Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
This week, Jeff Bezos sold 12 million shares of Amazon.com Inc. This marks the first time the billionaire has sold the company’s stock since 2021.
The transactions took place on Wednesday and Thursday, resulting in a total of just over $2 billion, as reported in a filing.
On Feb. 2, Amazon revealed Bezos’s plan to sell up to 50 million shares of Amazon within the next 12 months. This move could take advantage of a stock surge that has put him on the verge of becoming the world’s richest person. His fortune has grown by $22.6 billion this year to $199.5 billion as of Friday, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Since records dating back to 2002, the Amazon founder has sold over $30 billion in shares, including approximately $20 billion between 2020 and 2021. He has mainly been giving away stock, including shares valued at around $230 million that were donated to nonprofit organizations in November.
Amazon declined to comment through a spokesperson.
