[Story time]
Yesterday, Jeff Bezos testified in front of Congress. It was almost exactly 15 yrs ago that Amazon introduced itself to the world.
We have all heard some version of his story. But in investigating his childhood, I was surprised to find much that has gone unshared.
Yesterday, Jeff Bezos testified in front of Congress. It was almost exactly 15 yrs ago that Amazon introduced itself to the world.
We have all heard some version of his story. But in investigating his childhood, I was surprised to find much that has gone unshared.
He was the son of a 17-year-old high school student and the owner of a bike shop. He had a different name then, too:
Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen.
The marriage between Jacklyn Gise and Ted Jorgensen didn't last long — a year, at most.
Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen.
The marriage between Jacklyn Gise and Ted Jorgensen didn't last long — a year, at most.
Miguel "Mike" Bezos didn't have the easiest upbringing. Born in Santiago de Cuba to the owner of a lumber mill, he described his family home as "full of life."
The Castro regime changed that. Almost overnight, the Cuban government nationalized businesses.
The Castro regime changed that. Almost overnight, the Cuban government nationalized businesses.
Miguel was in his father's office when the army arrived with papers. They owned the mill now.
At 15, Miguel left for America, alone. He didn't want to go, but his parents believed there was more opportunity abroad. He arrived in Miami knowing one English word: "hamburger."
At 15, Miguel left for America, alone. He didn't want to go, but his parents believed there was more opportunity abroad. He arrived in Miami knowing one English word: "hamburger."
He had nowhere to go. In the end, he was taken to Camp Matecumbe, temporary lodging for roughly 400 Cuban children without families.
Later, these children and others like them would be known as the "Peter Pan" kids, part of a mass exodus from Castro's regime.
Later, these children and others like them would be known as the "Peter Pan" kids, part of a mass exodus from Castro's regime.
Miguel wasn't sure where to go after high school. The U of Alberquerque offered scholarships to refugees — he went.
Soon, he met Jacklyn and her 4-year-old, Jeffrey. Miguel was in college when they married. Whereas Jorgensen was unserious, a drinker, Miguel was stable.
Soon, he met Jacklyn and her 4-year-old, Jeffrey. Miguel was in college when they married. Whereas Jorgensen was unserious, a drinker, Miguel was stable.
The family moved to Houston. In some respect, Texas was the Gise ancestral home. Jacklyn's family had been early settlers, eventually acquiring a 25K acre ranch in Cotulla, near the Mexican border.
When you look up the city of Cotulla today, you find an Episcopal church, a taqueria, and something called the Brush Country Museum. It is a sleepy town though it has had its share of history — a 20-year-old LBJ taught at the public school in 1928.
Every titan deserves a mythology. Genghis Khan was said to have emerged from his mother clutching a blood clot. Hercules strangled a pair of vipers in the cradle.
As a toddler, Bezos is said to have taken a screwdriver to his crib, disassembling it.
As a toddler, Bezos is said to have taken a screwdriver to his crib, disassembling it.
Jeffrey developed a mischievous streak to rival his aptitude. He coopted the family garage for science experiments, rigged his bedroom with an electric alarm to keep his siblings out.
He was not one of those geniuses that struggled to apply their minds.
He was not one of those geniuses that struggled to apply their minds.
After the family relocated, Jeffrey finished high school in Miami, graduating as valedictorian and heading to Princeton.
He'd grown to love computers but planned to study physics in NJ. That interest didn't last — he graduated with a B.S. in CS.
Summa cum laude, of course.
He'd grown to love computers but planned to study physics in NJ. That interest didn't last — he graduated with a B.S. in CS.
Summa cum laude, of course.
The year was 1986.
Around the time Bezos graduated, "Hands Across America" saw 5M people create a human chain from Long Beach to NYC.
There is no reason to think Bezos was there, even though he may have been in the city. He'd taken his talents to Wall Street.
Around the time Bezos graduated, "Hands Across America" saw 5M people create a human chain from Long Beach to NYC.
There is no reason to think Bezos was there, even though he may have been in the city. He'd taken his talents to Wall Street.
As with everything, he seemed to have a knack for it. Starting at Fitel, a trading network, Jeffrey moved to Bankers Trust; finally to DE Shaw.
He met a woman, his assistant in fact. MacKenzie.
By the time he was 30, he'd become just the 4th Senior VP at the firm.
He met a woman, his assistant in fact. MacKenzie.
By the time he was 30, he'd become just the 4th Senior VP at the firm.
"2,300%"
It couldn't be right, could it?
In the spring of 1994, Bezos read the report with disbelief. Internet usage was increasing by 2,300% a year? It scarcely seemed possible.
What were the best mail-order businesses?, he wondered. Surely they would be the first to go.
It couldn't be right, could it?
In the spring of 1994, Bezos read the report with disbelief. Internet usage was increasing by 2,300% a year? It scarcely seemed possible.
What were the best mail-order businesses?, he wondered. Surely they would be the first to go.
The next day he was on a plane to LA.
He arrived at The American Booksellers' Convention with half an idea. Less than that, he must have told himself.
His life was comfortable. Did he really need this? But if he'd hoped to disqualify the thought, he didn't succeed.
He arrived at The American Booksellers' Convention with half an idea. Less than that, he must have told himself.
His life was comfortable. Did he really need this? But if he'd hoped to disqualify the thought, he didn't succeed.
The major booksellers had already compiled their archives electronically. Interesting. Upon his return to NY, he considered other ideas. Was books the right play?
Maybe compact discs? Videos?
But you couldn't argue with books. Easy to ship, low unit price, huge variety.
Maybe compact discs? Videos?
But you couldn't argue with books. Easy to ship, low unit price, huge variety.
Could he build this and stay at DE?
No.
Of course not.
If he was in, he was all in.
On July 4th, 1994 Jeffrey and MacKenzie flew to Texas and picked up Miguel's Chevy Blazer. Then they drove to Seattle. On the ride, Jeffrey pecked at a business plan.
No.
Of course not.
If he was in, he was all in.
On July 4th, 1994 Jeffrey and MacKenzie flew to Texas and picked up Miguel's Chevy Blazer. Then they drove to Seattle. On the ride, Jeffrey pecked at a business plan.
"Cadabra" had a ring to it, Jeffrey thought.
When he spoke to the lawyer he'd hired to get his company started, he was met with laughter. Too much like "cadaver."
How about "Relentless?" Too intense, friends said. Sinister.
(Aside. Look at relentless.com)
When he spoke to the lawyer he'd hired to get his company started, he was met with laughter. Too much like "cadaver."
How about "Relentless?" Too intense, friends said. Sinister.
(Aside. Look at relentless.com)
Jeffrey sat in front of a dictionary paging through it.
One way or another, he was going to find a name.
He didn't get very far. He didn't need to.
Amazon.
Perhaps there was something to it.
One way or another, he was going to find a name.
He didn't get very far. He didn't need to.
Amazon.
Perhaps there was something to it.
Thank you for reading the ballad of a young Bezos.
Should the story continue?
Should the story continue?
