- Jeff Bezos was born as Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen on January 12, 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to a teenage mother and his biological father.
- Jeff Bezos’s mother remarried Mike Bezos, a Cuban immigrant, when Jeff was four years old. Mike adopted Jeff and gave him his surname.
- Jeff Bezos showed an early interest in science and technology. He set up a science lab in his garage, rigged an electric alarm to keep his siblings out of his room, and dismantled his crib with a screwdriver when he was a toddler.
- Jeff Bezos developed the Dream Institute, a center that promoted creative thinking in young students, when he was still in high school.
- Jeff Bezos graduated as valedictorian from Miami Palmetto Senior High School in 1982. He also won a Silver Knight Award, a prestigious honor for students in South Florida.
- Jeff Bezos studied electrical engineering and computer science at Princeton University and graduated summa cum laude in 1986.
- Jeff Bezos worked at several jobs before joining the New York investment bank D.E. Shaw & Co. in 1990. He worked as a short-order cook, a retail salesperson, a computer programmer, and a customer service representative.
- Jeff Bezos became the youngest senior vice president at D.E. Shaw & Co. in 1994. He was in charge of examining the investment possibilities of the Internet.
- Jeff Bezos quit his job at D.E. Shaw & Co. and moved to Seattle, Washington, in 1994 to start his own online bookstore. He incorporated the company as Amazon.com that same year.
- Jeff Bezos named his company after the Amazon River, the largest river in the world by volume. He also liked that the name started with an A, which would help it rank higher in alphabetical listings.
- Jeff Bezos sold his first book on Amazon.com in July 1995. It was a copy of Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies: Computer Models of the Fundamental Mechanisms of Thought by Douglas Hofstadter.
- Jeff Bezos expanded Amazon.com’s product offerings beyond books to include music, videos, electronics, clothing, toys, and more. He also introduced features such as customer reviews, personalized recommendations, and one-click ordering.
- Jeff Bezos took Amazon.com public in 1997 with an initial public offering (IPO) of $18 per share. The stock price soared to $300 per share by 1998 and reached $2,000 per share by 2018.
- Jeff Bezos became the richest person in the world in 2017 when his net worth surpassed $100 billion for the first time. He reached a peak net worth of $200 billion in 2020 before dropping to $187.7 billion as of May 2023.
- Jeff Bezos founded Blue Origin, a space exploration company, in 2000. He has a vision of enabling millions of people to live and work in space.
- Jeff Bezos bought The Washington Post, one of the most influential newspapers in the U.S., for $250 million in 2013. He has invested in improving the digital capabilities and reach of the paper.
- Jeff Bezos has donated billions of dollars to various causes and organizations through his philanthropic efforts. He has supported education, homelessness, climate change, health care, arts and culture, and more.
- Jeff Bezos has received numerous awards and honors for his achievements and innovations. He has been named Time magazine’s Person of the Year (1999), Fortune magazine’s Businessperson of the Year (2012), Harvard Business Review’s Best-Performing CEO in the World (2014), and Axel Springer Award’s recipient (2018), among others.
- Jeff Bezos has four children, three sons and one daughter, with his ex-wife MacKenzie Scott. They were married from 1993 to 2019 and had one of the most expensive divorces in history, with Scott receiving $38 billion worth of Amazon shares.
- Jeff Bezos is dating Lauren Sanchez, a former TV anchor and helicopter pilot, since 2019. They have been spotted together at various events and locations, such as the Oscars, Wimbledon, and St. Barth’s.
- Jeff Bezos owns several properties across the U.S., including a ranch in Texas, a lake house in Washington, a mansion in Beverly Hills, a penthouse in New York, and a historic estate in Washington, D.C.
- Jeff Bezos is a fan of Star Trek and has a cameo as a Starfleet official in the 2016 film Star Trek Beyond. He also named his dog Kamala after a character from the series.
- Jeff Bezos has a collection of exotic cars, such as a Ferrari Pininfarina Sergio, a Lamborghini Veneno, a Bugatti Veyron, and a McLaren F1. He also owns a Gulfstream G650ER private jet.
- Jeff Bezos has an unusual laugh, which has been described as loud, high-pitched, and contagious. He has said that he likes to laugh because it is “the sign of a good soul”.
