New York (CNN Business)The economy might be a shambles, but Jeff Bezos’ wallet couldn’t tell. He’s now worth nearly $172 billion, a new record for the world’s richest person, according to Bloomberg Billionaire Index.
Bezos this week surpassed his previous wealth record that he reached prior to his divorce from his ex-wife MacKenzie. Last year, the couple divorced after 25 years of marriage. She received 25% of the couple’s Amazon (AMZN)stock, which is roughly a 4% stake in the company.
MacKenzie’s wealth also hit a record: She’s now worth $57 billion, making her the 12th richest person in the world. Her wealth skyrocketed 54% year to date, or an increase of nearly $20 billion, according to Bloomberg’s tallies.
Much of Bezos’ wealth is tied to Amazon. He owns roughly 57 million shares, or 12% of the company. And its stock has soared 56% year to date.
Amazon has benefited from a huge increase in online shopping during the coronavirus pandemic, as brick-and-mortar stores either closed or faced long lines as lockdowns overtook the US this year.
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