013/08/07/c6992b0a-ffa9-11e2-96a8-d3b921c0924a_video.html |title=Jeff Bezos pronounces his name |year=2009 |website=The Washington Post |accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> and Robinson (2010), p. 7.}} ''né'' '''Jorgensen'''; January 12, 1964) is an American technology entrepreneur, investor, and [[philanthropy|philanthropist]].<!-- Do not remove 'philanthropist'; see: Talk:Jeff Bezos/Archive 1, item 25, Talk: Jeff Bezos: Episode VII – The Philanthropist Strikes Back, and the philanthropy section of this article. --> He is best known as the founder, chairman, and [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] of [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]].
Bezos was born in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]] and raised in [[Houston, Texas]]. He graduated from [[Princeton University]] in 1986 with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science. He worked on [[Wall Street]] in a variety of related fields from 1986 to early 1994. He founded Amazon in late 1994 on a cross-country road trip from [[New York City]] to [[Seattle]]. The company began as an online bookstore and has expanded to a variety of products and services, including video and audio streaming. It is currently the world's largest online sales company, as well as the world's largest provider of cloud infrastructure services via its [[Amazon Web Services]] arm.
Bezos added to his business interests when he founded [[aerospace]] company [[Blue Origin]] in 2000. A Blue Origin test flight successfully first reached [[Outer space|space]] in 2015 and Blue has plans to begin commercial [[Sub-orbital spaceflight|suborbital]] [[human spaceflight]] as early as late 2018. He purchased ''[[The Washington Post]]'' in 2013 for {{US$|250 million|link=yes}} in cash. Bezos manages other business investments through his venture capital fund, [[Jeff Bezos#Bezos Expeditions|Bezos Expeditions]].<!-- Do not change 4th paragraph until you reference the wealth section below in the body and Talk:Jeff Bezos FAQ #Q2. -->
On July 27, 2017, he became the [[The World's Billionaires|world's wealthiest person]] when his estimated [[net worth]] increased to just over $90 billion. His wealth surpassed $100 billion for the first time on November 24, he was formally designated the wealthiest person in the world by ''[[Forbes]]'' on March 6, 2018 with a net worth of $112 billion. The first [[Billionaire|centi-billionaire]] on the ''Forbes'' wealth index, he was designated the "wealthiest person in modern history" after his net worth increased to $150 billion in July 2018.
== Early life ==
Bezos was born Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen on January 12, 1964, in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]], the son of Jacklyn Gise Jorgensen and [[Chicago]] native Ted Jorgensen.<ref>Robinson (2010), pp. 14, 100</ref> At the time of his birth, his mother was a 17-year-old high school student and his father was a bike shop owner.<ref>Robinson (2010), pp. 14–15</ref> After Jacklyn divorced Ted, she married Cuban immigrant Miguel "Mike" Bezos in April 1968.<ref>Robinson (2010), p. 14, 18</ref> Shortly after the wedding, Mike adopted four-year-old Jorgensen, whose surname was then changed to Bezos.<ref>Robinson (2010), p. 15</ref> The family moved to [[Houston, Texas]], where Mike worked as an engineer for [[Exxon]] after he received a degree from the [[University of New Mexico]].<ref name="Robinson 2010, p. 17">Robinson (2010), p. 17</ref> Bezos attended [[River Oaks Elementary School (Houston)|River Oaks Elementary School]] in Houston from fourth to sixth grade.<ref name="Robinson 2010, p. 18">Robinson (2010), p. 18</ref>
Bezos was the maternal grandson of Lawrence Preston Gise, a regional director of the [[United States Atomic Energy Commission|U.S. Atomic Energy Commission]] (AEC) in Albuquerque.<ref>Robinson (2010), p. 16</ref> Gise retired early to his family's ranch near [[Cotulla, Texas]], where Bezos would spend many summers in his youth.<ref name="Robinson 2010, p. 17" /> Bezos would later purchase this ranch, and grow it from {{convert|25,000|acre|km2 sqmi|0}} to {{convert|300,000|acre|km2 sqmi|0}}.<ref name="Frank">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/15/business/media/jeff-bezos-amazon-rich-charity.html |title=At Last, Jeff Bezos Offers a Hint of His Philanthropic Plans |last=Frank |first=Robert |date=June 15, 2017 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref><ref name="parkhurst2015">{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2015/08/jeff-bezos-just-sold-534-million-worth-of-amazon.html |title=Jeff Bezos just sold $534 million worth of Amazon stock |last=Parkhurst |first=Emily |date=August 5, 2015 |website=[[Puget Sound Business Journal]] |accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref> His maternal grandmother was Mattie Louise Gise (''née'' Strait), through whom he is a cousin of country singer [[George Strait]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/retail/2017/09/07/amazoncoms-jeff-bezos-big-roots-intexas-give-state-edge |title=Jeff Bezos' roots could give Texas an edge as Amazon.com looks for new HQ site |author= |date=September 7, 2017 |website=dallasnews.com |accessdate=March 10, 2018}}</ref> Bezos often displayed scientific interests and technological proficiency; he once rigged an electric alarm to keep his younger siblings out of his room.<ref>Robinson (2010), p. 19</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/bez0bio-1 |title=Biography and Video Interview of Jeff Bezos at Academy of Achievement |publisher=Achievement.org |accessdate=August 10, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/65rP9SPPk?url=http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/bez0bio-1 |archivedate=March 2, 2012}}</ref>
The family moved to [[Miami, Florida]], where Bezos attended [[Miami Palmetto High School]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article1953866.html |title=Jeff Bezos: A rocket launched from Miami's Palmetto High |last=Yanez |first=Luisa |date=August 5, 2013 |website=miamiherald|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=February 11, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/1999/03/bezos-3/ |title=The Inner Bezos |last=Bayers |first=Chip |website=WIRED |accessdate=February 11, 2018}}</ref> While Bezos was in high school, he worked at [[McDonald's]] as a short-order [[Chef de partie|line cook]] during the breakfast shift.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/42412/face-time-jeff-bezos |title=Face Time With Jeff Bezos |last=Fishman |first=Charles |date=January 31, 2001 |work=Fast Company|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US}}</ref> He attended the Student Science Training Program at the [[University of Florida]]. He was high school [[valedictorian]], a [[National Merit Scholarship Program|National Merit Scholar]]<ref name="Robinson 2010, p. 24" /><ref name="st20120331">{{cite web |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017883721_amazonbezos25.html |title=Amazon.com's Bezos invests in space travel, time |last=Martinez |first=Amy |date=March 31, 2012 |accessdate=August 10, 2013 |newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref>, and a [[Silver Knight Awards|Silver Knight Award]] winner in 1982.<ref name="Robinson 2010, p. 24">Robinson (2010), p. 24</ref> In 1986, he graduated from [[Princeton University]] with a 4.2 grade point average and [[Bachelor of Science]] degrees in [[electrical engineering]] and [[computer science]] and was a member of [[Phi Beta Kappa]].<ref>Robinson (2010), p. 26</ref><ref name="Inside the Mind of Jeff Bezos">{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/50541/inside-mind-jeff-bezos-4 |title=Inside the Mind of Jeff Bezos |last=Deutschman |first=Alan |date=August 1, 2004 |website=Fast Company|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> While at Princeton, he was also elected to [[Tau Beta Pi]] and was the president of the Princeton chapter of the [[Students for the Exploration and Development of Space]].<ref>Robinson (2010), pp. 25–27</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/bez0int-6 |title=Jeff Bezos Interview |publisher=Achievement.org |date=April 17, 2008 |accessdate=August 10, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727231249/http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/bez0int-6 |archivedate=July 27, 2013}}</ref>
== Business career ==
=== Early career ===
After Bezos graduated from Princeton in 1987, he was offered jobs at [[Intel]], [[Bell Labs]], and [[Andersen Consulting]], among others.<ref name="Robinson 2010, p. 72">Robinson (2010), p. 7</ref> He first worked at Fitel, a financial telecommunications [[Startup company|start-up]], where he was tasked with building a network for [[international trade]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/7.03/bezos_pr.html |title=The Inner Bezos |last=Bayers |first=Chip |date=July 2003 |website= |publisher=[[Wired magazine|Wired]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> Bezos was promoted to head of development and director of customer service thereafter.<ref name="Bayers" /> He transitioned into the banking industry when he became a product manager at [[Bankers Trust]]; he worked there from 1988 to 1990.<ref name="Bayers" /> He then joined [[D. E. Shaw & Co.|D. E. Shaw & Co]], a newly founded [[hedge fund]], in 1990 and worked there until 1994. Bezos became D. E. Shaw's fourth senior vice-president at the age of 30.<ref name="Bayers" /><ref name="Robinson 2010, p. 72" />
=== Amazon ===
{{Main|Amazon (company)|l1=Amazon}}[[File:Jeff Bezos visits the Robot Co-op in 2005.jpg|thumb|Bezos (center) at a cooperative for robotics in 2005]]
In late 1993, Bezos decided to start an [[Online shopping|online bookstore]].<ref>Robinson (2010), p. 39</ref> He left his job at D. E. Shaw and founded [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] in his garage on July 5, 1994, after writing its [[business plan]] on a trip from [[New York City|New York]] to [[Seattle]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/27/how-amazon-founder-jeff-bezos-went-from-the-son-of-a-teen-mom-to-the-worlds-richest-person.html |title=How Amazon's Jeff Bezos went from the son of a teen mom to the richest person in the world |last=Clifford |first=Catherine |date=October 27, 2017 |website=CNBC |accessdate=March 6, 2018}}</ref><ref name="portfolio.com2">{{cite web |url=http://www.portfolio.com/resources/executive-profiles/Jeffrey-P-Bezos-1984 |title=Top Executive Profiles – Jeffrey P. Bezos |publisher=Portfolio.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204204126/http://www.portfolio.com/resources/executive-profiles/Jeffrey-P-Bezos-1984 |archivedate=February 4, 2009 |deadurl=yes}}</ref> Bezos named his new company "Amazon" after the [[Amazon River]] in [[South America]], in part because the name begins with the letter "A," which is at the beginning of the alphabet.<ref name="Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts">{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Amazoncom |title=Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> He accepted an estimated $300,000 from his parents and invested in Amazon.<ref name="portfolio.com2" /> He warned many early investors that there was a 70% chance that Amazon would fail or go [[Bankruptcy|bankrupt]].<ref>Robinson (2010), p. 56</ref> Although Amazon was originally an online bookstore, Bezos had always planned to expand to other products.<ref name="Bayers" /><ref name="Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts" /> Three years after Bezos founded Amazon, he took it public with an [[initial public offering]] (IPO).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2017/05/15/amazon-stock-20-years-ipo/ |title=If You Invested in Amazon at Its IPO, You Could Have Been a Millionaire |last=Shen |first=Lucinda |date=May 15, 2017 |website=Fortune|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> In response to critical reports from ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' and ''[[Barron's (newspaper)|Barron's]]'', Bezos maintained that the growth of the internet would overtake competition from larger book retailers such as [[Borders Group|Borders]] and [[Barnes & Noble]].<ref name="Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts" /> {{multiple image
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| caption2 = Bezos receives the [[Smithsonian Institution|James Smithson Bicentennial]] medal in 2016 for his work with Amazon.