- Jeff Bezos has a strict morning routine, which includes waking up naturally without an alarm clock, reading the newspaper, having breakfast with his family, and avoiding early meetings. He also likes to do high-IQ tasks before noon and low-IQ tasks after lunch.
- Jeff Bezos follows two pizza rule, which means that he prefers to have meetings with small teams that can be fed with two pizzas. He believes that this helps to foster creativity and productivity.
- Jeff Bezos is obsessed with customer satisfaction, which he considers to be the key to Amazon’s success. He has said that “the most important single thing is to focus obsessively on the customer” and “if you’re not customer-centric, you’re going to lose”.
- Jeff Bezos has a 10,000-year clock, which is a mechanical timepiece that is designed to tick once a year for 10 millennia. He funded the project with $42 million and installed it inside a mountain in Texas. He hopes that the clock will inspire long-term thinking and responsibility for future generations.
- Jeff Bezos has an octopus named Zola, which he keeps in his office aquarium. He admires the intelligence and adaptability of the creature, which can change its shape, color, and texture.
- Jeff Bezos has a motto: “Gradatim Ferociter”, which means “step by step, ferociously” in Latin. He uses this phrase to describe his approach to achieving his goals with determination and passion.
Top 10 Inspirational Quotes From Jeff Bezos
- “If you never want to be criticized, for goodness sake don’t do anything new.” This quote shows that Jeff Bezos is not afraid of taking risks and facing challenges. He encourages people to be innovative and creative, even if it means facing criticism or failure.
- “What’s dangerous is not to evolve.” This quote reflects Jeff Bezos’s belief in the importance of adapting and changing with the times. He warns that staying stagnant and complacent can lead to irrelevance and decline.
- “If you’re competitor-focused, you have to wait until there is a competitor doing something. Being customer-focused allows you to be more pioneering.” This quote reveals Jeff Bezos’s strategy of focusing on the customer rather than the competitor. He believes that by understanding and satisfying the customer’s needs and wants, he can create value and differentiation for his business.
- “There are two kinds of companies, those that work to try to charge more and those that work to charge less. We will be the second.” This quote demonstrates Jeff Bezos’s commitment to offering low prices and high quality to his customers. He believes that by charging less, he can attract more customers and generate more revenue and profit.
- “If you double the number of experiments you do per year you’re going to double your inventiveness.” This quote illustrates Jeff Bezos’s passion for experimentation and innovation. He encourages people to try new things and learn from their mistakes. He believes that by experimenting more, he can discover new opportunities and solutions.
- “Life’s too short to hang out with people who aren’t resourceful.” This quote expresses Jeff Bezos’s preference for working with people who are smart, creative, and problem-solving. He values people who can think on their feet and overcome obstacles. He avoids people who are lazy, negative, or dependent.
- “Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.” This quote emphasizes Jeff Bezos’s awareness of the importance of reputation and image. He understands that his brand is not only what he says or does, but also what others say or think about him. He strives to build a positive and trustworthy brand for himself and his company.
- “We are stubborn on vision. We are flexible on details….” This quote highlights Jeff Bezos’s balance between vision and execution. He has a clear and ambitious vision of what he wants to achieve, but he is also willing to adjust and adapt to changing circumstances and feedback. He does not let minor details distract him from his big goals.
- “To get something new done you have to be stubborn and focused, to the point that others might find unreasonable.” This quote reveals Jeff Bezos’s determination and perseverance in pursuing his ideas and projects. He does not give up easily or listen to naysayers. He follows his intuition and conviction, even if it means being unpopular or unconventional.
- “The smartest people are constantly revising their understanding, reconsidering a problem they thought they’d already solved. They’re open to new points of view, new information, new ideas, contradictions, and challenges to their own way of thinking.” This quote shows Jeff Bezos’s humility and curiosity in learning and growing. He does not claim to know everything or have all the answers. He is always open to new perspectives and insights that can help him improve his understanding and solutions.
Top 10 Jeff Bezos Myths
- Jeff Bezos is destroying independent booksellers. This myth blames Jeff Bezos for the decline of independent bookstores and the rise of online retailing. However, this trend was largely underway before Amazon was founded in 1995. Amazon is not the only factor that has affected the book industry, and some independent booksellers have chosen to partner with Amazon rather than fight it.
