Childhood Years of Jeff Bezos

Jeffrey Preston Bezos was born January 12, 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A year later, his parents divorced and since then he has never had contact with his biological father. Three years later, his mother, Jackie Gise, married Michael Bezos, who fled his native Cuba when he was fifteen years old.

“In early 1996 we were called Amazon.con, in ’97 Amazon.toast, and in 1999 it was Amazon.bomb. Then there was my personal favorite: Amazon.org , because clearly we’re not for profit.… It still gets a ton of attention. I mean, you’re still talking to me.”

Much of Jeff Bezos’s relentless drive and ambition likely came from his new father, who was raised in a Catholic mission. Mike Bezos always strove to better himself, learning English and working various odd jobs to pay for his education at the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque. After college, he became an engineer with Exxon Corporation, causing the family to move to Texas. After several years, another job transfer brought them to Florida, where Jeff Bezos attended Palmetto High School in Miami. Bezos was popular in school and became class president and valedictorian in his senior year.