}}In 1998, Bezos diversified into the online sale of music and video; by the end of the year, he had also expanded the company's products to include a variety of [[Final good|consumer goods]].<ref name="Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts" /> Bezos used the $54 million raised during the company's 1997 equity offering to finance aggressive acquisition of smaller competitors.<ref name="Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts" /> In 2002, Bezos led Amazon to launch [[Amazon Web Services]], which compiled data from weather channels and [[Web traffic|website traffic]].<ref name="Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts" /> In late 2002, rapid spending from Amazon caused it financial distress when revenues stagnated.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/10/business/yourmoney/a-retail-revolution-turns-10.html |title=A Retail Revolution Turns 10 |last=Rivlin |first=Gary |date=October 7, 2005 |work=The New York Times|access-date=April 3, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 2000, Bezos borrowed $2 billion from banks, as its cash balances dipped to only $350 million.<ref name="Rivlin">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/10/business/yourmoney/a-retail-revolution-turns-10.html |title=A Retail Revolution Turns 10 |last=Rivlin |first=Gary |date=July 10, 2005 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> After the company nearly went [[Bankruptcy|bankrupt]], he closed distribution centers and laid off 14% of the Amazon workforce.<ref name="Rivlin" /> In 2003, Amazon rebounded from financial instability and turned a profit of $400 million.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bezos |first=Jeff |title=The electricity metaphor for the web's future |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/jeff_bezos_on_the_next_web_innovation |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> In November 2007, Bezos launched the [[Amazon Kindle]].<ref name="Amazon: Reinventing the Book">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/amazon-reinventing-book-96909 |title=Amazon: Reinventing the Book |date=November 17, 2007 |website=Newsweek |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> According to a 2008 ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' profile, Bezos wished to create the same [[Flow (psychology)|flow state]] found in video game simulations in books; he wished readers would fully engage with books.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1733748_1733758_1736345,00.html |title=The 2008 Time 100 – Time |last=Quittner |first=Josh |date=May 12, 2008 |website=Time |accessdate=March 7, 2018 |issn=0040-781X}}</ref> In 2013, Bezos secured a $600 million contract with the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) on behalf of Amazon Web Services.<ref name="Davenport">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/how-jeff-bezos-was-selected-but-never-joined-the-defense-innovation-board/2018/02/23/e3dd42d6-1828-11e8-8b08-027a6ccb38eb_story.html |title=How Jeff Bezos was selected for, but never joined, the Defense Innovation Board |last=Davenport |first=Christian |date=February 23, 2018 |website=Washington Post |accessdate=March 7, 2018 |last2=Lamothe |first2=Dan |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In October that year, Amazon was recognized as the largest online shopping retailer in the world.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2013/01/14/bezos-i-never-expected/ |title=Bezos: I never expected this' |last= |first= |date=January 4, 2013 |work=Digital Commerce 360|access-date=March 11, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US}}</ref>
In May 2016, Bezos sold slightly more than one million shares of his holdings in the company for $671 million, largest sum he had ever raised from selling some of his Amazon stock.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidermole.com/insider/bezos-jeffrey-p/transactions |title=Bezos Jeffrey P.: Insider Trading Transactions |publisher=InsiderMole.com |accessdate=July 14, 2016}}</ref> On August 4, 2016, Bezos sold another million of his shares for $756.7 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.davemanuel.com/net-worth/jeff-bezos |title=Jeff Bezos Net Worth |website=Davemanuel.com |accessdate=December 29, 2017 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230114711/https://www.davemanuel.com/net-worth/jeff-bezos/ |archivedate=December 30, 2017}}</ref> A year later, Bezos took on 130,000 new employees when he ramped up hiring at company distribution centers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/amazon-posts-profits-of-19-billion-its-highest-ever/2018/02/01/402aa9c2-06c5-11e8-94e8-e8b8600ade23_story.html |title=Amazon posts quarterly profit of $1.9 billion, its highest ever |last=Bhattarai |first=Abha |date=February 1, 2018 |work=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> By January 19, 2018, his Amazon stock holdings had appreciated to slightly over $109 billion; months later he began to sell stock to raise cash for other enterprises, in particular, [[Blue Origin]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-bezos-amazon-blue-origin-20180312-story.html |title=Bezos is putting $1 billion a year into rocket-maker Blue Origin by selling Amazon stock |last=Bloomberg |first= |date=March 12, 2018 |website=latimes.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> On January 29, 2018, he was featured in Amazon's [[Super Bowl commercials|Super Bowl commercial]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/308222 |title=Billionaire Jeff Bezos Will Star in Amazon's Super Bowl Ad |last=Belanger |first=Lydia |date=January 29, 2018 |work=Entrepreneur|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref> On February 1, 2018, Amazon reported its highest ever profit with quarterly [[earnings]] of $2 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-com-results/amazon-posts-largest-profit-in-its-history-on-sales-tax-boost-idUSKBN1FL6H0 |title=Amazon posts largest profit in its history on sales, tax boost |last=Dastin |first=Jeffrey |date=February 1, 2018 |work=Reuters|access-date=April 30, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> Due to the growth of [[Alibaba Group|Alibaba]] in China, Bezos has often expressed interest in expanding Amazon into [[India]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/after-losing-china-jeff-bezos-really-wants-to-win-in-india/articleshow/63204865.cms |title=After losing China, Jeff Bezos really wants to win in India – Times of India |last=Bloomberg |first= |date=March 9, 2018 |work=The Times of India|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=April 30, 2018}}</ref>
In March 2018, Bezos dispatched Amit Agarwal, Amazon's global senior vice president, to India with $5.5 billion to localize operations throughout the company's [[supply chain]] routes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-05/five-things-you-need-to-know-to-start-your-day-jeeqzcof |title=Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day |date=March 5, 2018 |website=Bloomberg.com |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> Later in the month, U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] accused Amazon–and Bezos, specifically–of [[sales tax]] avoidance, misusing [[Mail|postal routes]], and [[Anti-competitive practices|anti-competitive]] business practices.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/03/forget-zuckerberg-trump-is-obsessed-with-breaking-jeff-bezos |title=Forget Zuckerberg: Why Trump Is "Obsessed" with Breaking Bezos |last=Kosoff |first=Maya |date= |work=The Hive|access-date=January 2, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref> Amazon's share price fell by 9% in response to the President's negative comments; this reduced Bezos's personal wealth by $10.7 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2018/03/29/amazon-stock-amzn-jeff-bezos-net-worth/ |title=The World's Richest Man Just Lost $10.7 Billion as Trump Tweets About Amazon |last=Shen |first=Lucinda |date=January 2, 2018 |work=Fortune|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref> Weeks later, Bezos recouped his losses when academic reports out of [[Stanford University]] indicated that Trump could do little to regulate Amazon in any meaningful way.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-a-trump-led-antitrust-case-against-amazon-is-a-long-shot-1522501200 |title=Why a Trump-Led Antitrust Case Against Amazon Is a Long Shot |last=Stevens |first=Laura |date=April 9, 2018 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> During July 2018, a number of members of the U.S. Congress called on Bezos to detail the applications of Amazon’s [[Facial recognition system|face recognition]] software, ''Rekognition''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90209707/congress-demands-jeff-bezos-explain-amazons-face-recognition-software|title=Congress demands Jeff Bezos explain Amazon’s face recognition software|last=Captain|first=Sean|date=July 26, 2018|work=Fast Company|access-date=July 26, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Additionally, statements by the Trump administration, in favour of overturning the antitrust law known as the [[Paramount Decree]], have been predicted to help Amazon acquire the [[Landmark Theaters]] chain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://time.com/5369085/amazon-buy-landmark-theatres/|title=Amazon is trying to buy movie chain Landmark Theaters|first1=Anousha |last1=Sakoui|first2=Nabila |last2=Ahmed |first3=Spencer |last3=Soper|publisher=Time|date=2018-08-16|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref>
Criticism of Amazon's business practices continued in September 2018 when Senator [[Bernie Sanders]] introduced the Stop Bad Employers by Zeroing Out Subsidies (Stop BEZOS) Act and accused Amazon of receiving [[corporate welfare]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/09/05/bernie-sanders-introduces-stop-bezos-act-senate/|title=Bernie Sanders introduces "Stop BEZOS Act"|first=Abha|last=Bhattarai|publisher=The Washington Post|date=2018-09-05|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> This followed revelations by the non-profit group New Food Economy which found that one third of Amazon workers in [[Arizona]], and one tenth of Amazon workers in [[Pennsylvania]] and [[Ohio]], relied on food stamps.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/5/17819450/bernie-sanders-stop-bezos-amazon-worker-pay-corporate-welfare-tax-bill|title=Bernie Sanders introduces "Stop BEZOS" bill to tax Amazon for underpaying workers|first=Adi|last=Robertson|publisher=The Verge|date=2018-09-05|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> While preparing to introduce the bill, Sanders opined "Instead of attempting to explore Mars or go to the moon, how about Jeff Bezos pays his workers a living wage?"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/9/5/17822810/bernie-sanders-bill-bezos-amazon-ro-khanna|title=Bernie Sanders's BEZOS bill takes aim at how Amazon pays workers|first=Emily|last=Stewart|publisher=Vox|date=2018-09-05|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> He later said "Bezos could play a profound role. If he said today, nobody who is employed at Amazon will receive less than a living wage, it would send a message to every corporation in America."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bernie-sanders-amazon-walmart-with-100-tax/|title=Bernie Sanders targets Amazon, Walmart with 100% tax|first=Kate|last=Gibson|publisher=CBS|date=2018-09-05|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> Sanders's efforts elicited a response from Amazon which pointed to the 130,000 jobs it created in 2017 and called the $28,446 figure for its median salary "misleading" as it included part-time workers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.aboutamazon.com/company-news/response-to-senator-sanders|title=Response to Senator Sanders|publisher=Amazon|date=2018-08-29|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> However, Sanders countered that the companies targeted by his proposal have placed an increased focus on part-time workers to escape benefit obligations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-amazon_us_5b8eecade4b0511db3dcfd55|title=What the Bernie Sanders Amazon welfare fight is really about|first1=Arthur|last1=Delaney|first2=Dave|last2=Jamieson|publisher=Huffington Post|date=2018-09-05|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> On October 2, Bezos announced a company-wide wage increase which Sanders applauded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/02/business/amazon-minimum-wage.html|title=Amazon to raise minimum wage to $15 for all U.S. workers|first=Karen|last=Weise|publisher=The New York Times|date=2018-10-02|accessdate=2018-10-22}}</ref> The American workers who were being paid the minimum wage had this increased to $15 per hour — a decision that was interpreted as support for the [[Fight for $15]] movement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/story/why-amazon-really-raised-minimum-wage/|title=Why Amazon really raised its minimum wage to $15|first=Louise|last=Matsakis|publisher=Wired|date=2018-10-02|accessdate=2018-10-22}}</ref>
=== Blue Origin ===
{{Main|Blue Origin}}<!-- This section is NOT about Blue Origin. It is about how Bezos relates (interacts) to (with) Blue Origin. Any other contributions can be taken to the main article. -->{{multiple image
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| caption2 = U.S. Secretary of Defense [[Ash Carter]] meets with Bezos in 2016 at [[The Pentagon]].
