Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon has become the first person to top $200 billion in net worth on Wednesday, according to Forbes’ real-time data on billionaires.
Bezos, 56, owns 11% of Amazon’s stock, which has increased amid the coronavirus pandemic as people sheltered at home and demand for e-commerce soared.
“As of 1:50 p.m., EDT on Wednesday, the Amazon founder and CEO is worth $204.6 billion—nearly $90 billion more than the world’s second-richest person, Bill Gates, who’s currently worth $116.1 billion.
“Even adjusting for inflation, Forbes believes Bezos’ fortune is the largest ever amassed. The person to come closest: Bill Gates, who was the world’s first-ever centibillionaire. Near the height of the dot-com bubble, when Microsoft reached its then-peak in 1999, Gates’ net worth surpassed $100 billion, roughly $158 billion in today’s dollars.
“Fueled by the change in consumer habits as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Amazon stock is up nearly 80% since the beginning of the year, and Bezos’ net worth, which was roughly $115 billion on January 1, has skyrocketed in tandem.
“Jeff Bezos roughly 11% stake in Amazon makes up more than 90% of his fortune. He also owns the Washington Post, aerospace company Blue Origin and other private investments.”
