Jeffrey Preston Bezos, born on January 12, 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is an American businessman and the founder of Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce and cloud computing company. He has been recognized as the richest person in modern history, with a net worth reaching approximately $284 billion in 2026, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index and Forbes. Bezos's journey from a curious child building gadgets in his grandparents' garage to a titan of industry has reshaped global commerce, media, and space exploration.

Bezos was raised in Houston and Miami, where his early fascination with technology and science was evident. After graduating from Princeton University in 1986 with a degree in engineering, he worked on Wall Street in various roles related to computer science and finance from 1986 to early 1994. During this time, he honed his analytical skills and developed a keen understanding of the internet's potential for commerce. In mid-1994, Bezos founded Amazon during a road trip from New York City to Seattle, initially operating as an online bookstore. The company rapidly expanded into a vast array of e-commerce products and services, including video and audio streaming, cloud computing through Amazon Web Services, and artificial intelligence. Amazon is now the largest online sales company globally, the largest internet company by revenue, and a dominant force in cloud infrastructure.

Beyond Amazon, Bezos founded the aerospace manufacturer Blue Origin in 2000, with a vision to make space travel more accessible. In July 2021, he flew into space aboard Blue Origin NS-16, marking a milestone in his personal and professional ambitions. He also purchased The Washington Post in 2013, revitalizing the major American newspaper and steering it through the digital age. Through his venture capital firm, Bezos Expeditions, he manages a diverse portfolio of investments spanning technology, healthcare, and media. In July 2018, his net worth surged to $150 billion, making him the first centibillionaire on the Forbes Real Time Billionaires Index. On July 5, 2021, Bezos stepped down as CEO and president of Amazon, transitioning to the role of executive chairman, with Andy Jassy, the former CEO of Amazon Web Services, taking over the helm.