}}In September 2000, Bezos founded [[Blue Origin]], a [[human spaceflight]] startup company.<ref name="msnbc2007-01-03">{{cite web |last=Boyle |first=Alan |title=Blue Origin Revealed |url=http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/03/26062.aspx |publisher=MSNBC |date=December 9, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223032428/http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/03/26062.aspx |archivedate=December 23, 2009}}</ref> Bezos has long expressed an interest in space travel and the development of [[Extraterrestrial life|human life in the solar system]].<ref name="st20120331" /> He was the [[valedictorian]] when he graduated from high school in 1982. His speech was followed up with a ''[[Miami Herald]]'' interview in which he expressed an interest to build and develop hotels, amusement parks, and colonies for human beings who were in orbit.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.economist.com/node/21548487 |title=Taking the long view |last= |first= |date=March 3, 2012 |website=The Economist |language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=April 29, 2018}}</ref> The 18-year-old Bezos stated that he wanted to preserve Earth from overuse through [[resource depletion]].<ref name="wp20130810">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/for-bezos-the-post-represents-new-frontier/2013/08/10/ba7cfeb6-013c-11e3-9a3e-916de805f65d_story.html |title=For Jeff Bezos, a new frontier |last=Whoriskey |first=Peter |date=August 12, 2013 |accessdate=February 20, 2014 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>
After its founding, Blue Origin maintained a low profile until 2006, when it purchased a large tract of land in [[West Texas]] for a launch and test facility.<ref name="wsj20061110">{{cite web |title=Buzz in West Texas is about Jeff Bezos space craft launch site |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116312683235519444?mod=googlenews_wsj |last=Mangalindan |first=Mylene |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=November 10, 2006 |accessdate=May 28, 2008}}</ref> After the company gained the public's attention during the late 2000s, Bezos additionally indicated his interest in reducing the [[Human spaceflight|cost of space travel]] for humans while also increasing the safety of extraterrestrial travel.<ref name="wired20111113">{{cite web |last=Levy |first=Steven |title=Jeff Bezos Owns the Web in More Ways Than You Think |date=November 13, 2011 |url=https://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/11/ff_bezos/all/1 |website=Wired |accessdate=December 9, 2011}}</ref> In September 2011, one of the company's unmanned prototype vehicles crashed during a short-hop test flight. Although the crash was viewed as a setback, news outlets noted how far the company went from its founding-to-date in advancing [[spaceflight]].<ref name="economist20120303">{{cite web |url=http://www.economist.com/node/21548487 |title=Taking the long view: Jeff Bezos, the founder and chief executive of Amazon, owes much of his success to his ability to look beyond the short-term view of things |date=March 3, 2012 |website=[[The Economist]] |accessdate=August 10, 2013 |quote=''Mr Bezos's willingness to take a long-term view also explains his fascination with space travel, and his decision to found a secretive company called Blue Origin, one of several start-ups now building spacecraft with private funding.''}}</ref> In May 2013, Bezos met with [[Richard Branson]], chairman of [[Virgin Galactic]], in 2013 to discuss commercial spaceflight opportunities and strategies.<ref name="ut20130527">{{cite web |last=Veverka |first=Mark |title=Unplugged: Richard Branson's otherworldly space quest |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/05/27/richard-branson-space-flight-jeff-bezos-elon-musk-amazon-spacex/2356245 |accessdate=May 28, 2013 |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=May 27, 2013}}</ref> He has been compared to Branson and [[Elon Musk]] as all three are billionaires who prioritize spaceflight among their business interests.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/04/three-billionaires-are-racing-to-space--who-will-win-/ |title=Three Billionaires Are Racing to Space. Who Will Win? |last=Worrall |first=Simon |date=April 7, 2018 |work=National Geographic|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=}}</ref>
In 2015, Bezos announced that a new [[orbital launch vehicle]] was under development and would make its first flight in the late-2010s.<ref name="sn20150915">{{cite web |last1=Foust |first1=Jeff |title=Bezos Not Concerned About Competition, Possible ULA Sale |url=http://spacenews.com/bezos-not-concerned-about-competition-possible-ula-sale |accessdate=September 16, 2015 |website=Space News |date=September 15, 2015}}</ref> Later in November, Blue Origin's ''[[New Shepard]]'' space vehicle successfully rocketed into space and reached its planned test altitude of 329,839 feet (100.5 kilometers) before executing a [[VTVL|vertical landing]] back at the launch site in West Texas. In 2016, Bezos allowed select journalists to visit, tour, and photograph his facility.<ref name="gw20160308">{{cite web |last=Boyle |first=Alan |url=http://www.geekwire.com/2016/jeff-bezos-lifts-curtain-blue-origin-rocket-factory-vision-space |title=Jeff Bezos lifts curtain on Blue Origin rocket factory, lays out grand plan for space travel that spans hundreds of years |website=[[GeekWire]] |date=March 8, 2016 |accessdate=March 11, 2016}}</ref> He has repeatedly called for increased inter-space energy and industrial manufacturing to decrease the negative costs associated with [[Pollution|business-related pollution]].<ref name="ars20160310">{{cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/03/jeff-bezos-says-he-wants-to-fly-into-space-as-soon-as-possible |title=Jeff Bezos says he wants to fly into space "as soon as possible" |website=[[Ars Technica]] |date=March 10, 2016 |accessdate=March 11, 2016 |quote=Bezos: ''I want to change the whole cost structure of accessing space.''}}</ref>
In December 2017, ''New Shepard'' successfully flew and landed [[Crash test dummy|dummy passengers]], amending and pushing its human space travel start date into late 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.space.com/39111-blue-origin-mannequin-skywalker-dummy-launch.html |title=Later, Vader! Watch Blue Origin Fly 'Mannequin Skywalker' to Space and Back |last=Malik |first=Tariq |date= |work=Space.com|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=}}</ref> To execute this program, Blue Origin built six of the vehicles to support all phases of testing and operations: no-passenger test flights, flights with test passengers, and commercial-passenger weekly operations.<ref name="sn20160308">{{cite web |url=http://spacenews.com/blue-origin-plans-growth-spurt-this-year |title=Blue Origin plans growth spurt this year |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=March 8, 2016 |website=[[SpaceNews (publication)|SpaceNews]] |accessdate=March 11, 2016}}</ref> Since 2016, Bezos has spoken more freely about his hopes to [[Extraterrestrial life|colonize the solar system]], and has been selling $1 billion in Amazon stock each year to capitalize Blue Origin in an effort to support this endeavor.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/science/blue-origin-rocket-jeff-bezos-amazon-stock.html |title=Jeff Bezos Says He Is Selling $1 Billion a Year in Amazon Stock to Finance Race to Space |last=St. Fluer |first=Nicholas |date=April 5, 2017 |website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=April 8, 2017 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/29279/20160927/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-colonize-solar-system.htm |title=Jeff Bezos: Blue Origin Wants to Colonize the Solar System |last=Ayque |first=Jamie |date=September 27, 2016 |website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=September 27, 2016}}</ref> In May 2018, Bezos maintained that the primary goal of Blue Origin is to preserve the [[Natural resource|natural resources of Earth]] by making the human species [[Extraterrestrial life|multi-planetary]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/jeff-bezos-isdc-space-vision/ |title=Jeff Bezos: ‘We will have to leave this planet … and it’s going to make this planet better’ |last=Boyle |first=Alan |date=May 29, 2018 |work=GeekWire|access-date=May 31, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> He announced that ''New Shepard'' would begin transporting humans into [[Sub-orbital spaceflight|sub-orbital space]] by November 2018.<ref name=":2" /> In July 2018, it was announced that Bezos had priced commercial spaceflight tickets from $200,000 to $300,000 per person.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-blueorigin-exclusive/exclusive-jeff-bezos-plans-to-charge-at-least-200000-for-space-rides-sources-idUSKBN1K301R |title=Exclusive: Jeff Bezos plans to charge at least $200,000 for space... |last=Johnson |first=Eric M. |date=July 16, 2018 |work=Reuters|access-date=July 18, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== ''The Washington Post'' ===
On August 5, 2013, Bezos announced his purchase of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' for $250 million in cash.<ref name="wp201308">{{cite web |last=Farhi |first=Paul |title=Washington Post to be sold to Jeff Bezos |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/washington-post-to-be-sold-to-jeff-bezos/2013/08/05/ca537c9e-fe0c-11e2-9711-3708310f6f4d_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |accessdate=August 5, 2013 |date=August 6, 2013}}</ref> To execute the sale, he established '''<!-- Nash Holdings is a re-direct to this section. -->Nash Holdings''', a [[Limited liability company|limited liability]] [[holding company]] that legally owns the paper.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/08/06/jeff-bezos-is-buying-the-washington-post-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-sale/ |title=Jeff Bezos is buying The Washington Post. Here’s what you need to know about the sale. |last=Matthews |first=Dylan |date=August 8, 2013 |work=Washington Post|access-date=March 11, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> The sale closed on October 1, 2013, and Nash Holdings took control.<ref name="wp20131001">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/washington-post-closes-sale-to-amazon-founder-jeff-bezos/2013/10/01/fca3b16a-2acf-11e3-97a3-ff2758228523_story.html |title=The Washington Post closes sale to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=October 1, 2013 |newspaper=The Washington Post |accessdate=March 31, 2014}}</ref> In March 2014, Bezos made his first significant change at ''The Washington Post'' and lifted the online paywall for subscribers of a number of U.S. local newspapers in [[Texas]], [[Hawaii]], and [[Minnesota]].<ref name="time20140319">{{cite web |last=Luckerson |first=Victor |title=Jeff Bezos Makes His First Major Move at the Washington Post |url=http://time.com/30243/jeff-bezos-makes-his-first-major-move-at-the-washington-post |accessdate=February 20, 2016 |newspaper=Time |date=March 19, 2014}}</ref> In January 2016, Bezos set out to reinvent the newspaper as a media and technology company by reconstructing its digital media, mobile platforms, and analytics software.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40495770/the-washington-post-is-a-software-company-now |title=The Washington Post Is a Software Company Now |last=McCrakken |first=Harry |date=November 17, 2017 |work=Fast Company|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> Throughout the early years of ownership, Bezos was accused of having a potential [[conflict of interest]] with the paper.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/business/expecting-the-unexpected-from-jeff-bezos.html |title=Expecting the Unexpected From Jeff Bezos |last=Streitfeld |first=David |date=August 17, 2013 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=March 9, 2018 |last2=Haughney |first2=Christine |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Bezos and the newspaper's [[editorial board]] have dismissed accusations that he unfairly controlled the paper's content and Bezos maintains the paper's independence.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=209584962 |title=Washington Post' May Find Conflicts in Amazon Coverage |last=Block |first=Melissa |date= |work=NPR.org|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Fortune">{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2017/10/27/amazon-jeff-bezos-washington-post/ |title=How Jeff Bezos Reacts to 'Negative' Amazon Articles in the Washington Post |last=Wieczner |first=Jen |date= |work=Fortune|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> After a surge in online readership in 2016, the paper was profitable for the first time since Bezos made the purchase in 2013.<ref name="Fortune" />
=== Bezos Expeditions ===
