Report: Amazon Founder, WashPo Owner Jeff Bezos the Richest Man in History

Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos has become the richest man in history, according to a report.

“The Amazon CEO’s net worth reached $105.1 billion Monday, according to Bloomberg’s billionaire tracker. That eclipses the record previously held by Microsoft founder Bill Gates,” reported CNN on Tuesday. “The majority of that net worth comes from the 78.9 million shares of Amazon stock he owns. Shares of Amazon (AMZN) climbed 1.4% Monday, adding about $1.4 billion to his net worth. Shares of Amazon (AMZN) are up nearly 7% so far in this year after rising 56% in 2017. Bezos’ other holdings include the Washington Post and Blue Origin, a private space travel business that intends to take tourists to space.”

Bill Gates would most likely still have an edge on Bezos in terms of total wealth if he had not made significant charitable donations over the previous decade.

Although Bezos’ wealth is the largest overall figure, it does not compare to famously wealthy individuals in the past. For example, at the height of his wealth, John D. Rockefeller was worth between $300 and $400 billion dollars when adjusted for inflation.

It was revealed this month that 10 percent of Amazon’s Ohio workforce are receiving food stamps, while in November, the Daily Mirror discovered and reported on the poor working conditions of Amazon employees in the UK.

In November, Bezos was reported to be worth $100 billion, and in July, Bezos briefly became the richest man in the world.