Jeff Bezos and Google: Separating Fact from Fiction

No, Jeff Bezos does not own Google. While Jeff Bezos is recognized as a legendary entrepreneur and founder of Amazon, Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., a technology company co-founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin. While Jeff Bezos and his Amazon have a complex relationship with Google, these companies remain separate entities with distinct ownership and business models.

Jeff Bezos: The Amazon Empire

Jeff Bezos is the founder and CEO of Amazon, the largest online retail chain in the world and a significant player in e-commerce. Beyond his work at Amazon, Bezos has also delved into other ventures. He is the owner of The Washington Post and is the founder of the space exploration company, Blue Origin.

Investment in Google

One often-overlooked fact is that Jeff Bezos was among the initial investors in Google. In 1998, he invested $250,000, which grew to approximately 3.3 million shares worth around 3.1 billion by 2017. This investment highlights the interplay and earlier connections between these tech giants.

Amazon Mergers and Acquisitions

Jeff Bezos has grown Amazon through strategic mergers and acquisitions. Amazon has merged or acquired a number of other companies, adding to its vast portfolio. Some notable acquisitions include:

You can view more of Amazon's mergers and acquisitions here.

Amazon's Expansion into Cloud Computing

In recent years, Jeff Bezos has been expanding Amazon's presence in the cloud computing space, directly competing with Google. The cloud computing arena is a critical area where Amazon Web Services (AWS) competes fiercely with Google Cloud Platform.

Read more about this in our article: Amazon Web Services vs. Google Cloud Platform: A Comparison

Alphabet and Google

It is important to clarify that Google is not owned by Jeff Bezos; rather, it is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. as of 2015. As of today, Alphabet Inc. has a market capitalization of around 692 billion USD, while Amazon's market capitalization stands at approximately 481 billion USD.

Competitors in the Tech Sphere

Jeff Bezos and Amazon are indeed competitors with Google in several key areas, including cloud computing, e-commerce, and other tech services. Hence, the idea of Amazon owning Google is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of corporate structures in the tech industry.

Judiciously separating these facts from fiction helps clarify the relationships and dynamics between these tech giants.