Amazon CEO and founder, Jeff Bezos, is just $5 million away from becoming the richest person in the world. According to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Bezos is the second wealthiest in the world, and Bill Gates the founder of Microsoft, is the first.
Bezos, 53, started Amazon, which is based in Seattle Washington, back in 1994 as an online bookstore– 22 years later his company sells millions of different products, making it now the world’s largest online retailer. The companies latest business move was the acquisition of organic grocery chain Whole Foods for $13.7 billion in cash, this past Friday. The deal values Whole Foods at $42 a share, 27 percent higher than where the stock was trading Thursday, CNN reported. Amazon says Whole Food Stores will continue operating under the same name as s separate unit of the company. John Mackey the CEO of Whole Foods, will continue to lead the company and it will keep its headquarters in Austin, Texas. “Millions of people love Whole Foods Market because they offer the best natural and organic foods, and they make it fun to eat healthy,” Bezos said, CNN reported.
The new purchase not only shows that Amazon is aiming to operate more traditional brick-and-mortar stores but also how Bezos is aggressively expanding his brand. Right now Amazon has bookstores located states like New Jersey, New York, California, Illinois, Oregon, Washington and in two locations in Massachusetts. The company also plans to expand to two three more locations in California, and another in New Y0rk and Washington. And while Amazon is investing in physical stores, the company is also coming up with ways to keep their online customers happy as well. Just last week Amazon introduced Amazon Reload, a rewards program, and last month they announced that they would be offering discounts to Prime Members receiving government assistance.
In May Amazon’s stock hit the $1,000 mark for the first time ever, putting it among just 14 other U.S companies that have shares trading above $1,000. Jeff Bezos who currently has a total net worth of $85.2 billion, may have a good shot of reaching the number one spot. Bill Gates who currently has a total net worth of $90.0 billion is in number one spot. Even though Gates is no longer the CEO of Microsoft– he stepped down in 2000– he still owns more than 2 percent of the technology company, which is headquartered in Redmond, Washington.
Besides Microsoft, Gates is also well known for his philanthropic pursuits. Along with his wife Melinda Gates and his close friend Warren Buffet– the owner of Berkshire Hathaway and the fourth richest person in the world– he created The Giving Pledge. The Pledge is an open invitation that asks billionaires from across the world to donate a majority of their wealth to charity during their lifetime.
Although Bezos is not a member, he has some philanthropic pursuits of his own. Just a few days ago he tweeted for philanthropic ideas. “This tweet is a request for ideas. I’m thinking about a philanthropy strategy that is the opposite of how I mostly spend my time– working on the long term,” he said. “But I’m thinking I want my philanthropic activity to be helping people in the here and now– short term– at the intersection of urgent and lasting impact. If you have ideas, just reply to this tweet with the idea (and if you think this approach is wrong, would love to hear that too.)
Besides Amazon, Bezos is also the founder of Blue Origins, a private company that is building technology that would allow private human access to space and with the goal to dramatically lower costs and increase reliability. He is also the owner of the Washington Post, which he purchased in 2013. Bezos is moving swiftly in the business world, so that number one spot may not be too far from his reach.
Feature Image via Doc Searls
