Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com Inc., has sold 12 million shares of the company’s stock, earning over $2 billion in the process. This is the first time Bezos has sold Amazon shares since 2021.
The sales took place on Wednesday and Thursday and were part of Bezos’ plan to sell as many as 50 million shares over the next year. The stock surge in Amazon has put Bezos within reach of becoming the world’s richest person.
Bezos’ fortune has seen a significant increase this year, rising to $199.5 billion as of Friday, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. This represents a $22.6 billion climb in his wealth.
Since 2002, Bezos has sold over $30 billion in shares, with approximately $20 billion sold in the past two years. However, he has also been actively gifting stock, including shares worth approximately $230 million to nonprofit organizations in November.
This recent stock sale comes as Bezos steps down as CEO of Amazon and transitions to the role of Executive Chairman. He will focus on his other ventures, including Blue Origin, his space exploration company. Bezos’ wealth and influence continue to be closely watched in the business world.
With this sale, Bezos has made a significant financial move and is poised to further shape his legacy in the business and technology realms. The market will be closely monitoring his future stock sales and investments.
