Amazon's Jeff Bezos continued to drive a Honda long after becoming a billionaire - and it reveals why he's so successful
Mark Lennihan/AP
- Jeff Bezos is worth over $100 billion, but he is still a frugal spender as Amazon CEO.
- When he first became rich, Bezos upgraded his Chevy Blazer to a Honda Accord.
- Frugality is one of Amazon's leadership principles and has helped the company succeed in delivering what customers want.
Jeff Bezos is the richest person in the world, but even as a billionaire he drove around town in a Honda Accord.
The surprisingly frugal founder of retail giant Amazon watched his expenses closely when his vision was just a start-up. After the company's IPO introduced Bezos to great wealth, he remained a humble spender.
From the driver's seat of his Accord, Bezos told Bob Simon during a 1999 "60 Minutes" interview that "this is a perfectly good car."
The interview further showed Bezos' frugality from his office in Amazon's then headquarters - wedged between a heroin needle exchange and a "porno parlor." Standing in front of Bezos' desk, which was made of a wooden door and sitting on a dirty carpet, Simon asked why the CEO's working conditions weren't nicer.
Bezos said, "it's a symbol of spending money on things that matter to customers."
David Ryder/Getty Images
Amazon - which just announced a shortlist of 20 finalists for the company's second headquarters - began as an online bookstore in the dawn of the digital age but didn't make a profit for its first 20 years. Before his Accord, Bezos drove through Seattle in another economy car.
"I was driving the packages to the post office myself in my 1987 Chevy Blazer and dreaming one day that we might have a forklift," Bezos told GeekWire about the early days of Amazon.
The tech company is currently valued at over $600 billion - which may be an undervaluation - and Bezos' net worth is $109 billion as of Friday, according to Bloomberg. Yet, even with all of the success, frugality remains a core leadership principle at Amazon.
The company's website tells employees: "Accomplish more with less. Constraints breed resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, and invention. There are no extra points for growing headcount, budget size, or fixed expense."
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Amazon Web Services senior VP Andy Jassy told CRN Australia that he is similarly interested in cutting unnecessary employee expenses, leading to price drops and savings for customers.
"We try not to spend money on things that our customers don't value. That's been a key part of our DNA," Jassey said.
That includes flight upgrades to business or first class when Amazon employees are traveling for work. Amazon will only pay for an economy ticket - if an employee wants to upgrade, it has to come out of their own pocket.
As of 2013, Bezos was still driving a Honda, according to Brad Stone's book "The Everything Store." But being frugal in some areas hasn't stopped him from making other notable purchases.
The frugality of Amazon - and its leader, Jeff Bezos - has allowed the company to thrive. As it expands to a second headquarters, continuing to be careful with money will certainly help.
- Saudi Arabia wants China to help fund its struggling $500 billion Neom megaproject. Investors may not be too excited.
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- One of the world's only 5-star airlines seems to be considering asking business-class passengers to bring their own cutlery
- Experts warn of rising temperatures in Bengaluru as Phase 2 of Lok Sabha elections draws near
- Axis Bank posts net profit of ₹7,129 cr in March quarter
- 7 Best tourist places to visit in Rishikesh in 2024
- From underdog to Bill Gates-sponsored superfood: Have millets finally managed to make a comeback?
- 7 Things to do on your next trip to Rishikesh