Sorry, Bill: Jeff Bezos is now the richest person in history
Jan 9, 2018, 8:20 AM | Updated: 8:24 am
Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon.com. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
Jeff Bezos’ net worth reached more than $105.1 billion as Amazon’s shares surpassed $1,245, making the Amazon founder the richest person in history.
The majority of Bezos’ wealth comes from the 79 million shares of Amazon stock he owns.
Amazon has a market value of approximately $600 billion.
Shares of Amazon are up about 7 percent this year after rising 56 percent in 2017.
It’s worth noting that Bill Gates, now the second richest person in the world, would have a net worth of $150 billion if not for the assets he’s contributed to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bloomberg reports. Gates has a net worth of $93.3 billion.
In July, Bezos briefly surpassed Gates as the world’s richest person when his net worth topped $90 billion. He moved ahead of Gates again in October. Bezos saw his net worth reach the $100 billion mark in November.
Analysts believe Amazon’s best holiday season ever helped push Bezos’ wealth to where it is today.
Bezos founded Amazon in 1995. The company started as a small online retailer selling mostly books. Since then, the company has transformed how people shop, sending revenue numbers soaring while causing other retailers to suffer.
In June, Amazon purchased Whole Foods. That purchase was made as the company tests Amazon Go, a brick-and-mortar store that utilizes technology in lieu of checkout counters.
There have been recent rumors that Amazon was eyeing Target as its next purchase, though some have called the move unlikely.
Analysts at Piper Jaffray say the company still has plenty of room to grow, even after Amazon finished its “best shopping season to date.”
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