Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, was not born into a particularly wealthy family. His parents, Jacklyn and Ted Jorgensen, were teenagers when Bezos was born on January 12, 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Bezos’s biological father, Ted Jorgensen, was a bike shop owner and later worked as a circus performer. Jacklyn and Ted divorced when Bezos was still an infant, and Jacklyn remarried Miguel Bezos, a Cuban immigrant who legally adopted Jeff and gave him his last name.
Miguel Bezos worked as an engineer for Exxon, and the family moved frequently due to his job. While Bezos grew up in a relatively stable and middle-class environment, his parents emphasized hard work, education, and resourcefulness. Bezos often credited his stepfather, Miguel, for instilling in him important values and a strong work ethic.
While Bezos did not inherit significant wealth, his upbringing provided him with a supportive family environment and access to educational opportunities. Bezos attended Princeton University, where he studied electrical engineering and computer science, laying the groundwork for his future entrepreneurial endeavors. It was during his time at Princeton that Bezos developed the idea for an online bookstore, which eventually grew into the e-commerce giant Amazon.com.
Oprah Winfrey: Born into poverty in rural Mississippi, Oprah Winfrey overcame significant challenges, including a difficult childhood marked by poverty and abuse. Through perseverance and talent, she became one of the most successful media personalities in the world, building a media empire that includes television, film, publishing, and philanthropy.
Howard Schultz: Growing up in a Brooklyn housing project, Howard Schultz faced financial hardship and struggled academically. Despite these challenges, he became the CEO of Starbucks, transforming it from a small coffee retailer into one of the world’s most recognizable brands.
Jan Koum: Jan Koum immigrated to the United States from Ukraine as a teenager with his mother, facing poverty and relying on government assistance. He later co-founded WhatsApp, a messaging platform that was acquired by Facebook for billions of dollars, making Koum a billionaire.
Larry Ellison: Larry Ellison grew up in a lower-middle-class neighborhood in Chicago, raised by his aunt and uncle after his father died when he was nine months old. He co-founded Oracle Corporation, one of the world’s leading enterprise software companies, and became one of the wealthiest individuals in the world.
John Paul DeJoria: John Paul DeJoria experienced homelessness and financial struggles early in his life. He went on to co-found Paul Mitchell Systems, a hair care company, and later founded the Patron Spirits Company, becoming a self-made billionaire.
Ralph Lauren: Ralph Lauren grew up in the Bronx, New York, in a working-class family. He started his career in fashion by selling ties, eventually launching his own brand, Polo Ralph Lauren, which became synonymous with luxury and style.
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, was not born into a particularly wealthy family. His parents, Jacklyn and Ted Jorgensen, were teenagers when Bezos was born on January 12, 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Bezos’s biological father, Ted Jorgensen, was a bike shop owner and later worked as a circus performer. Jacklyn and Ted divorced when Bezos was still an infant, and Jacklyn remarried Miguel Bezos, a Cuban immigrant who legally adopted Jeff and gave him his last name.
Miguel Bezos worked as an engineer for Exxon, and the family moved frequently due to his job. While Bezos grew up in a relatively stable and middle-class environment, his parents emphasized hard work, education, and resourcefulness. Bezos often credited his stepfather, Miguel, for instilling in him important values and a strong work ethic.
While Bezos did not inherit significant wealth, his upbringing provided him with a supportive family environment and access to educational opportunities. Bezos attended Princeton University, where he studied electrical engineering and computer science, laying the groundwork for his future entrepreneurial endeavors. It was during his time at Princeton that Bezos developed the idea for an online bookstore, which eventually grew into the e-commerce giant Amazon.com.
Oprah Winfrey: Born into poverty in rural Mississippi, Oprah Winfrey overcame significant challenges, including a difficult childhood marked by poverty and abuse. Through perseverance and talent, she became one of the most successful media personalities in the world, building a media empire that includes television, film, publishing, and philanthropy.
Howard Schultz: Growing up in a Brooklyn housing project, Howard Schultz faced financial hardship and struggled academically. Despite these challenges, he became the CEO of Starbucks, transforming it from a small coffee retailer into one of the world’s most recognizable brands.
Jan Koum: Jan Koum immigrated to the United States from Ukraine as a teenager with his mother, facing poverty and relying on government assistance. He later co-founded WhatsApp, a messaging platform that was acquired by Facebook for billions of dollars, making Koum a billionaire.
Larry Ellison: Larry Ellison grew up in a lower-middle-class neighborhood in Chicago, raised by his aunt and uncle after his father died when he was nine months old. He co-founded Oracle Corporation, one of the world’s leading enterprise software companies, and became one of the wealthiest individuals in the world.
John Paul DeJoria: John Paul DeJoria experienced homelessness and financial struggles early in his life. He went on to co-found Paul Mitchell Systems, a hair care company, and later founded the Patron Spirits Company, becoming a self-made billionaire.
Ralph Lauren: Ralph Lauren grew up in the Bronx, New York, in a working-class family. He started his career in fashion by selling ties, eventually launching his own brand, Polo Ralph Lauren, which became synonymous with luxury and style.