Jeff Bezos Sells $5.7 Billion in Amazon Shares via Prearranged Trading Plan

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com Inc., executed a $5.7 billion share selloff in July 2025 under a prearranged trading plan, with transactions spanning late June to mid-July. The sales coincided with and followed his marriage to television host Lauren Sanchez, including a $735 million transaction on his wedding day, June 27. The divestment, detailed in SEC filings, involved over 32.7 million Amazon shares sold at prices ranging from $221 to $233, with the highest volumes occurring between July 3 and 24. Despite the substantial selloff, Bezos retains approximately 884 million Amazon shares, maintaining a net worth of $252 billion as of July 2025, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index [1].

The transactions were structured under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, a regulatory mechanism that allows pre-scheduled stock sales to prevent accusations of insider trading. This approach, which automates trades based on predetermined parameters, was established in early May 2025. The plan’s execution was managed by a third-party broker, ensuring compliance with SEC guidelines. Similar strategies have been adopted by other high-profile executives, such as Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai, who recently utilized 10b5-1 filings for stock sales [1].

Bezos’s selloff aligns with Amazon’s strong stock performance, which rose 5.5% in July alone and 26% over the preceding 12 months. The timing of the trades—overlapping with his wedding—raised questions about the interplay between personal milestones and financial strategy. However, the 10b5-1 plan’s automated nature suggests the sales were preplanned, independent of real-time market conditions or personal events [1].

The selloff also included charitable components. SEC filings revealed that Bezos had donated over 600,000 Amazon shares to unnamed nonprofits in the months preceding the sales, as reported in a Form 144 filing by Morgan Stanley. While the recipient organizations remain undisclosed, the move underscores Bezos’s broader philanthropy goals. The billionaire has publicly stated intentions to donate the majority of his wealth, though he has not joined the Giving Pledge, a commitment from the world’s wealthiest to philanthropy [1].

Despite the $5.7 billion reduction in his Amazon stake, Bezos remains one of the company’s largest shareholders. His remaining holdings are comparable to those of institutional investors like Vanguard, which owns 832 million shares. With Amazon’s market cap at $2.5 trillion, the selloff does not significantly alter Bezos’s influence within the company. Analysts note that the transaction reflects a broader trend of tech billionaires restructuring portfolios, though the timing highlights the intersection of personal life and high-stakes finance [1].

The data underscores Amazon’s sustained growth, with its stock up 46% over five years. Bezos’s net worth post-selloff remains reflective of the company’s enduring performance and his diversified asset base. The $735 million sale on his wedding day, however, stands as a striking example of how ultra-high-net-worth individuals manage wealth amid major life events [1].

Sources:

[1] [Jeff Bezos Sells $5.7 Billion in Amazon Shares After Wedding] https://fortune.com/2025/07/28/jeff-bezos-amazon-stock-sale-philanthroy-wedding/

[2] [The Latest – Jeff Bezos’s Honeymoon Plans Involved a $5.7 Billion Amazon Share Selloff] https://fortune.com/the-latest/