Jeff Bezos, the founder and executive chairman of Amazon, has been in the spotlight recently for his extravagant purchases, including a $165 million estate in Los Angeles, a $177 million property in Miami, and a $500 million yacht. However, his most significant recent investments may not be in luxury real estate or yachts, but rather in artificial intelligence through his family office, Bezos Expeditions.
According to exclusive data provided to CNBC by FINTRX, all of the investments made by Bezos Expeditions this year have been in artificial intelligence. While the exact amounts invested have not been disclosed, Bezos’ family office has participated in funding rounds totaling more than $1 billion. In January, he invested in Perplexity AI, an AI-powered search engine company, followed by a follow-on round in April. The value of the January investment doubled by April, with the company’s valuation soaring to between $2.5 billion and $3 billion. Bezos Expeditions also invested in Figure AI, a humanoid-robot company, and Skild AI, which focuses on AI systems for machines and robotics devices.
Bezos Expeditions has always had a strong focus on technology, with 70% of its investments in the tech sector. However, Bezos’ recent buying spree indicates a shift towards artificial intelligence as the primary focus. In a podcast interview in January, Bezos emphasized the profound impact of AI tools on technology and society, noting that they are more likely to help than harm.
Bezos is not alone in his enthusiasm for artificial intelligence. According to the UBS Global Family Office Report, AI is now the top investment category for family offices, with 78% planning to invest in AI in the next two to three years. Amazon itself has been heavily investing in AI, with plans to invest over $100 billion in data centers and $4 billion in Anthropic, an AI safety and research firm.
Despite his significant investments in AI and other ventures, Bezos recently filed a stock-sale plan to unload another $5 billion worth of Amazon shares this year, on top of the $8 billion he sold earlier. With over $13 billion in cash reserves, Bezos is well-positioned to continue betting on the AI boom and other promising technologies.
Jeff Bezos’ recent investments in artificial intelligence through his family office, Bezos Expeditions, reflect a strategic pivot towards AI as the primary focus. With AI emerging as the top investment category for family offices and companies like Amazon plowing billions into the technology, Bezos is positioning himself to capitalize on the AI boom and shape the future of technology and society.
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