Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is photographed in Seattle in 2017.
In pictures: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is photographed in Seattle in 2017.
Kyle Johnson/The New York Times/Redux

Updated 2:28 PM EDT, Thu July 22, 2021

Jeff Bezos started Amazon as an online bookstore in 1995. It is now a retail and logistics behemoth that's worth more than $1.7 trillion.

Bezos has been CEO since the beginning, making him one of the world's richest people. But he is stepping down from that role and transitioning to executive chair.

Bezos said his new position will allow him to spend more time on outside projects he has developed through the years.

His aerospace company, Blue Origin, is part of the Artemis program that NASA says will put two astronauts on the moon. His Bezos Earth Fund supports scientists, activists and organizations working to mitigate the impact of climate change. And in 2013, Bezos bought The Washington Post newspaper.

"I've never had more energy, and this isn't about retiring," Bezos said. "I'm super passionate about the impact I think these organizations can have."

Bezos is seen in 1996, a year after he started Amazon.com. At the time it was just an online bookseller.
Bezos is seen in 1996, a year after he started Amazon.com. At the time it was just an online bookseller.
Dean Rutz/KRT/ABACA/Alamy Stock
Bezos and Sotheby's president and CEO Diana Brooks pose in a customized Volkswagen Beetle from the film "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" in 1999. Sotheby's and Amazon had teamed up to launch sothebys.amazon.com, an online auction site that would offer a broad range of objects, including this car.
Bezos and Sotheby's president and CEO Diana Brooks pose in a customized Volkswagen Beetle from the film "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" in 1999. Sotheby's and Amazon had teamed up to launch sothebys.amazon.com, an online auction site that would offer a broad range of objects, including this car.
Henny Ray Abrams/AFP/Getty Images
Bezos holds a power drill and a stuffed Pikachu in 1999. By this point, Amazon had started to sell items other than books.
Bezos holds a power drill and a stuffed Pikachu in 1999. By this point, Amazon had started to sell items other than books.
Chris Carroll/Corbis/Getty Images
Gregory Nixon, left, delivers a set of antique golf clubs he sold to David Robichaud, center, via Amazon.com Auctions in 1999. Bezos was there for the moment, as Robichaud, a construction worker, was Amazon's 10-millionth customer.
Gregory Nixon, left, delivers a set of antique golf clubs he sold to David Robichaud, center, via Amazon.com Auctions in 1999. Bezos was there for the moment, as Robichaud, a construction worker, was Amazon's 10-millionth customer.
Paul Connors/AP
In 1999, Bezos was named Time magazine's Person of the Year.
In 1999, Bezos was named Time magazine's Person of the Year.
Time
Bezos looks on as Microsoft CEO Bill Gates presents a T-shirt as a retirement gift to Clippy, the Microsoft Office assistant, in 2001. Microsoft was launching Office XP.
Bezos looks on as Microsoft CEO Bill Gates presents a T-shirt as a retirement gift to Clippy, the Microsoft Office assistant, in 2001. Microsoft was launching Office XP.
Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images
Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie, arrive at a media conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, in 2003. They divorced in 2019 after 25 years of marriage.
Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie, arrive at a media conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, in 2003. They divorced in 2019 after 25 years of marriage.
Douglas C. Pizac/AP
Jeff Bezos stands with one of Amazon's trademark door-desks at the company's Seattle headquarters in 2004.
Jeff Bezos stands with one of Amazon's trademark door-desks at the company's Seattle headquarters in 2004.
Andy Rogers/AP
Bezos introduces the Kindle e-reader at a news conference in 2007.
Bezos introduces the Kindle e-reader at a news conference in 2007.
Mark Lennihan/AP
Bezos announces the Kindle DX in 2009.
Bezos announces the Kindle DX in 2009.
James Leynse/Corbis/Getty Images
Bezos, third from left, meets with NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver at the Blue Origin headquarters in Kent, Washington, in 2011. Bezos' Blue Origin was started in 2000 with the goal of providing low-cost access to private space travel.
Bezos, third from left, meets with NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver at the Blue Origin headquarters in Kent, Washington, in 2011. Bezos' Blue Origin was started in 2000 with the goal of providing low-cost access to private space travel.
Bill Ingalls/NASA/eyevine/Redux
Bezos holds up the new Kindle Fire HD during a news conference in Santa Monica, California, in 2012.
Bezos holds up the new Kindle Fire HD during a news conference in Santa Monica, California, in 2012.
David McNew/Getty Images
Bezos appears on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" in 2012.
Bezos appears on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" in 2012.
Lloyd Bishop/NBCUniversal/Getty Images
Bezos unveils the Fire Phone during an event in Seattle in 2014.
Bezos unveils the Fire Phone during an event in Seattle in 2014.
Mike Kane/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Bezos poses on a truck while visiting Bangalore, India, in 2014.
Bezos poses on a truck while visiting Bangalore, India, in 2014.
Manjunath Kiran/AFP/Getty Images
Bezos tours The Washington Post's new offices in 2016. Bezos bought the newspaper in 2013.
Bezos tours The Washington Post's new offices in 2016. Bezos bought the newspaper in 2013.
Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Bezos listens to first lady Michelle Obama at a White House event in 2016. The event announced commitments from more than 50 companies to hire and train veterans and military spouses. Bezos announced a commitment by Amazon to hire 25,000 more military veterans in the next five years.
