Jeff Bezos
Left a Wall Street job at 30 to sell books online; funded initially by his own savings and his parents.
Jeff Bezos was born in 1964 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, US. Jeff Bezos's background is described as Born to a teenage mother; raised by her and his Cuban immigrant stepfather. Growing up, the family was middle class — born to a 17-year-old mother; raised middle class after she married Miguel Bezos, an Exxon engineer who had emigrated from Cuba. Left a Wall Street job at 30 to sell books online; funded initially by his own savings and his parents.
- Born
- 1964 · Albuquerque, New Mexico, US
- Roots
- Born to a teenage mother; raised by her and his Cuban immigrant stepfather
- Family
- Middle class
- Born to a 17-year-old mother; raised middle class after she married Miguel Bezos, an Exxon engineer who had emigrated from Cuba.
- Education
- Princeton University (electrical engineering and computer science)
- Started with
- ~$300K
- His own ~$10K plus roughly $245K invested by his parents in 1995.
- Affiliations & societies
- Bilderberg MeetingsDocumented
- Listed as a participant on the group's published attendee lists (2011, 2013).
- Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.
The pathway
- 1986 · age 22Princeton degree
Turns down graduate physics for computer science; joins Wall Street firms.
- 1990 · age 26D. E. Shaw
Becomes a senior vice president at the hedge fund by 30.
- 1994 · age 30Incorporates Amazon$10K
Leaves D. E. Shaw after the firm passes on the online-bookstore idea; starts in a Seattle-area garage.
- 1995 · age 31Parents invest$245K
Their stake comes from retirement savings.
- 1997 · age 33IPO$54M raised
Amazon lists three years after founding.
- 2000 · age 36Founds Blue Origin
Funds the rocket company by selling Amazon stock.
- 2018 · age 54Ranked world's richest person
Per Forbes.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Jeff Bezos from?
Jeff Bezos was born in 1964 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, US. Their background is described as Born to a teenage mother; raised by her and his Cuban immigrant stepfather.
When was Jeff Bezos born?
Jeff Bezos was born in 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, US.
What is Jeff Bezos's background or ethnicity?
Jeff Bezos's roots are described as Born to a teenage mother; raised by her and his Cuban immigrant stepfather. These are broad categories drawn from public sources, not statements about how the person identifies.
Where did Jeff Bezos go to school?
Jeff Bezos's education: Princeton University (electrical engineering and computer science).
What was Jeff Bezos's family background growing up?
At birth the family was middle class. Born to a 17-year-old mother; raised middle class after she married Miguel Bezos, an Exxon engineer who had emigrated from Cuba.
How did Jeff Bezos get started?
Jeff Bezos started with ~$300K. His own ~$10K plus roughly $245K invested by his parents in 1995.
Sources
Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.