Jeff Bezos, founder and former CEO of Amazon, is currently the world’s third richest person, but his official salary remains surprisingly low. Despite having a net worth of about $254 billion, Bezos has kept the same base salary for decades.
According to company filings, he earns just $81,400 a year — an amount that is lower than what many professionals earn today. Bezos has been drawing this salary since 1998, when it was slightly increased from around $79,000. Since then, it has remained unchanged. Company documents state that Bezos chose not to take additional compensation and has never accepted higher cash pay.
Jeff Bezos wealth tied to stock
While his salary is modest, Jeff Bezos owns about 8% of Amazon, making him the company’s largest shareholder.
At current market value, this stake is worth over $200 billion and forms the majority of his wealth.Bezos has previously explained that he did not feel the need for higher pay or stock incentives because he already owned a significant part of the company. He stepped down as CEO in 2021 and now serves as executive chairman.
Amazon’s pay structure for executives
Amazon’s approach to executive pay focuses more on long-term value rather than high salaries. The company keeps base salaries relatively low and links overall compensation to stock performance.
Current CEO Andy Jassy, for example, earns a base salary of $365,000, with most of his compensation tied to stock awards. According to Amazon’s annual proxy filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Andy Jassy’s total compensation stood at about $2.1 million in 2025, marking a nearly 30% increase compared to 2024. The rise was largely driven by higher spending on business travel and security, which added nearly up to $1.7 million.
Bezos also receives additional benefits, including security and travel expenses, which totaled about $1.6 million last year. The company said these costs are necessary given his role and public profile.