- Jeff Bezos’s biggest competitors are other big retailers such as Wal-Mart. This myth assumes that Jeff Bezos is only interested in selling physical goods online. However, Jeff Bezos has a much broader vision and strategy that encompasses digital products, web services, media, and space exploration. He competes with companies such as Apple, Google, Netflix, and SpaceX.
- Jeff Bezos bought The Washington Post to influence politics. This myth suggests that Jeff Bezos has a hidden agenda or ulterior motive for acquiring one of the most influential newspapers in the U.S. However, Jeff Bezos has said that he bought The Washington Post as an act of civic duty and philanthropy, and that he respects the editorial independence and integrity of the paper.
- Jeff Bezos is stingy and does not give enough to charity. This myth accuses Jeff Bezos of being selfish and greedy, and not sharing his wealth with worthy causes and organizations. However, Jeff Bezos has donated billions of dollars to various causes and organizations through his philanthropic efforts. He has supported education, homelessness, climate change, health care, arts and culture, and more.
- Jeff Bezos is a genius who knows everything. This myth idolizes Jeff Bezos as a superhuman who has all the answers and never makes mistakes. However, Jeff Bezos is humble and curious in learning and growing. He does not claim to know everything or have all the solutions. He is always open to new perspectives and insights that can help him improve his understanding and outcomes.
- Jeff Bezos is a workaholic who does not have a life outside work. This myth portrays Jeff Bezos as a driven and obsessed person who sacrifices his personal life for his professional success. However, Jeff Bezos has a balanced and healthy lifestyle that includes spending time with his family, friends, and hobbies. He also has a strict morning routine that helps him start his day well.
- Jeff Bezos is ruthless and does not care about his employees or customers. This myth depicts Jeff Bezos as a cold and heartless leader who exploits his workers and customers for his own benefit. However, Jeff Bezos is obsessed with customer satisfaction, which he considers to be the key to Amazon’s success. He also values his employees and encourages them to be innovative and creative.
- Jeff Bezos is a visionary who can predict the future. This myth credits Jeff Bezos with having a crystal ball that allows him to foresee the trends and opportunities in the market. However, Jeff Bezos does not rely on predictions or assumptions, but on experimentation and data. He tests his ideas and hypotheses with real customers and feedback.
- Jeff Bezos is a loner who does not need anyone’s help or advice. This myth isolates Jeff Bezos as a solitary figure who does everything by himself and does not listen to anyone else’s opinions or suggestions. However, Jeff Bezos is a team player who collaborates with others and seeks diverse perspectives. He also has mentors and role models who have influenced his thinking and actions.
- Jeff Bezos is a rebel who does not follow any rules or norms. This myth celebrates Jeff Bezos as a maverick who breaks all the conventions and expectations of society and business. However, Jeff Bezos does follow some rules and norms that he considers important and beneficial. He also respects the laws and regulations that govern his activities.
Jeff Bezos Net Worth
Jeff Bezos’s net worth is 149.36 billion USD as of June 14, 2023. However, this number may vary depending on the source and the date. For example, according to Wikipedia, Jeff Bezos had a net worth exceeding $200 billion in August 2020. According to Forbes, Jeff Bezos’s real time net worth as of June 20, 2023 is $148.2 billion. Jeff Bezos’s net worth fluctuates depending on the performance of his companies, especially Amazon, and the market conditions. He is currently the third-wealthiest person in the world, behind Elon Musk and Bernard Arnault.
What are some of his investments?
Some of his investments are:
- Airbnb (NASDAQ:ABNB), an online platform where guests can book stays and experiences.
- Uber (NYSE:UBER), a technology company providing ride-hailing, food delivery, and package delivery services.
- Twitter (NYSE:TWTR), a social media company.
- Business Insider, a financial and business news website.
- Nextdoor, a social networking service for neighborhoods.
- Overtime, a sports media company that distributes sports content on social media and sells apparel.
- Pilot, a cloud-based accounting service for startups and small businesses.
- La Haus, an online real estate marketplace operating in Colombia and Mexico.
- Realworld, a mobile app designed to help users navigate adulthood.
These are just some of the companies that Bezos has invested in, in 2022. He has also invested in many other companies and projects over the years, such as Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Workday (NYSE:WDAY), Blue Origin, The Washington Post, and The Bezos Earth Fund.
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