Jeff Bezos to Sell $5 Billion Worth of Amazon Shares at All-Time High

Jeff Bezos has announced intentions to sell 25 million more shares of Amazon.com Inc., valued at $5 billion, coinciding with the company's record-breaking stock performance.

The disclosure, filed after Tuesday's market close, suggests the sales could commence immediately. Bezos had previously sold approximately $8.5 billion worth of shares in February, marking his first significant stock disposal since 2021. This latest move would bring his total sales for the year to around $13.5 billion, according to calculations from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Despite the sell-off, Bezos will retain nearly 912 million shares, equivalent to approximately 8.8% of Amazon's total shares outstanding. With a net worth of $221.6 billion, Bezos ranks as the world’s second-richest person according to Bloomberg’s wealth index. Besides Amazon, he owns the space exploration firm Blue Origin and the Washington Post.

Amazon's stock closed at a record high of $200 on Tuesday, marking a 32% increase since the beginning of the year. The company's cloud computing division is expected to benefit significantly from advancements in generative AI technology.

In November, Bezos, aged 60, announced his move from Seattle to Miami. This relocation to Florida, which lacks a state capital gains tax unlike Washington, is estimated to save Bezos hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes.

Market Dynamics and Strategic Insights

Bezos's decision to sell Amazon shares amid record highs highlights investor confidence in the company's growth prospects. Analysts anticipate continued momentum, driven by Amazon's innovative strategies in cloud computing and emerging technologies like AI. Moreover, Bezos's relocation underscores the strategic tax advantages of residing in Florida versus Washington, impacting tax planning strategies for high-net-worth individuals.

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