Jeffrey Preston Bezos was born on January 12, 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was raised in Houston, Texas, and Miami, Florida. His mother was a teenager when he was born, and his father, Ted Jorgensen, was a bike shop owner.

Bezos attended Princeton University, where he studied computer science and electrical engineering. After graduating in 1986, he worked for a few companies, including Fitel, Bankers Trust, and D. E. Shaw & Co. In 1994, he founded Amazon.com, an online bookstore, which quickly grew to become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world.

Jeff Bezos' career at Amazon began in 1994 when he founded the company as an online bookstore. However, his vision for the company was much larger than just selling books online. Bezos saw an opportunity to create an online marketplace that could sell a vast array of products to customers around the world.

In the early days of Amazon, Bezos was heavily involved in all aspects of the company's operations. He wrote much of the code for the original website, packed and shipped orders himself, and even drove packages to the post office in his own car.

Despite facing significant challenges in the early years, such as a lack of funding and competition from larger, more established retailers, Bezos remained committed to his vision for Amazon. He continued to invest in the company, expand its product offerings, and improve its customer experience.

Under Bezos' leadership, Amazon quickly grew to become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. The company expanded its product offerings to include electronics, toys, clothing, and much more. Amazon also launched new services, such as Amazon Prime, which offers customers free shipping and other perks for an annual fee.

In addition to growing its retail business, Bezos also recognized the potential for Amazon to become a leader in cloud computing. In 2006, the company launched Amazon Web Services (AWS), which provides cloud computing services to businesses of all sizes.

As Amazon continued to grow, Bezos faced criticism from some quarters for the company's treatment of workers and its impact on small businesses. However, he also continued to innovate and push the boundaries of what was possible. For example, in 2013, he announced plans for Amazon Prime Air, a drone delivery service that would use unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver packages to customers in 30 minutes or less.

Under Bezos' leadership, Amazon expanded its product offerings to include electronics, toys, clothing, and much more. Bezos also launched Amazon Web Services, a cloud computing platform, which has become a significant source of revenue for the company.

Bezos is known for his innovative and sometimes controversial business practices. He has been criticized for Amazon's treatment of workers and its impact on small businesses. However, he has also been praised for his long-term thinking and his willingness to take risks.

In 2013, Bezos purchased The Washington Post newspaper for $250 million. He also founded Blue Origin, a space exploration company, in 2000, with the goal of making space travel more accessible and affordable.

Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon in July 2021, but remains involved with the company as its executive chairman. As of 2023, Bezos' net worth is estimated to be over $150 billion, making him one of the richest people in the world.