Bezos listens to first lady Michelle Obama at a White House event in 2016. The event announced commitments from more than 50 companies to hire and train veterans and military spouses. Bezos announced a commitment by Amazon to hire 25,000 more military veterans in the next five years.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Bezos joins "Transparent" actor Jeffrey Tambor and director Jill Soloway after the Amazon Studios show won Emmys in 2016.
Bezos joins "Transparent" actor Jeffrey Tambor and director Jill Soloway after the Amazon Studios show won Emmys in 2016.
Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Amazon Studios
Bezos discusses his Blue Origin reusable rocket system in 2017. Reusable rockets would substantially reduce the cost of space flight.
Bezos discusses his Blue Origin reusable rocket system in 2017. Reusable rockets would substantially reduce the cost of space flight.
Nick Cote/The New York Times/Redux
US President Donald Trump and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella listen to Bezos at a White House meeting of the American Technology Council in 2017. According to the White House, the council's goal is "to explore how to transform and modernize government information technology."
US President Donald Trump and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella listen to Bezos at a White House meeting of the American Technology Council in 2017. According to the White House, the council's goal is "to explore how to transform and modernize government information technology."
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Bezos tours the Spheres, a gathering and working space for Amazon employees, at its opening ceremonies in Seattle in 2018. The space contains hundreds of plant species from cloud forest environments around the globe, and it maintains a tropical climate similar to Costa Rica or Indonesia.
Bezos tours the Spheres, a gathering and working space for Amazon employees, at its opening ceremonies in Seattle in 2018. The space contains hundreds of plant species from cloud forest environments around the globe, and it maintains a tropical climate similar to Costa Rica or Indonesia.
Mike Kane/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Bezos shakes hands with Kim Kardashian West while attending the Met Gala in New York in 2019. Actor Jared Leto is on the right.
Bezos shakes hands with Kim Kardashian West while attending the Met Gala in New York in 2019. Actor Jared Leto is on the right.
Kevin Mazur/MG19/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue
Bezos is joined by the children from the Blue Origin Club for the Future in 2019. At the event in Washington, DC, Bezos unveiled a Blue Origin prototype of a lunar lander.
Bezos is joined by the children from the Blue Origin Club for the Future in 2019. At the event in Washington, DC, Bezos unveiled a Blue Origin prototype of a lunar lander.
Melissa Lyttle/Redux
Bezos shows off Blue Moon, Blue Origin's lunar landing prototype, in 2019.
Bezos shows off Blue Moon, Blue Origin's lunar landing prototype, in 2019.
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
Bezos announces the co-founding of The Climate Pledge in 2019. Bezos' broad plan to fight climate change includes meeting the Paris climate agreement 10 years early. That would make the company carbon-neutral by 2040. Bezos also announced that Amazon would purchase 100,000 electric vans.
Bezos announces the co-founding of The Climate Pledge in 2019. Bezos' broad plan to fight climate change includes meeting the Paris climate agreement 10 years early. That would make the company carbon-neutral by 2040. Bezos also announced that Amazon would purchase 100,000 electric vans.
Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Amazon
Bezos stands next to Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of the late journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as a plaque is unveiled near the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2019. It was a year after Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was killed.
Bezos stands next to Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of the late journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as a plaque is unveiled near the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2019. It was a year after Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was killed.
Lefteris Pitarakis/AP
Bezos sits between his girlfriend, Lauren Sánchez, and Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour at a Tom Ford fashion show in Los Angeles in February 2020.
Bezos sits between his girlfriend, Lauren Sánchez, and Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour at a Tom Ford fashion show in Los Angeles in February 2020.
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Tom Ford: Autumn/Winter 2020 Runway Show
Bezos testifies before a House subcommittee during an antitrust hearing in July 2020. Other powerful tech figures, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, were also questioned about their competitive tactics.
Bezos testifies before a House subcommittee during an antitrust hearing in July 2020. Other powerful tech figures, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, were also questioned about their competitive tactics.
Graeme Jennings/Pool/Getty Images
In December 2020, Bezos <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CJaEh_NHGUN/" target="_blank" target="_blank">posted this photo</a> of him and his mother, Jacklyn, after Blue Origin's rocket-catching recovery boat was named in her honor.
In December 2020, Bezos posted this photo of him and his mother, Jacklyn, after Blue Origin's rocket-catching recovery boat was named in her honor.
From Instagram
From left, Oliver Daemen, Bezos, Wally Funk and Bezos' brother Jeff pose for a picture after <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2021/07/20/us/gallery/jeff-bezos-spaceflight/index.html" target="_blank">flying into space</a> in July 2021. The trip marked the first-ever crewed flight of Blue Origin's suborbital space tourism rocket, New Shepard.
From left, Oliver Daemen, Bezos, Wally Funk and Bezos' brother Jeff pose for a picture after flying into space in July 2021. The trip marked the first-ever crewed flight of Blue Origin's suborbital space tourism rocket, New Shepard.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images