Jeff Bezos to sell nearly $5 billion in Amazon stock amid tariff uncertainty and wedding buzz
Move comes as Amazon braces for impact of Trump’s trade policies and prepares for billionaire’s Venetian wedding
Executive Chairman of Amazon Jeff Bezos (R) and US author Lauren Sanchez attend the 11th Breakthrough Prize ceremony at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, on 5 April 2025.
Michael Tran / AFP
Jeff Bezos is preparing to sell up to 25 million shares of Amazon stock—valued at around $4.8 billion—as the e-commerce giant navigates uncertain trade policies under the Trump administration and speculation swirls about the billionaire’s lavish upcoming wedding.
In a quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Amazon disclosed that Bezos adopted a 10b5-1 trading plan in March, allowing him to offload the shares through May 2026. It’s the second time in less than a year that Bezos has moved to liquidate nearly $5 billion worth of company stock.
Bezos’s prior sale in July 2024 came after his move to Miami, Florida, with fiancée Lauren Sánchez. The couple is reportedly planning a destination wedding in Venice, Italy, which some outlets have labeled the potential “event of the century.”
Founder of Amazon and Blue Origin Jeff Bezos and his fiance Lauren Sanchez depart inauguration ceremonies in the Rotunda of the US Capitol on 20 January 2025 in Washington, DC.
Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP
The billionaire, who stepped down as Amazon CEO in 2021 but remains executive chair and top shareholder, may also use the funds to support philanthropic ventures or Blue Origin, his space exploration company.
Amazon, meanwhile, is facing what CEO Andy Jassy described as “recessionary fears” and “tariff and trade policy uncertainty.” The Trump administration’s recent tariff hikes have put added pressure on tech companies, including Amazon, which noted it is taking proactive steps like stocking up on inventory and controlling prices.
Recently, a viral moment added some levity to Amazon’s high-stakes week: a video of an Amazon "delivery person" dancing to Will Smith’s "Hard Times," shared with the cheeky caption, "@willsmith consider it delivered."
The company’s advertising division continues to perform strongly, growing 19% to $13.9 billion in Q1 2025. Still, the administration has criticized Amazon for allegedly politicizing tariff impacts in product listings, a claim the company denies.
Despite the pressure, Amazon’s market cap remains above $2 trillion. Bezos, currently the world’s second-richest person with a net worth of $212 billion, retains his position as the company’s largest shareholder.
For now, the company’s $2 trillion market cap keeps it among the world’s top corporations, behind only Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. Whether this new sale signals a long-term shift in Bezos’ relationship with the company or is simply part of portfolio diversification remains to be seen.