Jeffrey Preston Bezos, born in 1964, is the founder of Amazon. He also owns Blue Origin and The Washington Post. Bezos is known for his immense wealth, being the second wealthiest person globally.
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, was born on January 12, 1964.
1968-04-22
Divorce of Jeff Bezos' Parents
After Jacklyn divorced Ted, she married Cuban immigrant Miguel 'Mike' Bezos in April 1968.
1986
Jeff Bezos Graduates from Princeton University
In 1986, Jeff Bezos graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University with degrees in electrical engineering and computer science, laying the foundation for his future endeavors.
1990
Jeff Bezos Joins D.E. Shaw & Co.
In 1990, Jeff Bezos joined the New York investment bank D.E. Shaw & Co., where he explored the investment possibilities of the Internet, igniting his entrepreneurial spirit.
1992
Meeting MacKenzie Tuttle
In 1992, while Bezos was working for D. E. Shaw in Manhattan, he met novelist MacKenzie Tuttle, who was a research associate at the firm; the couple married a year later.
1993
Marriage to MacKenzie Tuttle
Bezos met novelist MacKenzie Tuttle while working for D. E. Shaw in Manhattan. The couple married in 1993.
1994-07-05
Founding of Amazon
Bezos decided to establish an online bookstore. He left his job at D. E. Shaw and founded Amazon in his garage on July 5, 1994.
1994-07-14
Founding of Amazon
Jeff Bezos founded Amazon as an online bookstore on July 14, 1994, which became a significant milestone in his career.
1995-07
Amazon.com Sells First Book
In July 1995, Amazon.com, founded by Jeff Bezos, sold its first book, marking the beginning of its journey as an online retailer.
1997-05
Bezos becomes a millionaire through Amazon's IPO
In 1997, Jeff Bezos became a millionaire after raising $54 million through Amazon's initial public offering (IPO). This marked a significant financial milestone in his career.
1998
Diversification of Amazon
In 1998, Jeff Bezos diversified Amazon into the online sale of music and video, and later expanded the company's products to include a variety of other consumer goods. This marked a significant expansion of Amazon's offerings beyond being just an online bookstore.
1999
Jeff Bezos' Net Worth and Forbes 400 Ranking
In 1999, Jeff Bezos' net worth increased to $7.8 billion, and he was ranked #18 on The Forbes 400 list of richest Americans. This significant rise in net worth further solidified Bezos' position as a prominent figure in the business world during the dot-com era.
2000-09
Founding of Blue Origin
In September 2000, Bezos founded Blue Origin, a human spaceflight startup company.
2002
Launch of Amazon Web Services
In 2002, Jeff Bezos led Amazon to launch Amazon Web Services, which compiled data from weather channels and website traffic. This marked a significant expansion of Amazon's services beyond just being an online retailer.
2003-03
Helicopter Crash
In March 2003, Bezos was a passenger in a helicopter that crashed in West Texas while surveying land to buy for Blue Origin; all occupants survived with Bezos sustaining only minor injuries.
2005
Launch of Amazon Prime
In 2005, Jeff Bezos launches Amazon Prime, offering customers unlimited two-day shipping for an annual fee. The program faces skepticism about its potential success and the operational costs for Amazon.
2007-11-19
Introduction of the Kindle
Jeff Bezos introduces the Kindle, a $399 e-reader with access to a wide range of reading materials. It quickly sells out within six hours of release.
2008
U.S. News & World Report Best Leader
In 2008, Bezos was selected as one of America's best leaders by U.S. News & World Report.
2010
Donation Against Washington State Income Tax
Bezos donated to a movement against a Washington state income tax in 2010 for top earners.
2011
The Economist Innovation Award
In 2011, Bezos and Gregg Zehr received an Innovation Award for the Amazon Kindle from The Economist.
2012
Fortune Businessperson of the Year
In 2012, Bezos was named Businessperson of the Year by Fortune.
2013-08-05
Purchase of The Washington Post
On August 5, 2013, Bezos announced his purchase of The Washington Post for $250 million in cash.
2014
Named 'World's Worst Boss'
In May 2014, the International Trade Union Confederation named Bezos the 'World's Worst Boss', with its general secretary Sharan Burrow criticizing Bezos's leadership style.
2015-11
Bezos Briefly Becomes the Richest Person in the World
Three months after introducing the New Shepard, Bezos briefly becomes the richest person in the world for less than four hours.
2016
Heinlein Prize for Advances in Space Commercialization
In September 2016, Bezos received a $250,000 prize for winning the Heinlein Prize for Advances in Space Commercialization.
2017-07-13
Public Appearance with Lauren Sanchez
On July 13, 2017, Jeff Bezos made his first public appearance with his new life partner, Lauren Sanchez.
2017-11-24
Bezos's net worth surpasses $100 billion
On November 24, 2017, Jeff Bezos's net worth surpassed $100 billion for the first time, following a substantial increase in Amazon's share price. This marked a historic achievement in his financial journey.
2018-03-06
Bezos designated the wealthiest person in the world
On March 6, 2018, Jeff Bezos was officially designated the wealthiest person in the world, with a registered net worth of $112 billion. This marked a significant milestone in his financial status and global influence.
2018-11-22
Granting $123 million to organizations
On November 22, 2022, Jeff Bezos awarded $123 million to organizations engaged in relocating homeless families to permanent housing through the Day 1 Families Fund grants.
2019-02-07
Accusation of Extortion and Blackmail
Bezos published an online essay on February 7, 2019, in which he accused American Media, Inc. owner David Pecker of extortion and blackmail for threatening to publish intimate photos of Bezos and current girlfriend Lauren Sánchez.
2019-04-04
Finalization of Divorce
On April 4, 2019, the divorce was finalized, with Bezos keeping 75% of the couple's Amazon stock and MacKenzie getting the remaining 25% in Amazon stock.
2020-02
Pledging $10 billion for combating climate change
In February 2020, Jeff Bezos pledged $10 billion for combating climate change through his Earth Fund, demonstrating his commitment to environmental initiatives.
2020-04
Donation to Feeding America
In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bezos donated $100 million to food banks through Feeding America.
2021-02-02
Jeff Bezos Announces Transition from CEO to Executive Chairman of Amazon Board
On February 2, 2021, Jeff Bezos sent an email to all Amazon employees, announcing his decision to step down from his role as CEO of Amazon to become the Executive Chairman of the Amazon Board.
2021-07-05
Stepping down as Amazon CEO
On July 5, 2021, Jeff Bezos stepped down as the CEO of Amazon, marking a significant transition in his career.
2021-11-22
Donation to Obama Foundation
On November 22, 2021, Jeff Bezos donated $100 million to the Obama Foundation to help expand the scope of programming that reaches emerging leaders, and requested the Obama Presidential Center's plaza to be named after John Lewis.
2022-01-19
Launch of Altos Labs
On January 19, 2022, Altos Labs launched with a start capital of $3 billion and an executive team led by Hal Barron.
2023-05-22
Engagement to Lauren Sánchez
On May 22, 2023, Sánchez and Bezos became engaged.
2024-02-16
Jeff Bezos $8.5bn Share Sale
Jeff Bezos completes a $8.5 billion share sale plan, marking a significant financial move for the Amazon founder.