As Americans devastated by the coronavirus pandemic sit in their homes—jobless, cooking in bulk, praying for a single $1,200 check to arrive by mail—Amazon founder Jeff Bezos casually became the world’s first-ever $200 billionaire.
Bezos’s net worth cleared the record $200 billion mark Wednesday when shares of his online shopping company reached $3,403.64. Around $82 billion of his net worth was added this year, after the pandemic catapulted e-commerce and contactless purchasing into the stratosphere. The tech titan, who also owns space company Blue Origin, is one of only three people on Earth with a 12-figure fortune—and his wealth now dwarfs that of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, with $123 billion, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg with $106 billion (scrubs!).
Amazon shares continued climbing midday Wednesday, clocking in at $3,434.09 hours before the closing bell. Who knows how high they’ll go?! The rest of us can only watch as King Bezos counts cash from atop his contactless throne.
Recognize your brand’s excellence by applying to this year’s Brands That Matter Awards before the early-rate deadline, May 3.