jeff-bezos-becomes-world’s-first-person-worth-$200-billion

Jeff Bezos Becomes World’s First Person Worth $200 Billion

Jeff Bezos is now not only the richest man in the world, but the first person to have a net worth of $200 billion. During the span of 2020, the Amazon CEO has seen his net wealth almost triple with an increase from $74 billion to over $200 billion.

The acceleration of Bezos’ net worth stems from Amazon’s stock traded at $3,404 for the first time ever. The company’s stock continued to rise throughout Wednesday, ending the day up 2.85 percent, or a $95.36 increase per share.

In comparison to billionaire Bill Gates whose net worth floats around $123 billion, Bezos now has $77 billion more than the former richest man in the world. Bezos is also now richer than all three Walmart heirs combined. The Walton siblings have a total $173 billion net worth.

However, even more astonishing is the fact that Bezos would already have surpassed $250 billion had he not recently divorced his longtime partner MacKenzie Scott. She was awarded 20 million Amazon shares in their divorce settlement worth over $67 billion. The settlement automatically made her the 13th richest person in the world.

Criticism of Jeff Bezos

As the coronavirus pandemic shut down many physical locations and kept consumers at home, online shopping has seen a massive increase, and Amazon stocks have skyrocketed.

Many take issue with the outrageous profits off the back of a pandemic. As millions of Americans go on unemployment, lose their healthcare, have trouble finding new jobs, and struggle to pay their rent or mortgage, Bezos continues an unprecedented financial ascent. While the nation faces its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Bezos hasn’t been timid about spending his fortune.

Bezos recently broke the record for the most expensive home bought in Los Angeles when he purchased David Geffen’s Beverly Hills mansion for $165 million.

Additionally, Bezos has been building a 10,000 year clock inside a mountain in West Texas that will continuously tell time during that span. The 500-foot tall mechanical clock project has cost over $42 million since it began.

To top things off, Amazon has paid little to no federal taxes in recent years, adding to the growing criticisms of Bezos and his company.

[H/T New York Post]