Bezos makes personal investments through his [[venture capital]] vehicle,<!-- Bezos Expeditions is a re-direct to this section. --> '''Bezos Expeditions'''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/29/inside-jeff-bezos-80-billion-empire.html |title=Inside Jeff Bezos' $80 billion empire |last=Hess |first=Abigail |date=August 29, 2017 |website=CNBC |accessdate=September 13, 2017}}</ref> He was one of the first [[investor|shareholders]] in [[Google]], when he invested $250,000 in 1998. That $250,000 investment resulted in 3.3 million shares of Google stock, worth about $3.1 billion in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.growthink.com/content/story-jeff-bezos%E2%80%99-250000-investment-google-1998 |title=The Story of Jeff Bezos' $250,000 Investment into Google in 1998 |last=Turo |first=Jay |website=Growthink|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=February 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://allthingsd.com/20091005/new-yorker-bezos-initial-google-investment-was-250000-in-1998-because-i-just-fell-in-love-with-larry-and-sergey |title=New Yorker: Bezos' Initial Google Investment Was $250K in 1998 Because 'I Just Fell in Love with Larry and Sergey' |last=Swisher |first=Kara |date=2009 |website=All Things D |accessdate=February 28, 2017}}</ref> He also invested in Unity Biotechnology, a life-extension research firm hoping to slow or stop the process of aging.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/31/google-co-founders-and-silicon-valley-billionaires-try-to-live-forever.html |title=Google's co-founders and other Silicon Valley billionaires are trying to live forever |last=Bloom |first=Ester |date=March 31, 2017 |website=CNBC |accessdate=June 29, 2017}}</ref> Bezos is involved in the healthcare sector, which includes investments in Unity Biotechnology, Grail, Juno Therapeutics, and ZocDoc.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/03/bezos-health-investments-reveal-strategy.html |title=We can learn a lot about Jeff Bezos' health strategy by looking at his investments |last1=Farr |first1=Christina |date=February 3, 2018 |accessdate=February 4, 2018 |publisher=CNBC}}</ref> In January 2018, an announcement was made concerning Bezos's role within a new, unnamed healthcare company. This venture is expected to be a partnership between Amazon, [[JPMorgan Chase|JPMorgan]], and [[Berkshire Hathaway]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2018/01/31/jeff-bezos-amazon-health-care/ |title=Why Jeff Bezos Might Be the One to Crack the Health Care Challenge |last1=Lashinsky |first1=Adam |date=January 31, 2018 |accessdate=February 4, 2018 |work=Fortune}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/30/technology/amazon-berkshire-hathaway-jpmorgan-health-care.html |title=Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Team Up to Try to Disrupt Health Care |last1=Wingfield |first1=Nick |date=January 30, 2018 |accessdate=February 4, 2018 |work=The New York Times |last2=Thomas |first2=Katie |last3=Abelson |first3=Reed}}</ref>
== Public image ==
[[File:Jeff_Bezos_Painting.jpg|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jeff_Bezos_Painting.jpg|thumb|293x293px|[[Thierry Ehrmann]]'s "Jeff Bezos" on the [[Abode of Chaos]] in [[Saint-Romain-au-Mont-d'Or]], France, 2017]]
Journalist [[Nellie Bowles]] of ''The New York Times'' has described the [[Persona|public persona]] and personality of Bezos as that of "a brilliant but mysterious and coldblooded corporate titan".<ref name="Wingfield 2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/12/technology/jeff-bezos-amazon.html |title=Jeff Bezos, Mr. Amazon, Steps Out |last=Wingfield |first=Nick |date=2018 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=March 9, 2018 |last2=Bowles |first2=Nellie |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> During the 1990s, Bezos earned a reputation for relentlessly pushing Amazon forward, often at the expense of [[Charitable organization|public charity]] and social welfare.<ref name="Wingfield 2018" /><ref name="Kakutani">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/29/books/the-everything-store-jeff-bezos-and-the-age-of-amazon.html |title='The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon' |last=Kakutani |first=Michiko |date=October 28, 2013 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=March 9, 2018 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> His business practices projected a public image of [[prudence]] and parsimony with his own wealth and that of Amazon. Bezos was a multi-billionaire who hung his clothes on a rack in his Amazon headquarters office and drove a 1996 [[Honda Accord]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2013/biz/news/amazon-uses-60-minutes-to-unveil-automated-delivery-drones-1200907633/ |title=Amazon Uses ’60 Minutes’ To Unveil Automated Delivery Drones |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=February 12, 2012 |work=Variety|access-date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US}}</ref> Throughout the early 2000s, he was perceived to be geeky or nerdy, often wearing ill-fitting clothing and making a variety of [[Faux pas|social missteps]].<ref name="fastcompany.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/50541/inside-mind-jeff-bezos-4 |title=Inside the Mind of Jeff Bezos |last=Deutschman |first=Alan |date=August 1, 2004 |work=Fast Company|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MxnrDQAAQBAJ |title=Geektionary: From Anime to Zettabyte, An A to Z Guide to All Things Geek |last=Bergman |first=Gregory |last2=Lambert |first2=Josh |date=December 18, 2010 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=9781440511882}}</ref><ref name="Bryan">{{cite web |url=https://mashable.com/2017/10/20/jeff-bezos-old-photos/ |title=If Jeff Bezos really wanted to rule the world, he'd pose for corny photos like he used to |last=Bryan |first=Chloe |work=Mashable |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref>
Bezos was seen by the public as needlessly quantitative and data-driven.<ref name="forbes.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/retailwire/2013/10/22/is-jeff-bezos-a-horrible-boss-and-is-that-good/ |title=Is Jeff Bezos a Horrible Boss and Is That Good? |last=Anderson |first=George |work=Forbes |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/why-trump-went-after-bezos-two-billionaires-across-a-cultural-divide/2018/04/05/22bb94c2-3763-11e8-acd5-35eac230e514_story.html |title=Why Trump went after Bezos: Two billionaires across a cultural divide |last=Fisher |first=Marc |date=April 4, 2018 |work=Washington Post|access-date=April 6, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> This perception was detailed by Alan Deutschman who described him as "talking in lists" and "[enumerating] the criteria, in order of importance, for every decision he has made."<ref name="fastcompany.com" /> Select accounts of his persona have drawn controversy and public attention. Notably, journalist [[Brad Stone (journalist)|Brad Stone]] wrote [[The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon|an unauthorized book]] that described Bezos as a demanding boss as well as [[Competition (companies)|hyper-competitive]].<ref name="Kakutani" /><ref name="forbes.com" /> Studies involving former Amazon employees have noted interactions with Bezos as [[Darwinism|Darwinian]] in nature but praised the dynamic for maintaining a well-run company.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2013/10/25/4-former-amazon-employees-on-what-its.html |title=4 former Amazon employees on what it's like working for Jeff Bezos |last=Upadhyaya |first=Preeti |date= |website=www.bizjournals.com |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> Bezos has been [[stereotype]]d as a notoriously opportunistic CEO who operates with little concern for obstacles and [[Externality|externalities]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.inc.com/business-insider/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-leadership-management-style-work-culture.html |title=9 Shocking Anecdotes That Reveal Jeff Bezos's Cutthroat Management Style |last=Caine |first=Aine |date=November 14, 2017 |work=Inc.com |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/amazon-jeff-bezos-prime/ |title=How Jeff Bezos Became a Power Beyond Amazon |last=Lashinsky |first=Adam |date= |work=Fortune|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> This depiction has been challenged by Bezos himself, his wife, Amazon employees, and the public as a mischaracterization.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/50106/inside-mind-jeff-bezos-5 |title=Inside the Mind of Jeff Bezos |date=August 1, 2004 |work=Fast Company |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref>
During the early 2010s, Bezos solidified his reputation for imperialistic business practices, and his public image began to shift. Bezos started to wear [[Tailor|tailored clothing]]; he [[Weight training|weight trained]], pursued a regimented diet and began to freely spend his money.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/11/jeff-bezos-used-to-eat-a-lot-of-pillsbury-biscuits.html |title=Guess How Many Pillsbury Biscuits Jeff Bezos Used to Eat Daily |last=Kircher |first=Madison Malone |work=Select All |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> His physical transformation has been compared to the [[Timeline of Amazon.com|transformation of Amazon]]; he is often referred to as the [[metonym]] of the company.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40525448/how-amazon-got-swole-just-like-ceo-jeff-bezos |title=How Amazon Got Swole Just Like CEO Jeff Bezos |last=Lidsky |first=David |date=February 27, 2018 |work=Fast Company|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{cite web |url=https://www.mensfitness.com/life/entertainment/jeff-bezos-man-who-turned-amazon-empire |title=Jeff Bezos: The man who turned Amazon into an empire |work=Men's Fitness |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> His physical appearance increased the public's perception of him as a symbolically dominant figure in business and in [[popular culture]], wherein he has been [[Parody|parodied]] as an enterprising [[Supervillain|super villain]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/entertainment/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-stuns-everyone-with-his-new-macho-look-twitter-users-go-crazy-compare-him-with-the-rock-vin-diesel/764306/ |title=Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos stuns everyone with his macho look, Twitter users compare him with The Rock, Vin Diesel |date=July 15, 2017 |work=The Financial Express |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/jeff-bezoss-latest-sideline-has-lots-of-people-comparing-him-to-a-comic-book-supervillain-2018-02-20 |title=Jeff Bezos's latest sideline has lots of people comparing him to a comic-book supervillain |last=MarketWatch |work=MarketWatch |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://dealbreaker.com/2018/02/jeff-bezos-who-is-not-a-super-villain-is-building-a-giant-clock-inside-a-mountain-because-hes-not-a-super-villain/ |title=Jeff Bezos, Who Is Not A Super-Villain, Is Building A Giant Clock Inside A Mountain, Because He's NOT A Super-Villain |last=McEnery |first=Thornton |work=Dealbreaker |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> Bezos eats exotic foods, such as [[Octopus as food|breakfast octopus]] and roasted [[iguana]].<ref name="Jones">{{Cite news |url=https://gizmodo.com/jeff-bezos-eats-iguana-vows-to-make-space-travel-cheap-1823695265 |title=Jeff Bezos Eats Iguana, Vows to Make Space Travel Cheaper With 'Amazon Lottery Winnings' |last=Jones |first=Rhett |date= |work=Gizmodo|access-date=March 3, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.inc.com/john-boitnott/how-you-can-benefit-from-jeff-bezos-sleeping-habits.html |title=What You Can Learn from Jeff Bezos's Sleep Habits |last= |first= |date=March 9, 2015 |work=Inc.com |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl= |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/275968 |title=5 Things Jeff Bezos Does Other Than Work |last=Mimaroglu |first=Alp |date=May 24, 2016 |work=Entrepreneur |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> In May 2014, the [[International Trade Union Confederation]] named Bezos, the "World's Worst Boss" with its general secretary [[Sharan Burrow]] saying "Jeff Bezos represents the inhumanity of employers who are promoting the North American corporate model."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ituc-csi.org/amazon-s-jeff-bezos-wins-ituc-s |title=Amazon's Jeff Bezos Wins ITUC's World's Worst Boss Poll |publisher=Ituc-csi.org |date=May 22, 2014 |accessdate=October 27, 2015}}</ref> During the late 2010s, Bezos reversed his reputation for being reluctant to spend money on non-business related expenses.<ref name="Frank" /> His relative lack of philanthropy compared to other billionaries, has drawn a negative response from the public since 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-31/for-bezos-now-world-s-richest-philanthropy-is-saved-for-later |title=For Bezos, Now World's Richest, Philanthropy Is 'Saved for Later' |last=Bass |first=Diane |date=October 31, 2017 |work=Bloomberg.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Frank" /> Bezos has been known to publicly contest claims made in critical articles, as exemplified in 2015 when he sent a memo to employees denouncing a ''New York Times'' piece.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/10/amazon-responds-new-york-times/411232/|title=Amazon launches a scathing response to Times story|first=Krishnadev|last=Calamur|publisher=The Atlantic|date=2015-10-19|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/08/17/432555175/jeff-bezos-responds-to-new-york-times-report-on-amazons-workplace|title=Jeff Bezos responds to 'New York Times' report on Amazon's workplace|publisher=NPR|date=2015-08-17|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref>
=== Leadership style ===
{{quote box
| title = <span style="font-size:90%">"Day 1" Management Philosophy</span>
| quote = Day 1: [[Startup company|start up]]<br>Day 2: [[Punctuated equilibrium|stasis]]<br>Day 3: [[Relative market share|irrelevance]]<br>Day 4: "excruciating, painful decline"<br>Day 5: [[Bankruptcy|death]]
| source = Bezos has stated "it is always Day 1" to describe his [[Mindset|growth mindset]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.recode.net/2017/4/12/15274220/jeff-bezos-amazon-shareholders-letter-day-2-disagree-and-commit |title=This is the Jeff Bezos playbook for preventing Amazon’s demise |last=Del Ray |first=Jason |date=April 12, 2017 |work=Recode|access-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazons-bezos-could-teach-large-companies-a-thing-or-two-about-strategy-2017-04-20 |title=Amazon’s Bezos could teach large companies a thing or two about strategy |last=Atsmon |first=Yuval |date=April 22, 2017 |work=MarketWatch|access-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US}}</ref>
