Seattle, WA – Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made headlines this week by unloading 12 million shares of the company’s stock, marking his first stock sale since 2021. The sales, which took place on Wednesday and Thursday, resulted in Bezos netting just over $2 billion, according to a filing.
This move comes after Amazon disclosed Bezos’ plans to sell up to 50 million shares of the company over the next 12 months. This potential cashing in on a stock surge could see Bezos becoming the world’s richest person, as his fortune has already climbed $22.6 billion this year to a total of $199.5 billion as of Friday, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
It’s important to note that Bezos has a history of selling shares, having sold over $30 billion in shares since records going back to 2002. This includes approximately $20 billion combined in 2020 and 2021. However, it’s worth mentioning that he has also been gifting stock, such as shares worth roughly $230 million that were given to nonprofit organizations in November.
When reached for comment, Amazon declined to provide a statement regarding Bezos’ recent stock sales. This move has certainly captured the attention of many, as it could potentially have a significant impact on Amazon’s stock and Bezos’ ranking among the world’s wealthiest individuals.
Overall, Bezos’ latest move reflects the ever-changing dynamics of the stock market and the noteworthy actions of one of the world’s most influential business leaders.