Lauren Sánchez Bezos debuts vintage Versace look styled by Zendaya’s image architect

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has regained his position as the third richest person in the world following the increase in Amazon’s stock price and a significant change in the company’s retail business strategy.

Amazon’s stock price rose by 2.4% to above $244 following the company’s announcement that it will close all its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh physical stores.

However, Amazon will focus on its online same-day delivery service and its Whole Foods Market business, which will see the company open over 100 new stores in the coming years. Some of the closed Amazon Go and Fresh stores will be converted to Whole Foods stores.

The increase has resulted in Bezos’ personal fortune increasing by $4.8 billion to $254 billion, as per the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List.

This has allowed him to surpass Google founder Sergey Brin, who is currently ranked second with a net worth of $253.1 billion. Larry Page is still in the second position with a net worth of $274.3 billion, while Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk is at the top position despite his net worth falling by $768.9 billion.

The shift in the positions of the top three comes at a time when the tech world is experiencing changes. This week alone, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg surpassed Oracle founder Larry Ellison to become the fifth-richest person in the world with a net worth of $230.1 billion.

These ranking changes highlight how closely personal wealth is tied to company performance, especially in the technology sector. Even small movements in stock prices can quickly add or remove billions from an individual’s fortune. Investors continue to watch Amazon closely, as its business decisions often send strong signals about broader trends in retail, logistics, and online services. Bezos, although no longer involved in daily operations, still benefits greatly from the company’s market confidence.

However, the change in Amazon’s strategy has also been accompanied by changes within the company. The company on Wednesday started notifying its 16,000 corporate employees that their jobs have been eliminated.

In a company-wide email, Amazon Chief People Officer Beth Galetti explained that the move aims to eliminate layers and reduce bureaucracy, although the teams that were affected were not mentioned.

For many employees, the layoffs reflect a larger shift in how major tech companies are adjusting after years of rapid growth. Companies are now focusing more on efficiency and clearer decision making. Amazon has gone through several rounds of cost cutting in recent years, and leadership has stated that these steps are meant to strengthen long term performance rather than slow innovation.

Sánchez Bezos, 56, wore a red-and-white tweed skirt and blazer set from Versace’s 2004 archives during an event on Tuesday, January 27. The vintage ensemble was styled by Roach, who is widely known as an “image architect” and has worked with high-profile clients including Zendaya, Céline Dion and Ariana Grande.

Sánchez Bezos completed the look with white pointed-toe Jimmy Choo heels, a sculptural white Schiaparelli handbag featuring a face motif, rose-tinted sunglasses and white statement earrings. Roach coordinated in an espresso-toned leather trench coat, leather shoes and an oversized handbag, finishing his outfit with oversized sunglasses.

The appearance marked one of several fashion week outings for Sánchez Bezos, who has been attending shows in Paris with her husband, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. One day earlier, the couple attended the Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2026 presentation, where Sánchez Bezos wore a light gray tweed ensemble consisting of a fitted knee-length skirt and a sweater accented with a dramatic fur collar.

Their presence at major fashion events shows how Bezos and his wife have become familiar faces beyond the business world. Public appearances at fashion week often attract attention from both the media and luxury brands. For Sánchez Bezos, these outings reflect a growing interest in fashion history and high design, while also placing the couple among influential figures from art, culture, and entertainment.

People reported that during the Dior event, Sánchez Bezos briefly stumbled as her shoe caught on the venue’s entrance, though she quickly regained her balance and continued inside without incident. Jeff Bezos, 62, accompanied her in a dark blue blazer and trousers paired with a button-down shirt and tie.

The couple’s fashion week appearances come months after they were announced as the primary donors for the 2026 Met Gala, which will carry a “Costume Art” theme, according to Vogue.

Their role as major donors further highlights the couple’s influence in cultural spaces. The Met Gala is one of the most visible fashion events in the world, and supporting it places Bezos and Sánchez Bezos among a select group of patrons who help shape its direction. As Bezos continues to move between business success and public life, his impact now stretches well beyond technology and commerce.

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