| align = right
| width = 20em
| bgcolor = #CCDDFF
| qalign = left
| salign = left
}}Bezos used what he called a "regret-minimization framework" while he worked at [[D. E. Shaw & Co.|D. E. Shaw]] and again during the early years of Amazon.<ref name="wired.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/1999/03/bezos-3/ |title=The Inner Bezos |last=Bayers |first=Chip |work=WIRED |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> He described this [[Lebensphilosophie|life philosophy]] by stating: "When I'm 80, am I going to regret leaving Wall Street? No. Will I regret missing the beginning of the Internet? Yes."<ref name="wired.com" /> During the 1990s and early 2000s at Amazon, he was characterized as trying to quantify all aspects of running the company, often listing employees on spreadsheets and basing executive decisions on data.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/50541/inside-mind-jeff-bezos-4 |title=Inside the Mind of Jeff Bezos |last=Deutschman |first=Alan |date=August 1, 2004 |work=Fast Company|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> To push Amazon forward, Bezos developed the [[mantra]] "Get Big Fast", which spoke to the company's need to [[Economies of scale|scale]] its operations and establish market dominance.<ref name="Amazon.com {{!}} History & Facts" /> He favored diverting Amazon profits back into the company in lieu of allocating it amongst shareholders in the form of [[dividend]]s.<ref name="fastcompany.com" />
Bezos uses the term "work–life harmony" instead of the more standard [[work–life balance]] because he believes balance implies that you can have one and not the other.<ref name="Constine">{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/05/jeff-bezos-guide-to-life/ |title=Jeff Bezos' guide to life |last=Constine |first=Josh |work=TechCrunch |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> He believes that work and home life are interconnected, informing and calibrating each other.<ref name="Constine" /> Journalist [[Walt Mossberg]] dubbed the idea that someone who cannot tolerate criticism or critique shouldn't do anything new or interesting, "[[q:Jeff Bezos|The Bezos Principle]]".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boingboing.net/2016/06/01/what-amazons-jeff-bezos-thin.html |title=What Amazon's Jeff Bezos thinks about Peter Thiel and Hulk Hogan vs. Gawker / Boing Boing |last=Mossberg |first=Walt |date=June 2, 2016 |website=boingboing.net |language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=April 22, 2018}}</ref> Bezos does not schedule early morning meetings and enforces a two pizza rule–a preference for meetings to be small enough to where two [[pizza]]s can feed everyone in the board room.<ref name="businessinsider.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-daily-routine-2017-7?op=0#when-he-does-call-a-meeting-bezos-employs-a-two-pizza-rule-he-never-organizes-a-meeting-where-two-pizzas-couldnt-feed-the-entire-group-5 |title=A day in the life of the richest person in history, Jeff Bezos — who made $6.44 billion in one day and still washes the dishes after dinner |last=Caine |first=Aline |date= |work=Business Insider|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> When interviewing candidates for jobs at Amazon he has stated he considers three inquiries: can he admire the person, can the person raise the [[Status quo|common standard]], and under what circumstances could the person become exemplary.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/01/jeff-bezos-questions-amazon-used-to-hire-employees.html|title=This is Jeff Bezos' 3-question test for new Amazon employees|last=Montag|first=Ali|date=August 1, 2018|work=CNBC|access-date=August 7, 2018}}</ref>
He meets with Amazon investors for a total of only six hours a year.<ref name="businessinsider.com" /> Instead of using [[Microsoft PowerPoint|PowerPoints]], Bezos requires high-level employees to present information with six-page narratives.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/20/technology/kevin-week-in-tech-bezos.html |title=Kevin’s Week in Tech: Jeff Bezos Reminds Tech Who’s Boss |last=Roose |first=Kevin |date=April 20, 2018 |work=The New York Times|access-date=April 21, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Starting in 1998, Bezos publishes an annual letter for Amazon shareholders wherein he frequently refers to five principles: focus on customers not competitors, take risks for [[Market share|market leadership]], facilitate staff morality, build a [[Organizational culture|company culture]], and empower people.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/05/13/5-key-business-lessons-from-amazons-jeff-bezos.html |title=5 key business lessons from Amazon's Jeff Bezos |first=Tim |last=Mullaney |date=January 12, 2017 |work=CNBC |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2017/04/14/data-sheet-be-like-jeff-bezos/ |title=What Makes Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Such a Visionary Leader |last=Lashinsky |first=Adam |date= |work=Fortune|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> Bezos maintains the email address "jeff@[[Amazon (company)|amazon.com]]" as an outlet for customers to reach out to him and the company.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/bezos-explains-his-dreaded-one-character-emails-2018-4 |title=Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos explains his famous one-character emails, known to strike fear in manager's hearts |last=Bort |first=Julie |date=April 21, 2018 |work=Business Insider|access-date=April 21, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=}}</ref> Although he does not respond to the emails, he forwards some of them with a question mark in the subject line to executives who attempt to address the issues.<ref name=":1" /> Bezos has cited [[Warren Buffett]] (of [[Berkshire Hathaway]]), [[Jamie Dimon]] (of [[JPMorgan Chase]]), and [[Bob Iger]] (of [[The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney]]) as major influences on his leadership style.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bushcenter.org/takeover/sessions/forum-leadership/bezos-closing-conversation.html |title=Forum on Leadership: Conversation with Jeff Bezos |last=Hersh |first=Kenneth |date=April 20, 2018 |website=www.bushcenter.org |language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=April 22, 2018}}</ref>
== Recognition ==
In 1999, Bezos received his first major award when ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' named him [[Time Person of the Year|Person of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,992927,00.html |title=Jeffrey Preston Bezos: 1999 Person of the year |website=Time |first=Joshua |last=Cooper Ramo |date=December 27, 1999}}</ref> In 2008, he was selected by ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' as one of America's best leaders.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/articles/news/best-leaders/2008/11/19/americas-best-leaders-jeff-bezos-amazoncom-ceo.html |title=America's Best Leaders: Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com CEO |website=U.S. News & World Report |first=David |last=LaGesse |date=November 19, 2008 |accessdate=November 25, 2008}}</ref> Bezos was awarded an [[honorary doctorate]] in science and technology from [[Carnegie Mellon University]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/2008/April/april22_jeffbezos.shtml |title=April 22: Amazon.com Founder Jeff Bezos to Speak at Carnegie Mellon Business School and Computer Science Diploma Ceremonies – Carnegie Mellon University {{!}} CMU|last=(CMU)|first=Carnegie Mellon University|website=www.cmu.edu|accessdate=March 6, 2018}}</ref> In 2011, ''[[The Economist]]'' gave Bezos and Gregg Zehr an Innovation Award for the [[Amazon Kindle]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.economistconferences.co.uk/press-release/charging-ahead-e-book-design-and-popularity-win-kindle-creators-innovation-award/5908 |title=Charging ahead: e-book design and popularity win Kindle creators Innovation Award |website=The Economist |date=September 19, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414143656/http://www.economistconferences.co.uk/press-release/charging-ahead-e-book-design-and-popularity-win-kindle-creators-innovation-award/5908 |archivedate=April 14, 2012}}</ref> In 2012, Bezos was named Businessperson of the Year by ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/11/16/jeff-bezos-amazon |title=Amazon's Jeff Bezos: The ultimate disrupter |last=Lashinsky |first=Adam |date= |website=Fortune |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809040922/http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/11/16/jeff-bezos-amazon |archivedate=August 9, 2013 |deadurl=yes |accessdate=August 10, 2013}}</ref> He is also a member of the [[Bilderberg Group]] and attended the 2011 Bilderberg conference in [[St. Moritz]], Switzerland,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/participants_2011.html |title=Bilderberg 2011 list of participants |publisher=BilderbergMeetings.org |accessdate=August 24, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828210925/http://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/participants_2011.html |archivedate=August 28, 2011}}</ref> and the [[2013 Bilderberg Conference|2013 conference]] in [[Watford]], Hertfordshire, England. He was a member of the Executive Committee of [[The Business Council]] for 2011 and 2012.<ref name="committee">{{cite web |url=http://www.thebusinesscouncil.org/about/excommittee.aspx |title=Executive Committee |publisher=The Business Council |accessdate=August 10, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721074619/http://www.thebusinesscouncil.org/about/excommittee.aspx |archivedate=July 21, 2013}}</ref> In 2014, he was ranked the best-performing CEO in the world by ''[[Harvard Business Review]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hbr.org/2014/11/the-best-performing-ceos-in-the-world |title=The Best-Performing CEOs in the World |newspaper=Harvard Business Review |accessdate=January 24, 2017}}</ref>
He has also figured in ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]''{{'}}s list of 50 great leaders of the world for three straight years, topping the list in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2014/03/20/worlds-50-greatest-leaders/ |title=The World's 50 Greatest Leaders (2014) |last= |first= |date= |work=Fortune|access-date=March 20, 2014|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref> In September 2016, Bezos received a $250,000 prize for winning the [[Heinlein Prize for Advances in Space Commercialization]], which he donated to the [[Students for the Exploration and Development of Space]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/09/15/jeff-bezos-on-nuclear-reactors-in-space-the-lack-of-bacon-on-mars-and-humanitys-destiny-in-the-solar-system |title=Jeff Bezos on nuclear reactors in space, the lack of bacon on Mars and humanity's destiny in the solar system |last=Davenport |first=Christian |date=September 15, 2016 |website=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=September 16, 2016}}</ref> In February 2018, Bezos was elected to the [[National Academy of Engineering]] for "leadership and innovation in space exploration, autonomous systems, and building a commercial pathway for human space flight".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nae.edu/MediaRoom/20095/177353/178117.aspx |title=National Academy of Engineering Elects 83 Members and 16 Foreign Members |website=NAE Website |accessdate=February 9, 2018}}</ref> In March 2018, he was awarded the Buzz Aldrin Space Exploration Award in recognition of his work with [[Blue Origin]].<ref name="Jones"/> He received Germany's 2018 Axel Springer Award for Business Innovation and Social Responsibility.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-responded-to-reports-on-amazon-warehouse-working-conditions-2018-4 |title=Jeff Bezos responded to reports of poor working conditions at Amazon — here's what he said |last=Schwär |first=Hannah |date=April 26, 2018 |work=Business Insider|access-date=April 26, 2018}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine named him one of the [[Time 100|100 most influential people in the world]] in their 2018 listing.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://time.com/collection/most-influential-people-2018/5217562/jeff-bezos-3/ |title=Jeff Bezos: The World’s 100 Most Influential People |last=Dimon |first=Jamie |date=April 26, 2018 |website=Time |language=en-us|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=April 26, 2018}}</ref>
=== Wealth ===
<!-- Any meaningful changes to this section require editor consensus; see Talk:Jeff Bezos FAQ #Q2. --><!-- Do not change table with estimates of his net worth. See Talk:Jeff Bezos FAQ #Q2 and Talk:Jeff Bezos/Archive 2, item 7. -->
{| class="wikitable" align="right"
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;" |Annual estimates of Jeff Bezos's [[net worth]]{{efn|All currency figures expressed in the [[United States dollar]] (US$) in [[Real versus nominal value (economics)|nominal terms]].}}
|-
! Year
! Billions
! Change
! Year
! Billions
! Change
|-
| 1999
| 10.1
| {{Steady}} 0.0%
| 2009
| 6.8
| {{Decrease}} 17.7%
|-
| 2000
| 6.1
| {{Decrease}} 40.5%
| 2010
| 12.6
| {{Increase}} 85.2%
|-
| 2001
| 2.0
| {{Decrease}} 66.6%
| 2011
| 18.1
| {{Increase}} 43.6%
|-
| 2002
| 1.5
| {{Decrease}} 25.0%
| 2012
| 23.2
| {{Increase}} 28.2%
|-
| 2003
| 2.5
| {{Increase}} 66.6%
| 2013
| 28.9
