Amazon founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos has sold another chunk of his tech empire’s stock, cashing in close to $665.8 million worth of shares over a two-day period in July, according to a regulatory filing made public on Tuesday.
This recent sale forms part of a larger, pre-arranged trading plan that will see Bezos part ways with up to 25 million Amazon shares through May 2026. It’s a move that could potentially net him tens of billions of dollars over the next couple of years, depending on Amazon’s market performance.
Bezos, who stepped down as Amazon CEO in 2021, has been steadily unloading stock this year. In late June, he reportedly sold $736.7 million worth of Amazon shares, pushing his recent liquidation efforts beyond the $1.4 billion mark in just a few weeks.
Despite the significant sell-off, Bezos still holds a staggering amount of stock, more than 900 million shares, which retain an estimated value of nearly $200 billion based on Amazon’s current trading price. This makes him not only Amazon’s largest individual shareholder but also one of the wealthiest people in the world.
Interestingly, the timing of this latest stock dump coincides with Bezos’ recent $50 million wedding to Lauren Sanchez, which took place in Venice, Italy. The luxurious event featured an A-list guest list, including Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
While there’s no direct indication that the wedding influenced the sale, the back-to-back events have certainly kept Bezos in the spotlight this summer.
Although he no longer holds the CEO title, Bezos continues to play a major role at Amazon as chairman of the board. His ongoing influence and significant shareholding maintain his position as a critical decision-maker within the company.
His current divestment strategy is likely part of a broader financial planning effort, possibly tied to philanthropic interests, real estate investments, or space ambitions through Blue Origin, his aerospace venture.