Jeff Bezos, the visionary behind Amazon and renowned as one of the wealthiest individuals globally, recently executed a substantial move in the financial realm. He opted to part ways with a significant portion of his Amazon shares, totaling a staggering 12 million, fetching a handsome sum of $2 billion, which roughly translates to a staggering R$10 billion. This significant transaction unfolded over the course of Wednesday and Thursday, specifically on February 7th and 8th, making headlines across the financial landscape.
Even after this substantial divestment, Bezos still holds a commanding position in Amazon, retaining ownership of over 950 million shares, according to the latest insights from Forbes magazine. While the shares sold represent only a fraction, slightly over 1% of the entire portfolio, Bezos has signaled intentions for further liquidation. His strategy entails offloading an additional 38 million shares by the outset of 2015, further solidifying his plans to reduce his holdings to a total of 50 million shares.
At present, Bezos stands as the largest individual stakeholder in Amazon, boasting a formidable 9.4% ownership of the tech giant, as per Forbes’ estimates. While his ownership stake was once significantly higher at 42%, Bezos gradually divested over time, with a considerable portion being contributed to philanthropic causes. Remarkably, this recent move marks the first instance in two years where Bezos has chosen to trim his Amazon holdings. Despite the substantial divestment, Bezos has kept his future plans regarding his reduced stake within the company under wraps.
In terms of wealth, Bezos’s fortunes continue to soar, with Bloomberg’s billionaire ranking estimating his net worth at an astounding $199 billion, a figure that nearly eclipses the trillion-Real mark. This financial maneuver underscores Bezos’s strategic acumen and financial prowess, cementing his status as a titan in the world of business and technology.