| {{Increase}} 24.5%
|-
| 2004
| 5.1
| {{Increase}} 104.0%
| 2014
| 30.5
| {{Increase}} 5.5%
|-
| 2005
| 4.1
| {{Decrease}} 5.8%
| 2015
| 50.3
| {{Increase}} 60.9%
|-
| 2006
| 4.3
| {{Decrease}} 10.4%
| 2016
| 45.2
| {{Decrease}} 10.1%
|-
| 2007
| 8.7
| {{Increase}} 102.3%
| 2017
| 72.8
| {{Increase}} 61.6%
|-
| 2008
| 8.2
| {{Decrease}} 5.7%
| 2018
| 112.0
| {{Increase}} 53.8%
|-
| colspan="6" |<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">{{small|1=Main data source: [https://www.forbes.com/profile/jeff-bezos/; ''Forbes'' ''World's Billionaires Estimates'']}}<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">{{small|Additional reference(s): [https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/| ''Bloomberg Billionaires Index'']}}
|}
Bezos first became a millionaire in 1997 after raising $54 million through Amazon's [[initial public offering]] (IPO).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.inc.com/business-insider/when-billionaires-made-their-first-million.html |title=The Age When 17 Self-Made Billionaires Earned Their First Million |last=Elkins |first=Kathleen |date=February 11, 2016 |website=Inc.com |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> He was first included on ''[[Forbes]]'' ''[[The World's Billionaires]]'' list in 1999 with a registered [[net worth]] of $10.1 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx99xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 1999 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> His net worth decreased to $6.1 billion a year later, a 40.5% drop.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx00xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 2000 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> His wealth plummeted even more the following year, dropping 66.6% to $2.0 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx01xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 2001 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> He lost $500 million the following year, which brought his net worth down to $1.5 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx02xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 2002 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> The following year, his net worth increased by 104% to $2.5 billion.<ref name="Casais">{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx03xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 2003 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> From 2005 to 2007, he quadrupled his net worth to $8.7 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/10/Rank_6.html |title=The World's Richest People - Forbes.com |website=www.forbes.com |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> After [[Financial crisis of 2007–2008|the financial crisis]] and [[Great Recession|succeeding economic recession]], his net worth would erode $6.8 billion—a 17.7% drop.<ref name="Casais2">{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx09xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 2009 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx08xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 2008 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> His wealth rose by 85.2% in 2010, leaving him with $12.6 billion. This percentage increase ascended him to the 43rd spot on the ranking from 68th.<ref name="Casais2" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.areppim.com/listes/list_billionairesx10xwor.htm |title=World's Billionaire List 2010 |last=Casais |first=Eduardo |date= |website=stats.areppim.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref>
After a rumor broke out that Amazon was developing a [[smartphone]], Bezos's net worth rose to $30.5 billion in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2014/06/05/bezos-net-worth-rises-1-4-billion-on-rumors-of-3-d-amazon-smartphone/ |title=Jeff Bezos' Net Worth Rises $1.4 Billion on Rumors of 3-D Amazon Smartphone |last=Mac |first=Ryan |website=Forbes |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-21/jeff-bezoss-net-worth-dives-in-2014 |title=Jeff Bezos's Net Worth Dives in 2014 |last=Summers |first=Nick |date=April 21, 2014 |website=Bloomberg.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> A year later, Bezos entered the top ten when he increased his net worth to a total of $50.3 billion.<ref name="Vinton">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katevinton/2015/07/23/jeff-bezos-just-gained-7-billion-in-an-hour-to-become-worlds-fifth-richest |title=Jeff Bezos Just Gained $7 Billion in an Hour to Become World's Fifth Richest |last=Vinton |first=Kate |website=Forbes |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> Bezos rose to be the 5th richest person in the world hours before [[Stock market|market close]]; he gained $7 billion in one hour.<ref name="Vinton" /> By the time the ''Forbes'' list was calculated in March 2016, his net worth was registered at $45.2 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chasewithorn/2016/03/01/the-full-list-of-every-american-billionaire-2016/ |title=The Full List of Every American Billionaire 2016 |last=Peterson-Withorn |first=Chase |website=Forbes |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> However, just months later in October 2016, his wealth increased by $16.2 billion to $66.5 billion unofficially ranking him the third richest person in the world behind [[Warren Buffett]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katevinton/2016/07/28/jeff-bezos-net-worth-hits-record-high-as-fortune-jumps-2-6-billion/ |title=Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' Net Worth Hits Record High As Fortune Jumps $2.6 Billion |last=Vinton |first=Kate |website=Forbes |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> After sporadic jumps in Amazon's share price, in July 2017 he briefly unseated [[Microsoft]] cofounder [[Bill Gates]] as the wealthiest person in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://time.com/money/4746795/richest-people-in-the-world/ |title=The Richest People in the World |last=Calfas |first=Jennifer |date= |website=Money|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref>
[[File:Net worth of Jeff Bezos from 1999 to 2018.png|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Net worth of Jeff Bezos from 1999 to 2018.png|left|thumb|257x257px|The [[net worth]] of Jeff Bezos from 1999 to 2018 as estimated by ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine, in the [[Real versus nominal value (economics)|nominal]] [[United States dollar|U.S. dollar]]. His net worth is calculated in the billions by March of each year. ]]
Bezos would continue to sporadically surpass Gates throughout the month of October 2017 after Amazon's share price fluctuated.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katevinton/2017/10/27/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-is-the-richest-person-in-the-world-again/#3cfd84ce1948 |title=Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Is the Richest Person in the World – Again |last=Vinton |first=Kate |date= |work=Forbes|access-date=October 3, 2017|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref> His net worth surpassed $100 billion for the first time on November 24, 2017, after Amazon's [[share price]] increased by more than 2.5%.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://money.cnn.com/2017/11/24/technology/jeff-bezos-100-billion/index.html |title=Jeff Bezos is now worth $100 billion |last=Isidore |first=Chris |website=Money.cnn.com |accessdate=December 29, 2017}}</ref> When the 2017 list was issued, Bezos's net worth was registered at $72.8 billion, adding $27.6 billion from the previous year.<ref name="Dolan">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2017/03/20/forbes-2017-billionaires-list-meet-the-richest-people-on-the-planet/ |title=Forbes 2017 Billionaires List: Meet The Richest People on the Planet |last=Dolan |first=Kerry A. |website=Forbes |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> Bezos was officially ranked as the third wealthiest person in the world up from the 5th spot in 2016.<ref name="Dolan" /> His wealth's rapid growth from 2016 to 2017 sparked a variety of assessments about how much money Bezos earned on a controlled, reduced time scale. On October 10, 2017, he made an estimated $6.24 billion in 5 minutes, slightly less than the annual [[Gross Domestic Product]] of [[Kyrgyzstan]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/jeff-bezos-made-62-billion-in-5-minutes-became-worlds-richest-person-how-was-your-thursday.html |title=Jeff Bezos Made $6.2 Billion in 5 Minutes and Became the World's Richest Person (How Was Your Thursday?) |last=Murphy |first=Bill |date=October 27, 2017 |work=Inc.com|access-date=April 29, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref>
On March 6, 2018, Bezos was officially designated the [[The World's Billionaires|wealthiest person in the world]] with a registered net worth of $112 billion.<ref name="NBC News">{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/trump-slumps-down-forbes-annual-list-billionaires-bezos-rises-top-n854141 |title=America produced the largest number of billionaires in the world |last=Bayly |first=Lucy |date=March 6, 2018 |website=NBC News|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=April 30, 2018}}</ref> He unseated Bill Gates ($90 billion) who was $6 billion ahead of Warren Buffett ($84 billion), ranked third.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/forbes-2018-list-of-worlds-billionaires/ |title=Jeff Bezos moves to top spot on Forbes' annual billionaires list |accessdate=March 6, 2018}}</ref> He is considered the first registered<!-- Do NOT change his status as a centi-billionaire per Talk:Jeff Bezos FAQ #Q2 and Talk:Jeff Bezos#Jeff Bezos: Episode VIII – The First Centi-Billionaire. --> [[Billionaire|centi-billionaire]] (not [[Real versus nominal value (economics)|adjusted for inflation]]).{{efn|Although [[Bill Gates]] momentarily surpassed the $100 billion [[net worth]] mark in April 1999 before the [[Dot-com bubble]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/noahkirsch/2018/01/09/heres-why-jeff-bezos-is-not-truly-the-richest-person-in-history/#78b769f31f06 |title=Here's Why Jeff Bezos Is Not Truly The Richest Person In History |last=Kirsch |first=Noah |date= |work=Forbes|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref> Bezos was the first to register $100 billion with major wealth indexes and has retained the wealth for longer than Gates's three weeks.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2018/03/09/jeff-bezos-net-worth-jump/ |title=Jeff Bezos Had a Record-Breaking One-Year Net Worth Jump |last= |first= |date= |work=Fortune|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/luisakroll/2018/03/06/forbes-billionaires-2018-meet-the-richest-people-on-the-planet/#4a24c86523db |title=Forbes Billionaires 2018: Meet The Richest People On The Planet |last=Kroll |first=Luisa |work=Forbes|access-date=April 4, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/luisakroll/2018/03/06/forbes-billionaires-2018-meet-the-richest-people-on-the-planet/#4a24c86523db |title=Forbes Billionaires 2018: Meet The Richest People On The Planet |last=Kroll |first=Luisa |date= |work=Forbes|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/market/jeff-bezos-worlds-first-centibillionaire-amazon-boss-journey-to-beat-bill-gates-to-the-top-of-fobres-list/1093600/ |title=Jeff Bezos world’s first centibillionaire: Amazon boss’ journey to beat Bill Gates to the top of Forbes list |date=April 4, 2018 |work=The Financial Express|access-date=April 4, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref>}}
His wealth, in 2017–18 terms, equaled that of 2.7 million Americans.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.maxim.com/news/forbes-jeff-bezos-richest-billionaire-2018-3 |title=Jeff Bezos Is Worth $112 Billion, Overtaking Bill Gates as the Richest Man in the World |last=Freeman |first=Thomas |date= |website=Maxim|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> Bezos's net worth increased by $33.6 billion from January 2017 to January 2018. This increase outstripped the economic development (in [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] terms) of more than 96 countries around the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.valuewalk.com/2018/03/jeff-bezos-richest-man/ |title=Bezos' Billions: The Wealth of a 'Centi-Billionaire' |date=March 7, 2018 |website=ValueWalk |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> During March 9, Bezos earned $230,000 every 60-seconds.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://time.com/money/5192998/jeff-bezos-net-worth-2018-worlds-richest-man/ |title=Jeff Bezos Is Making an Insane $230,000 a Minute Right Now |last=Tuttle |first=Brad |date= |website=Money |language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=March 28, 2018}}</ref> ''[[The Motley Fool]]'' estimated that if Bezos had not sold any of his shares from its original public offering in 1997, his net worth would sit at $181 billion in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/02/28/heres-what-amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-would-be-worth-if.aspx |title=Here's How Much Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Would Be Worth if He Never Sold a Single Share |last=Williams |first=Sean |website=The Motley Fool |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> According to ''[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]]'', his net worth of $150 billion in July 2018 was enough to purchase the entire stock markets of [[Nigeria]], [[Hungary]], [[Egypt]], [[Luxembourg]], and [[Iran]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://qz.com/1330631/jeff-bezos-is-now-worth-150-billion-as-much-as-many-entire-stock-markets/ |title=Jeff Bezos is rich enough to buy many of the world’s stock markets outright |last=Karaian |first=Jason |date=July 15, 2018 |work=Quartz|access-date=July 15, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> Following the report by ''Quartz'', Amazon workers in [[Poland]], [[Germany]], and [[Spain]] participated in demonstrations and [[Strike action|labor strikes]] to draw awareness to his growing wealth and the lack of compensation, labor rights, and satisfactory working conditions of select Amazon workers.