Jeff Bezos wrote Amazon’s plan while MacKenzie Scott drove across US
The article recounts the origin story of Amazon, detailing how Jeff Bezos drafted the company's initial business plan on a laptop while his then-wife, MacKenzie Scott, drove them across the United States in 1994. It emphasizes the risks taken by the couple to transition from successful Wall Street careers to the nascent e-commerce industry.
Why it matters
It provides historical context on the founding of one of the world's most influential companies, illustrating the 'garage startup' ethos of the tech boom.
Before Amazon became a three-trillion-dollar global company, its entire business plan was written on a laptop sitting inside the passenger seat of a borrowed 1988 Chevy Blazer.The idea for the online retail giant was created during a 2,000-mile road trip across the United States. Jeff Bezos, then a 30-year-old Wall Street executive, sat in the passenger seat working on early financial plans while his then-wife, MacKenzie Scott, drove them toward their new life in the Pacific Northwest.The trip started soon after Bezos resigned from his job as the youngest senior vice president at the investment firm D. E. Shaw & Co. At that time, Bezos was earning an amount equal to around $1.5 million to $2 million a year in today’s value.
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