When you think of Amazon, it’s almost impossible not to think of its founder, Jeff Bezos. He started the company in his garage and built it into the global retail and technology giant it is today. But as the company grew and sold shares to the public to raise money, his slice of the ownership pie naturally changed. So, just how much of this behemoth does the man who started it all still own?
The Changing Size of Bezos’s Amazon Stake
Jeff Bezos’s ownership percentage is not a static number. When Amazon first went public in 1997, Bezos owned a massive 41% of the company. Over the decades, that figure has steadily decreased. This is a common path for founders. As a company issues more shares to investors and employees, the founder’s relative share gets diluted. Furthermore, Bezos has sold billions of dollars worth of his shares over the years to fund other ventures, like his space company Blue Origin, and philanthropic efforts.
A Look at the Current Numbers
As of mid-2024, Jeff Bezos owns approximately 9% of Amazon’s outstanding shares. While this might sound like a small percentage, it’s crucial to remember the sheer scale of Amazon’s valuation. That 9% stake is worth well over $150 billion, making him one of the richest people in the world. Even with a single-digit ownership percentage, his influence remains profound, and he is still the company’s largest individual shareholder.
What This Level of Ownership Means
Owning nearly one-tenth of a company like Amazon comes with significant power and influence. Despite stepping down as CEO in 2021, Bezos remains the Executive Chairman of Amazon’s board. His large shareholding gives him substantial voting power on major company decisions, from strategic acquisitions to executive appointments. His vision and input continue to shape Amazon’s long-term direction.
Jeff Bezos’s journey from owning 41% to around 9% of Amazon tells a story of massive company growth and personal wealth diversification. While his percentage ownership is a fraction of what it once was, the value and influence of that stake are greater than ever. It’s a powerful reminder that in the world of investing and company building, sometimes a smaller piece of a much larger pie is the ultimate sign of success.
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