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/07/jeff-bezoss-massive-wealth-becoming-a-problem |title=Is Jeff Bezos’s Massive Wealth Becoming a Problem? |last=Kosoff |first=Maya |date=July 17, 2018 |work=The Hive|access-date=July 17, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> On July 17, 2018 he was designated the "wealthiest person in modern history"{{efn|Many calculations of Bezos' wealth during the late 2010s were not [[Real versus nominal value (economics)|adjusted for inflation]]. When he was designated the "world wealthiest person" on March 6, 2018, the ''Forbes''<nowiki/>' ''[[The World's Billionaires]]'' list stipulated that although Bezos was the first [[Billionaire|centi-billionaire]] (i.e. +[[United States dollar|US$]]100 billion in net worth), it was [[Bill Gates]] who had the most money when taken in [[Real versus nominal value (economics)|real terms]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/noahkirsch/2018/01/09/heres-why-jeff-bezos-is-not-truly-the-richest-person-in-history/#7f101cbe1f06 |title=Here's Why Jeff Bezos Is Not Truly The Richest Person In History |last=Kirsch |first=Noah |date=March 6, 2018 |work=Forbes|access-date=July 17, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> In such terms, Gates had $150 billion while Bezos had $100 billion. However, in July 2018, the net worth of Bezos officially surpassed the $150 billion mark which led most major wealth indexes to label him the wealthiest person in modern history (post-1982).<ref name="Chaykowski">{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathleenchaykowski/2018/07/17/jeff-bezos-net-worth-hits-record-151-billion-after-strong-amazon-prime-day/#60330c62e802 |title=Jeff Bezos' Net Worth Hits Record $151 Billion After Strong Amazon 'Prime Day' |last=Chaykowski |first=Kathleen |date=July 17, 2018 |work=Forbes|access-date=July 17, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>}} <!-- Please see Talk:Jeff Bezos#Jeff Bezos: Episode VIII – The First Centi-Billionaire for more information about the Gates v. Bezos real terms debate. -->by the [[Bloomberg Billionaires Index]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-16/happy-prime-day-jeff-amazon-ceo-s-net-worth-tops-150-billion |title=Jeff Bezos Becomes the Richest Man in Modern History, Topping $150 Billion |last= |first= |date=July 17, 2018 |work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=July 17, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> ''Fortune'',<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://fortune.com/2018/07/16/jeff-bezos-richest-man/ |title=Jeff Bezos Is Now the Richest Man in Modern History, Topping $150 Billion |last= |first= |date=July 17, 2018 |work=Fortune|access-date=July 17, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> ''[[MarketWatch]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/jeff-bezos-becomes-the-richest-person-in-modern-history-amid-amazon-prime-day-kickoff-2018-07-16?link=MW_latest_news |title=Jeff Bezos becomes the richest person in modern history amid Amazon Prime Day kickoff |last=French |first=Sally |date=July 17, 2018 |work=MarketWatch|access-date=July 17, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'',<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-jeff-bezos-really-the-richest-of-them-all-1533893580|title=Is Jeff Bezos Really the Richest of Them All?|last=McGinty|first=Jo Craven|date=August 10, 2018|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=August 11, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> and ''Forbes''.<ref name="Chaykowski">{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathleenchaykowski/2018/07/17/jeff-bezos-net-worth-hits-record-151-billion-after-strong-amazon-prime-day/#60330c62e802 |title=Jeff Bezos' Net Worth Hits Record $151 Billion After Strong Amazon 'Prime Day' |last=Chaykowski |first=Kathleen |date=July 17, 2018 |work=Forbes|access-date=July 17, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
In 1992, Bezos was working for [[D. E. Shaw]] in [[Manhattan, New York]], when he met novelist [[MacKenzie Bezos|MacKenzie Tuttle]], who was a research associate at the firm; they were married a year later.<ref name="Bayers">{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/1999/03/bezos-3/ |title=The Inner Bezos |last=Bayers |first=Chip |website=WIRED |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref><ref name="levisilicon">{{cite web |title=Quoted: She Said, He Said — MacKenzie Bezos Vs. Author of Book on Amazon |url=http://www.siliconbeat.com/2013/11/05/quoted-she-said-he-said-mackenzie-bezos-vs-author-of-book-on-amazon/ |website=SiliconBeat |publisher=The Mercury News |author=Levi Sumagaysay |date=November 5, 2013 |quote=I have firsthand knowledge of many of the events. I worked for Jeff (Bezos) at D. E. Shaw}}</ref> In 1994, they moved across the country to [[Seattle, Washington]], where Bezos founded Amazon.<ref name="bezosp">{{cite web |last=Bayers |first=Chip |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.03/bezos_pr.html |title=The Inner Bezos |website=Wired |volume=7 |issue=03 |accessdate=August 23, 2013}}</ref> He and his wife are the parents of four children: three sons, and one daughter adopted from China.<ref name="wp20130810" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/05/us/jeff-bezos-fast-facts |title=Jeff Bezos Fast Facts |publisher=CNN |date=March 24, 2016}}</ref> His brother Mark Bezos is a volunteer firefighter.<ref name="guardian-stingy">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jul/28/jeff-bezos-amazon-rich-charity-warren-buffett|title=Jeff Bezos: How the world's richest man can change his stingy reputation|first=Nathan|last=Robinson|publisher=The Guardian|date=2017-07-28|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref>
In March 2003, Bezos was one of three passengers in a helicopter that crashed in [[West Texas]] after the craft's tail boom hit a tree.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB104742483556702500 |title=Amazon Chief Survives Helicopter Crash in Texas |author=Nick Wingfield |archiveurl= |archivedate= |deadurl= |accessdate=March 7, 2018 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> Bezos sustained minor injuries and was discharged from a local hospital the same day.<ref name="Inside the Mind of Jeff Bezos" />
In 2016, Bezos played a [[Starfleet]] official in the movie ''[[Star Trek Beyond]]'', and joined the cast and crew at a [[San Diego Comic-Con]] screening.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 21, 2016 |title=Amazon founder Jeff Bezos reveals Star Trek Beyond alien cameo |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-36857001 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=February 22, 2017}}</ref>
== Politics ==
According to public [[Campaign finance in the United States|campaign finance records]], Bezos supported the electoral campaigns of [[Patty Murray]] and [[Maria Cantwell]], two [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] U.S. Senators from Washington. He has also supported U.S. representative [[John Conyers]], as well as [[Patrick Leahy]] and [[Spencer Abraham]], U.S. Senators serving on committees dealing with Internet-related issues.<ref name="Sullivan">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2013/08/07/the-politics-of-jeff-bezos/ |title=The politics of Jeff Bezos |last=Sullivan |first=Sean |date=August 7, 2013 |website=Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> Bezos and his wife support the legalization of [[same-sex marriage]], and in 2012 contributed $2.5 million to [[Washington United for Marriage]], a group supporting a yes vote on [[Washington Referendum 74]], which affirmed a same-sex marriage law enacted in the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/28/us-usa-gaymarriage-bezos-idUSBRE86R01320120728 |title=Amazon's Jeff Bezos, wife, make $2.5 million donation for gay marriage |last=Porterfield |first=Elaine |date=July 28, 2012 |accessdate=August 23, 2013 |agency=Reuters}}</ref> Bezos donated $100,000 towards a movement against a higher Washington [[state income tax]] in 2010.<ref name="Sullivan" /> In 2012, he donated to Amazon's [[political action committee]] (PAC),<ref name="Sullivan"/> which has given $56,000 and $74,500 to Democrats and Republicans, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00360354&cycle=2012 |title=Amazon.com Contributions to Federal Candidates, 2012 cycles|publisher=Center for Responsive Politics|accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref>
After the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 presidential election]], Bezos was invited to join [[Donald Trump]]'s [[Defense Innovation Advisory Board]], an advisory council to improve the technology used by the [[United States Department of Defense|Defense Department]]. Bezos declined the offer without further comment.<ref name="Davenport"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://money.cnn.com/2016/08/02/investing/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-billionaires-warren-buffett/index.html |title=The Hillary Clinton billionaires club |last=La Monica |first=Paul R. |date=August 2, 2016 |website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date= |newspaper=CNN}}</ref> Trump has repeatedly attacked Bezos [[Donald Trump on Twitter|via Twitter]], accused Bezos of avoiding [[corporate tax]]es, gaining undue political influence, and undermining his presidency by spreading "[[fake news]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2017/06/28/donald-trump-twitter-jeff-bezos/ |title=How to Understand Donald Trump's #AmazonWashingtonPost Tweet in 3 Easy Steps |last=Abramson |first=Alana |date= |website=Fortune|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/slammed-by-trump-amazons-jeff-bezos-chooses-the-silent-treatment-1523282400 |title=Slammed by Trump, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos Chooses Silence |last=Stevens |first=Laura |date=April 9, 2018 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |last2=Nicholas |first2=Peter |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> Bezos has repeatedly joked about using his rocket company to send Donald Trump into [[outer space]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/02/why-jeff-bezos-is-pouring-amazon-cash-into-trumps-swamp |title=Why Jeff Bezos Is Dumping Cash into Trump's Swamp |last=Kosoff |first=Maya |website=The Hive |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/12/07/donald-trump-called-out-jeff-bezos-on-twitter-then-bezos-called-his-bluff/ |title=Donald Trump called out Jeff Bezos on Twitter. Then Bezos called his bluff. |last=Cillizza |first=Chris |date=December 7, 2015 |website=Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref>
In March 2018, Bezos met in Seattle with [[Mohammad bin Salman]], the crown prince and de facto ruler of [[Saudi Arabia]], to discuss investment opportunities for [[Saudi Vision 2030]].<ref>"[http://www.arabnews.com/node/1276676/saudi-arabia Saudi crown prince meets Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos in Seattle]". ''Arab News''. March 31, 2018.</ref> In 2014, Bezos won a bid for a cloud computing contract with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] valued at $600 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/norman-solomon/why-amazons-collaboration_b_4824854.html|title=Why Amazon's collaboration with the CIA is so ominous — and vulnerable|first=Norman|last=Solomon|publisher=The Huffington Post|date=2014-02-20|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> A 2018, $10 billion contract known as the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure project, this time with the [[United States Department of Defense|Pentagon]], was allegedly written up in a way that favors Amazon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://federalnewsradio.com/contractsawards/2018/08/dods-10b-cloud-contract-comes-under-protest-11-days-after-final-rfp/|title=DoD’s $10B cloud contract comes under protest 11 days after final RFP|first=Jason|last=Miller|publisher=Federal News Radio|date=2018-08-07}}</ref> Controversy over this was raised when General [[James Mattis]] accepted a headquarters tour invitation from Bezos and co-ordinated the deal through Sally Donnelly, a lobbyist who previously worked for Amazon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/08/has-bezos-become-more-powerful-in-dc-than-trump|title="Everybody immediately knew that it was for Amazon": Has Bezos become more powerful in DC than Trump?|first=May|last=Jeong|publisher=Vanity Fair|date=2018-08-13|accessdate=2018-09-14}}</ref> Despite Bezos' support for an open borders policy towards immigrants, Amazon has actively marketed facial recognition software to the [[U.S._Immigration_and_Customs_Enforcement|ICE]].<ref>{{citeweb|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/amazon-pushes-ice-to-buy-its-face-recognition-surveillance-tech|title="Amazon Pushes ICE to Buy Its Face Recognition Surveillance Tech"|first=Jake|last=Laperruque|publisher=The Daily Beast|date=2018-10-23|accessdate=2018-10-23}}</ref>
== Philanthropy ==
[[File:Recovered F-1 Engine parts .jpg|thumb|Bezos funded the retrieval of this [[Rocketdyne F-1|F-1 engine]] from the bottom of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in 2015, eventually donating it to the [[Museum of Flight|Seattle Museum of Flight]].]]
