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News Flash: Jeff Bezos Is Rich

'Alexa, is Jeff Bezos officially the world's richest person yet?'

 & Chloe Albanesius Executive Editor, News

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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In case you were wondering, Jeff Bezos is not hurting for cash.

As Bloomberg notes, a jump in Amazon shares this morning pushed Bezos's net worth to $90.9 billion, which tops the cash pile of that other tech billionaire, Bill Gates, who's at $90.7 billion.

Don't get too excited (or depressed), though. The market is a fickle beast, so a dip in Amazon's stock means Gates could retain his title as the world's richest person come 4 p.m., when the markets close.

Amazon's quarterly earnings call is scheduled for today at 5:30 p.m. ET, at which point Bezos could revel in his status as Very Rich Person or weep in shame at Gates's continued dominance.

A March list of the world's richest people from Forbes put Gates in the No. 1 position, followed by Warren Buffet, and Bezos at No. 3. That same month, Bezos unseated Buffett and moved into second place, Bloomberg reported, and in May, Time put Bezos in the No. 1 spot ahead of Gates and fashion exec Amancio Ortega. So do with that what you will.

To most of us, this type of news will be met with a shrug: $90.9 billion vs. $90.7 billion? Seriously? But a number of these execs do at least donate a good chunk of their wealth to philanthropic efforts. Bill and Melinda Gates are part of The Giving Pledge, a group of billionaires who have promised to give away the majority of their wealth.

As the New York Times notes, Bezos has not signed on to the Giving Pledge, though in June, he asked Twitter followers for ideas about how he should shape his "philanthropy strategy." The Bezos Family Foundation is run by his parents, the Times says, but Bezos does not play an active role.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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