Bezos Offloads £47M in Amazon Shares to Charity

Jeff Bezos is once again making headlines—not for launching rockets or buying another mansion, but for giving away millions. According to a recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Amazon founder donated 296,182 Amazon shares, worth approximately £47.02 million ($60.71 million), to non-profit organisations. The transfers were made over two days beginning on March 3, 2024.

After the donation, Bezos still holds over 909.41 million shares of Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), reaffirming his massive stake in the company he started in his garage. This gift marks his first share donation of 2025 and continues his track record of billion-dollar philanthropy.

But this isn't just generosity—it's strategic. By donating Amazon shares directly, rather than cashing out and then giving the money, the receiving nonprofits can sell the shares without facing capital gains tax. It’s a smart move, both for Bezos and the beneficiaries.

This kind of stock-based giving isn’t new for Bezos. In 2024, he donated over two million Amazon shares across various months, including one million in May and another 1.4 million in November. Many of those gifts went to nonprofits tied to his personal causes, like early childhood education programs and the preschools he helped establish.

Bezos Sold Over $13.6 Billion in Amazon Shares Last Year

While the donations are impressive, they’re just one part of Bezos’ financial shuffle. SEC filings show he sold 16.35 million Amazon shares in November 2024 alone—worth £2.36 billion ($3.048 billion). In total, Bezos cashed out nearly £10.53 billion ($13.6 billion) in Amazon stock during 2024.

What’s he doing with that mountain of cash? A big chunk is likely fueling Blue Origin, his space exploration company. Investors have repeatedly said Blue Origin would be irrelevant if Bezos weren’t personally funding it. Space Capital’s Chad Anderson told The New York Times that Bezos had spent upwards of £10.84 billion ($14 billion) on the space venture.

That money is being put to work. Blue Origin is prepping for a second launch of its New Glenn rocket after fixing propulsion issues that ruined its first landing attempt in January. A second booster is already in production. But not everything’s soaring—Blue Origin also announced it would lay off around 10% of its staff, cutting roughly 1,400 jobs.

Florida Real Estate and Tax Strategy

Alongside rockets and donations, Bezos is making bold moves in real estate—literally. He relocated from Seattle to Florida in early 2024 and went on a mansion-buying spree. So far, he’s reportedly spent £193.64 million ($250 million) on three properties in Indian Creek Village, a hyper-exclusive island nicknamed the "billionaire bunker."

But there’s more to it than palm trees and ocean views. Washington State, where Bezos lived before, passed a 7% capital gains tax on high-value asset sales. Florida has no such tax. Experts estimate Bezos saved over £774.58 million ($1 billion) in 2024 just by switching zip codes. And since Florida doesn’t have estate taxes either, his heirs could save another fortune down the line.

Bezos vs. Musk: Still a Billionaire Showdown

Despite all the giving, selling, and spending, Bezos remains firmly planted near the top of the global rich list. According to Forbes, he’s the second-richest person on Earth, with a net worth of £163.3 billion ($210.3 billion). Only Elon Musk sits above him, with an estimated fortune of £248.31 billion ($319.6 billion).

So what’s the takeaway? Jeff Bezos is playing a complex game—donating millions in a way that’s tax-savvy, selling billions to fund his cosmic ambitions, and buying property in one of the most tax-friendly states in the U.S. It’s a masterclass in how to be strategic with wealth, and he's not slowing down anytime soon.

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