Bezos supports his philanthropic efforts through direct donations and [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit]] projects funded by [[Bezos Expeditions]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/15/technology/jeff-bezos-amazon-twitter-charity.html |title=Jeff Bezos Wants Ideas for Philanthropy, So He Asked Twitter |last=Wingfield |first=Nick |date=June 15, 2017 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> Through Bezos Expeditions, he has funded the Bezos Center for Innovation at the Seattle Museum of History and Industry for $10 million and Bezos Center for Neural Circuit Dynamics at [[Princeton Neuroscience Institute]] for $15 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S32/37/48S39/index.xml?section=topstories |title=Princeton University – Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos donate $15 million to create center in Princeton Neuroscience Institute |last=Stevens |first=Ruth |date= |website=princeton.edu|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=December 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mohai.org/press-media/press-releases/item/2612-jeff-and-mackenzie-bezos-flip-the-switch-on-new-bezos-center-for-innovation-at-mohai-kicking-off-saturday-launch-celebration |title=Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos Flip the Switch on New Bezos Center for Innovation at MOHAI, Kicking Off Saturday Launch Celebration |website=mohai.org |accessdate=December 31, 2017}}</ref> He has donated multiple times to the [[Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center]]: $10 million in 2009, $20 million in 2010, $15 million in 2011, and $35 million in 2017.<ref name="inside">{{cite web |url=http://www.insidephilanthropy.com/guide-to-individual-donors/jeff-bezos.html |title=Guide to Individual Donors: Tech Philanthropists: Jeff Bezos |last= |first= |date= |website=Inside Philanthropy|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=June 26, 2018}}</ref> He also donated $800,000 to [[Worldreader]], a non-profit, founded by a former Amazon employee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geekwire.com/2014/jeff-bezos-donates-20-million-fred-hutchinson-cancer-research-center |title=Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and family donate $20M to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center |last=Soper |first=Taylor |website=GeekWire |accessdate=December 31, 2017}}</ref> In 2015, he funded the recovery of two [[Saturn V]] first-stage [[Rocketdyne F-1]] engines from the floor of the [[Atlantic Ocean]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bezosexpeditions.com/engine-recovery.html |title=F-1 Engine Recovery: Bezos Expeditions |author=DEI Creative in Seattle, WA |website=bezosexpeditions.com}}</ref> They were positively identified as belonging to the [[Apollo 11]] mission's [[S-1C|S-1C stage]] in July 2013.<ref name="Apollo 11 F1 Engines Found">{{cite web |url=http://www.space.com/22044-apollo-rocket-engines-bezos.html |title=Rocket Engine Part Recovered by Amazon CEO Has Apollo 11 History |last=Pearlman |first=Robert Z. |date=July 19, 2013 |newspaper=Space.com |accessdate=August 10, 2013 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6IlYwWLPu?url=http://www.space.com/22044-apollo-rocket-engines-bezos.html |archivedate=August 10, 2013 |deadurl=no |location=New York}}</ref> The engine is currently on display at the [[Museum of Flight|Seattle Museum of Flight]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.museumofflight.org/Exhibits/apollo-f-1-engine-preview |title=Apollo F-1 Engine Preview {{!}} The Museum of Flight|last=|first=|date=|website=www.museumofflight.org|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=April 4, 2018}}</ref> His philanthropic efforts have been negatively compared to those of [[Bill Gates]] and [[Warren Buffett]].<ref name="guardian-stingy" /><ref name="Frank" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.insidesources.com/two-tech-titans-two-very-different-views-of-philanthropy |title=Two tech titans. Two very different views of philanthropy. – InsideSources |work=InsideSources}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon-a-virtual-no-show-in-hometown-philanthropy/|title=Amazon a virtual no-show in hometown philanthropy|last=Martinez|first=Amy|date=2012-03-31|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=2017-12-29|last2=Heim|first2=Kristi|language=en-US}}</ref>
On May 23, 2017, he gave $1 million to the [[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press]], the largest single gift received by the organization.<ref name="https">{{cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/4038657/jeff-bezos-just-gave-1-million-to-the-reporters-committee-for-freedom-of-the-press |title=Jeff Bezos just gave $1 million to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |last=Grothaus |first=Michael |date=May 24, 2017 |website=Fast Company|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url= |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref> The committee provides [[pro bono]] legal services to protect the rights of American journalists.<ref name="https" /> In an interview at the [[George W. Bush Presidential Center]] later that month, Bezos voiced his attraction to engaging in strategic philanthropy to address [[Structural inequality|systemic inequalities]] rather than outright [[Charity (practice)|charity]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/worlds-richest-man-jeff-bezos-future-plans-space-tour-philanthropy-more/articleshow/64016666.cms |title=World's richest man Jeff Bezos' future plans: Space tour, philanthropy & more - Times of India |last=Hersh |first=Kenneth |date=May 3, 2018 |work=The Times of India|access-date=June 20, 2018 |quote=Mental incapacity issues are a very hard-to-cure problem, serious drug addiction, a very hard-to-cure problem, but there's another bucket of homelessness which is transient homelessness, which is a woman with kids, the father runs away, and he was the only person providing any income and they have no support system, they have no family. That's transient homelessness. You can really help that person. And you by the way, only need to help them for like six to nine months, you get them trained, you get them a job, they're perfectly productive members of society.}}</ref> On June 15, 2017, he sent a message on [[Twitter]] asking for ideas for philanthropy: "I'm thinking about a philanthropy strategy that is the opposite of how I mostly spend my time—working on the long term".<ref name="Frank" /> At the time of the post, Bezos's lifetime spending on charitable causes was estimated to be $100 million.<ref name="Frank" /> Multiple journalists responded by asking Bezos to pay higher wages to Amazon warehouse workers.<ref name="guardian-stingy" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jeff-bezos-workers_us_59a7220fe4b07e81d354e6e3|first=Frederick|last=Kunkle|title=Jeff Bezos wants to give more money to charity. He should pay his workers first.|publisher=The Huffington Post|date=2017-09-01|accessdate=2018-09-19}}</ref> A year later in June, he tweeted that he would announce two philanthropic foci by the end of summer 2018.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |url=http://observer.com/2018/06/what-has-jeff-bezos-chosen-to-spend-his-140b-on-we-have-4-guesses/ |title=What Has Jeff Bezos Chosen to Spend His $140B On? We Have 4 Guesses. |last=Cao |first=Sissi |date=June 6, 2018 |work=Observer|access-date=June 6, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> An analysis of all 50,000 comments on the post concluded four areas of interest for Bezos' upcoming philanthropy: [[health care]], education, [[Workplace wellness|workplace rights]], and environmentalism.<ref name=":3" />
In January 2018, he made a $33 million donation to TheDream.US, a college scholarship fund for [[Illegal immigration to the United States|undocumented immigrants]] who were brought to the United States when they were minors.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/01/12/jeff-bezos-donates-33-million-to-scholarship-fund-for-dreamers/ |title=Jeff Bezos donates $33 million to scholarship fund for 'dreamers' |last1=O'Keefe |first1=Ed |last2=Anderson |first2=Nick |date=January 12, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> In June 2018, Bezos donated to [[Bill Gates]]' [[Breakthrough Energy Ventures]], a private philanthropic coalition aimed at promoting [[Sustainable energy|emissions-free energy]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/backed-bill-gates-jeff-bezos-breakthrough-energy-ventures-places-first-bets-power-storage/ |title=Backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, Breakthrough Energy Ventures places first bets on power storage |last=Boyle |first=Alan |date=June 18, 2018 |work=GeekWire|access-date=June 18, 2018 |language=en-US |quote=We are committed to doing our part and filling this capital need by coming together in a new coalition. We will form a network of private capital committed to building a structure that will allow informed decisions to help accelerate the change to the advanced energy future our planet needs. Success requires a partnership of increased government research, with a transparent and workable structure to objectively evaluate those projects, and committed private-sector investors willing to support the innovative ideas that come out of the public research pipeline.}}</ref> Bezos announced in September 2018 that he would deploy approximately $2 billion to a fund tasked with alleviating [[Homelessness in the United States|American homelessness]] and establishing a network of non-profit [[Preschool|preschools]] for low income communities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/sep/13/amazon-jeff-bezos-philanthropy-day-one-fund|title=Jeff Bezos to fund schools where 'child will be the customer' with new charity|last=Levin|first=Sam|date=September 13, 2018|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=September 13, 2018}}</ref> He established the "Day 1 Families Fund" to finance "[[Homeless shelter|night shelters]] and [[Child care|day care centers]] for homeless families" and the "Day 1 Academies Fund" for [[early childhood education]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/jeff-bezos-to-create-2-billion-fund-for-homeless-preschools-1536856739|title=Jeff Bezos to Create $2 Billion Fund for Homeless, Preschools|last=Stevens|first=Laura|date=September 13, 2018|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 13, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelauyeung/2018/09/13/jeff-bezos-amazon-philanthropy-giving-billion-dollar-fund/#2fc2c0171570|title=Jeff Bezos Unveils Multibillion-Dollar Plans For Charitable Giving|last=Au-Yeung|first=Angel|date=September 13, 2018|work=Forbes|access-date=September 13, 2018|language=en}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[List of Princeton University people|List of Princeton University alumni]]
* [[Time Person of the Year#Persons of the Year|List of ''Time Person of the Year'' recipients]]
{{Portal bar|Biography|Spaceflight|4=Internet|5=Technology|6=Health and fitness|7=Business|8=Washington}}
== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== Sources ==<!-- Sources used in article by way of footnotes. -->
* {{cite book |title=Jeff Bezos: Amazon.com Architect |first=Tom |last=Robinson |year=2010 |publisher=ABDO Publishing |isbn=9781604537598}}
== Further reading ==
<!--Long, in-depth profiles about Bezos either in book, online, or article formats. Follow established citation format.-->
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* Davenport, Christian. ''The Space Barons; Elon Musk. Jeff Bezos, and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos''. PublicAffairs (2018). {{ISBN|978-1610398299}}
* Fernholz, Tim. ''Rocket Billionaires: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and the New Space Race''. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2018). {{ISBN|978-1-328-66223-1}}
* {{cite book |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-interview-axel-springer-ceo-amazon-trump-blue-origin-family-regulation-washington-post-2018-4 |title=Jeff Bezos reveals what it’s like to build an empire |last=Döpfner |first=Mathias S. |publisher=Business Insider |date=March 28, 2018 |accessdate=April 29, 2018}}
* {{cite book |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2018/04/22/inside-jeff-bezos-dc-life/ |title=Inside Jeff Bezos’s Washington D.C. Life |last=Wofford |first=Ben |publisher=Washingtonian |date=April 22, 2018 |accessdate=April 29, 2018}}
* {{cite book |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/12/technology/jeff-bezos-amazon.html |title=Jeff Bezos, Mr. Amazon, Steps Out |last=Wingfield |first=Nick |publisher=The New York Times |date=January 12, 2018 |accessdate=April 29, 2018}}
* {{cite book |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/jeff-bezos-isdc-space-vision/ |title=Jeff Bezos: ‘We will have to leave this planet … and it’s going to make this planet better’ |last=Boyle |first=Alan |publisher=Geek Wire |date=May 29, 2018 |accessdate=May 31, 2018}}
{{Refend}}
== External links ==
{{Sister project links|wikt=no|commons=Category:Jeff Bezos|n=Jeff Bezos|q=Jeff Bezos|s=no|b=no|voy=no|v=no|d=No|species=no}}
* {{TED speaker}}
* {{C-SPAN|jeffbezos}}
* {{Charlie Rose view|2495}}
* {{Worldcat id|lccn-n99-280137}}
* {{NYT topic|people/b/jeffrey_p_bezos}}
* [http://www.bezosexpeditions.com/ Bezos Expeditions]
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