Bezos nets US$8.5bil from 50 million Amazon stock sale

Bezos nets US$8.5bil from 50 million Amazon stock sale

Relocation plans to Miami could save him hundreds of millions by dodging Washington's 7% capital gains tax.

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and the world’s third-richest person, has a net worth of US$191.3 billion. (Reuters pic)
NEW YORK:
Jeff Bezos unloaded 14 million Amazon.com Inc shares worth about US$2.4 billion, finishing in just nine trading days the plan he disclosed earlier this month to sell up to 50 million shares.

The latest transaction, which brings his cash out total to US$8.5 billion, took place over three trading days ending Tuesday, according to a regulatory filing. Before his selling spree, the world’s third-richest person hadn’t disposed of company stock since 2021.

Bezos, who founded Amazon and owns space exploration company Blue Origin and the Washington Post, hasn’t disclosed plans for the proceeds. He announced on Nov 2 he was moving to Miami from the Seattle region.

Washington state instituted a 7% capital gains tax in 2022 — something Florida doesn’t have — meaning Bezos’s relocation is likely saving him hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes.

Bezos has a net worth of US$191.3 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Spokespeople for Amazon and Bezos didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

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