30 Sec Answer: The richest person in America is currently Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, with an estimated net worth of over $150 billion.
Who is the Richest Person in America?
The United States of America is home to some of the wealthiest people on the planet. In fact, a whopping 10 percent of global billionaires call this country their home. So who exactly is the richest person in America?
Introducing Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos is the founder and current CEO of Amazon, one of the world’s largest online retailers. As such, it comes as no surprise that he has accrued vast wealth – Forbes recently estimated his total net worth at an astonishing $153 billion. This makes him not only the richest person in America but also the richest person in the world!
How Did He Accumulate His Wealth?
Bezos was born in 1964 to parents Jacklyn and Ted Jorgensen, whom he would later legally adopt his last name from. After graduating from Princeton University with a degree in computer science and electrical engineering, Bezos began working on Wall Street for firms such as Fitel and Bankers Trust. However, it wasn’t until 1994 when he made his first major career move – founding Amazon.
Amazon’s Rise to Success
Since its inception, Amazon has quickly become one of the biggest online retailers in the world – selling everything from books to clothing to electronics. Over time, Bezos has grown the company into a multi-billion dollar enterprise with operations across multiple countries. It’s no wonder why his personal wealth continues to skyrocket year after year.
What Does Jeff Bezos Own?
Given his immense wealth, you may be wondering what sort of assets Bezos owns. Aside from Amazon shares (which make up a large portion of his fortune), Bezos also owns space exploration company Blue Origin and aerospace manufacturer Vulcan Aerospace Corporation, along with various other investments.
Real Estate Portfolio
Bezos isn’t just a tech entrepreneur – he’s also quite active in real estate investments. His property portfolio includes two homes located in Medina Washington (his primary residence) which cost a combined total of around $27 million dollars; an expansive ranch located in Texas called “The Sfort”; a number of other residential properties located throughout California; and even two historic buildings located in downtown Seattle known as “The Day One Building” and “The Ballmer Building” (named after former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer).
Private Jets and Other Toys
When it comes to luxury items, Jeff Bezos certainly doesn’t shy away from spending big bucks on them. His private jet fleet consists of three Gulfstream G650ER jets (the most expensive model available) costing around $70 million each! Not to mention that he reportedly bought himself a vintage 1964 Rolls Royce convertible back in 2006 for nearly half a million dollars!
Charitable Donations
Despite having accumulated so much wealth over the years, Jeff Bezos hasn’t forgotten about those less fortunate than him either – donating billions towards charitable causes both domestically and abroad through organizations like The Giving Pledge and Stand Together Foundation.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, there can be no doubt that Jeff Bezos is currently the wealthiest man in America (and indeed the entire world!) Whether or not he’ll stay atop this list remains to be seen however given how quickly fortunes can change these days…