Amazon first became the world's biggest bookshop and then went on to revolutionise shopping as we know it. What began in 1994 as a small start-up in a Seattle suburb has become arguably the most significant technology company on the planet. Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder, is now a billionaire many times over.

Bezos rarely makes public pronouncements and avoids media interviews. Those who have worked with him describe him as a hands-on manager, who plans the grand strategy as a well as the tiny details. His wealth has given him the opportunity to pursue a passion for space travel. He has been building research facilities in a remote part of Texas for a secretive space programme. But who exactly is Jeffrey Preston Bezos?

Producer: Ian Muir-Cochrane.