Amazon founder Jeff Bezos makes $13 billion in one day – more than the GDP of almost 80 countries
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is reported to have seen his fortune increase by around $13 billion (£10.2 billion) on Monday, which is more than the wealth of almost 80 countries.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, which was created in 2012, Bezos’ bumper pay day represents the largest single-day increase in an individual’s fortune since the list’s inception.
His total value now stands at $189.3 billion (£148 billion), Bloomberg reports, after making $71.1 billion (£55.8 billion) in 2020 despite a grim economic outlook for the US.
The 56-year-old’s Monday earnings alone were worth almost the entire wealth of Armenia and Mongolia, whose GDP stand at $13.6 billion (£10.7 billion) and $13.8 billion respectively.
According to the latest data available to the World Bank, 77 countries or states have a GDP of less than $13 billion, including Liechtenstein, Monaco and Chad.
Bezos still owns 11% of Amazon, which he founded in 1994 and made huge profits as populations across the world were placed into lockdown as the coronavirus pandemic took hold.