**Jeff Bezos Sells $3 Billion Worth of Amazon Shares: What's Behind the Move?**
In a recent regulatory filing, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has sold over $3 billion worth of Amazon shares, bringing his total stock sales for the year to over $13 billion. This latest transaction involves the sale of more than 16 million shares, a move that coincides with Amazon's stock price nearing the $200 per share mark, a level it first reached in July.
Despite these significant stock sales, Bezos remains a major shareholder in Amazon, holding approximately 10.8% of the company's outstanding stock. He continues to serve as the company's chairman, although his focus has shifted towards his other ventures, including Blue Origin and the $2 billion Bezos Day One Fund, which supports homeless families and early childhood education.
Amazon's strong third-quarter earnings report, which exceeded market expectations, has driven the company's stock price up by 7% in recent trading sessions. This performance is attributed to the company's robust growth in its cloud computing and advertising businesses, contributing to a surge in its stock price and Bezos' net worth.
Bezos' net worth has increased by $42.8 billion year-over-year, placing him as the world's second-richest person, just behind Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. His wealth is largely driven by Amazon's continued stock growth, which has seen the company's shares rise by more than 40% in the past 12 months.
The recent sale of Amazon shares by Bezos is part of his strategy to fund various projects and initiatives. Over the years, he has used proceeds from his Amazon stock sales to support ventures like Blue Origin and the Bezos Day One Fund. Despite his divestment from Amazon, Bezos remains deeply involved in the company's operations and continues to play a pivotal role as its chairman.
Amazon's stock price currently stands at $235.62, with a Strong Buy consensus rating from Wall Street analysts. The average price target for Amazon stock implies a 19.04% upside potential, indicating continued optimism about the company's future performance. As Amazon continues to navigate a dynamic market and invest in new ventures, Bezos' decision to sell more shares underscores his strategic approach to managing his wealth and pursuing his diverse business interests.