It is the question that pops up every time Jeff Bezos buys a new superyacht or launches another rocket into the stratosphere. People look at the sheer scale of the Amazon empire and assume the founder still holds the keys to the entire kingdom. Honestly, the reality is a bit more complicated than a simple "yes."
When Bezos started Amazon in his Bellevue garage back in 1994, he owned basically 100% of the dream. Fast forward through decades of stock splits, a massive divorce settlement, and billions in charitable donations, and that number has shrunk significantly. So, exactly how much of Amazon does Jeff Bezos own right now in early 2026?
As of January 2026, Jeff Bezos owns approximately 9% of Amazon's outstanding shares.
To be more precise, recent SEC filings and market data indicate he holds roughly 905 million shares. Depending on the day's market fluctuations, that stake is valued at well over $220 billion. Even though 9% might sound small compared to the 40% he held during the early IPO days, it still makes him the largest individual shareholder by a massive margin.
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Why the Number Keeps Changing
You've probably noticed that the percentage of his ownership isn't a static figure. It’s a moving target. In 2025 alone, Bezos filed several Form 144 notices with the SEC, signaling his intent to sell off large chunks of stock. For instance, in June 2025, he moved to sell 25 million shares worth about $5.4 billion.
These sales aren't usually a sign that he’s "dumping" the stock because he's worried about the company. Far from it. Most of these transactions are part of a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. This is a pre-scheduled mechanism that allows insiders to sell stock without being accused of insider trading. He basically tells the SEC, "Hey, I'm going to sell X amount of shares on these specific dates regardless of what the news says."
Where is the money going?
It's no secret that Bezos has a "space addiction." He famously said that the only way he can see to deploy his massive "Amazon winnings" is by funding Blue Origin. He liquidates about $1 billion in Amazon stock annually just to keep his rocket company fueled. Then you have the Bezos Earth Fund, where he pledged $10 billion to fight climate change. Every time he writes a check for a new climate initiative, a few more Amazon shares are likely sold to cover it.
The MacKenzie Scott Factor
We can't talk about Bezos's ownership without mentioning the 2019 divorce. It was, quite literally, the most expensive split in history.
Before the divorce, Bezos owned roughly 16% of Amazon. As part of the settlement, MacKenzie Scott received 25% of his stake, which at the time was about 4% of the entire company.
Expert Note: While MacKenzie received the shares (and the massive wealth that came with them), she notably gave Jeff the voting power over those shares. This was a critical move that allowed him to maintain significant influence over Amazon's corporate direction despite owning less of it.
MacKenzie has since become one of the most prolific philanthropists in the world, giving away over $19 billion to date. Because she sells her shares so quickly to fund her "Yield Giving" project, her own stake in Amazon has dropped way faster than Jeff's.
Who Else Owns the Rest?
If Bezos only owns 9%, who owns the other 91%? It’s not just one person. It’s actually a mix of massive Wall Street firms and millions of regular people who have a few shares in their 401(k)s.
- Vanguard Group: They typically hold around 7% to 8%.
- BlackRock: The world's largest asset manager usually hovers around 6%.
- State Street: They usually sit around 3% to 4%.
Basically, if you have a diversified mutual fund or an S&P 500 index fund, you probably own a tiny piece of Amazon too. You’re technically Bezos’s partner, just with a much smaller yacht.
Is He Still in Control?
This is where things get nuanced. Bezos stepped down as CEO in 2021, handing the reins to Andy Jassy. Today, he serves as the Executive Chairman.
In the world of corporate governance, owning 9% of a trillion-dollar company is an insane amount of power. In many companies, a 5% stake is enough to get you a seat on the board and the ability to steer the ship. Because Bezos is the founder and holds the largest individual block of shares—plus the residual voting rights from his divorce agreement—his "soft power" at the company is still absolute. If Jeff wants Amazon to pivot toward a new technology, it happens.
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Surprising Facts About the Bezos Stake
Most people think he's constantly buying more stock. He isn't. In fact, since Amazon went public in 1997, Bezos has almost never bought a single share of his own company.
Actually, there was one weird exception. In 2023, he famously bought one single share. It was a move that baffled analysts. Was it a glitch? A joke? A weird technical requirement for a new brokerage account? No one really knows, but that $100-something purchase is the only time he's "added" to his pile in decades. Everything else he owns is "founder's stock" from the very beginning.
Another thing: Bezos’s base salary for years was a measly $81,840. He didn't get rich through a paycheck. He got rich because the 9% he kept became some of the most valuable pieces of paper on the planet.
What This Means for You
If you're an investor or just someone watching the markets, there are a few takeaways here. First, don't panic when you see headlines saying "Bezos Sells $5 Billion in Stock." He’s been doing this for twenty years. It’s how he funds his life and his other ventures.
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Second, the "Bezos risk" is lower than it used to be. Because the ownership is so diversified now among institutional giants like BlackRock and Vanguard, the company isn't as dependent on a single man's whims as it was in the late 90s.
Actionable Insights for Following Insider Stakes
- Watch the SEC Form 4 and Form 144: If you want the real truth, stop reading rumors and go to the SEC EDGAR database. Any time Bezos sells, he has to report it within two business days.
- Look for 10b5-1 Plans: Always check if a sale is "planned." Planned sales are "boring" (which is good). Unplanned, sudden sales are the ones that should make you ask questions.
- Track Institutional Sentiment: Watch if Vanguard or BlackRock are increasing their stakes. When the "big boys" buy more, it usually offsets any small percentage Bezos sells to buy a new rocket engine.
Bezos is slowly diversifying. He’s moving away from being "the Amazon guy" and becoming "the everything guy." But even at 9% ownership, his shadow over the company remains as long as ever.
Next Step: To see how this compares to other tech giants, you might want to look into how much of Meta Mark Zuckerberg still controls—it's a much higher percentage and a very different power dynamic.