Amazonian strength

Purpose – Profiles Jeff Bezos's past and future strategy at the helm of Amazon. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments. Findings – Back in 1995 financial analyst Jeff Bezos decided to try taking advantage of the fact internet usage was growing at the rate of 2,300 percent a year. He came up with the idea of selling books online, and thanks to investments from friends and family, he launched an online business from Seattle. He called it Amazon. Just eight years later Bezos had the wealth to seriously investigate pursuing a life‐long interest in making space tourism possible. Five years on from that, Bezos is worth an estimated $8.2 billion, head of a company that recently offered a 134.8 percent return to shareholders. But Wall Street remains wary. Practical implications – Offers practical advice from the CEO of Amazon. Originality/value – Focuses on Amazon and Bezos's continuously successful business philosophy.