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Newlywed Jeff Bezos sells $5.4 billion worth of Amazon stock
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez in Los Angeles in November 2021. (BigStock Photo)
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is selling more than $5.4 billion worth of Amazon shares, according to a new regulatory filing made public Friday, part of the billionaire's ongoing effort to diversify his wealth.
The sale of 25 million shares took place Friday, according to the filing — the same day Bezos married fiancée Lauren Sánchez in a star-studded celebration reportedly costing around $50 million.
It also comes as Amazon stock surpassed $223 per share this week and approaches its all-time high, rebounding from broader market downturns earlier this year.
Over the years, Bezos has used Amazon stock sales — including more than $13 billion in 2024 — to fund initiatives including his Blue Origin space venture. He also launched the Bezos Day One Fund in 2018, committing $2 billion to support homeless families and preschool education, and created the Bezos Earth Fund in 2020.
Bezos remains Amazon's largest shareholder, holding about 9.6% of the company's outstanding stock, according to a February proxy statement. He stepped down as Amazon's CEO in 2021 and serves as executive chair.
The Washington Post owner is ranked No. 3 on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index with a net worth of $244 billion.
Bezos announced in November 2023 that he was leaving his longtime hometown of Seattle, where Amazon is based, and moving to Miami.
The move sparked questions about tax motivations, as Washington state passed a 7% capital gains tax in 2021. Florida does not have a capital gains tax.
In an Instagram post, Bezos said he wanted to be closer to his parents and Blue Origin operations in Florida. He did not mention taxes.
