Jeffrey Preston Bezos, company founder, president and chief executive officer of Amazon.com, is the 33rd richest American (Forbes). He is currently valued at a staggering $8.7 billion.

Jeffrey Bezos grew up with a natural aptitude for mechanics and electronics. When other kids started garage bands, he converted his into a laboratory for science projects. He graduated with a degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from Princeton University and was later on awarded an honorary doctorate in Science and Technology from the Carnegie Mellon University.

He jumpstarted his career in Wall Street just when computer analysis of market trends was growing in demand. Afterwards, he worked on creating a network for international trade for Filel, which was still a start-up company then. The next phase of his career would be with Bankers Trust where he rose to the vice-presidency level. He then used his computer savvy to specialize in analyzing the stock market for D.E. Shaw & Co. It was during his stint as Senior Vice-President with this firm when he would make a life-changing discovery.

Jeffrey Bezos saw a market opportunity in Internet commerce which was still virtually non-existent in 1994. He quit his job to invest his time and resources on his big, audacious idea. Most investors were skeptical, especially when he introduced the business plan for Amazon.com’s initial set-up. He proposed that the company would start as an online book catalogue. On July 16, 1995, Jeffrey Bezos opened his site to the world and asked a sample group of friends for the beta testing. Within a span of a month, Amazon.com had sold books in all 50 states and in 45 foreign countries.

Pioneering one-click shopping, customer reviews, and e-mail order verification, Amazon.com virtually became the benchmark for future online commerce portals. When the Internet crisis hit, the website survived through its discounted prices, free shipping, and loyal customers.

In 1997 it went public, and those who took the risk with Jeffrey Bezos were generously rewarded. Today, it has grown to a profitable enterprise with $15 billion worth of consumer goods sold online.

Being one of the most prominent dot-com entrepreneurs, he was also named as Time Person of the Year in 1999, and at 35, the 4th youngest individual to receive the award.