All you need to know about Jeff Bezos who has a networth of $150 Billion.

With a net worth of roughly $150 billion, Jeff Bezos is the world's richest person, and the richest person in modern history. Here's how he rose from a hedge funder to the creator of one of the world's largest tech companies.

Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos.  (David Ryder/Getty Images)

It's been an eventful few months of Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.

In July, Bezos reached a new milestone: his net worth hit $150 billion, making him, as Bloomberg put it, the richest person in modern history.

And then on Tuesday, Bezos and Amazon hit another milestone: Amazon briefly became the second US company to achieve a valuation of more than $1 trillion — though its market cap sunk just under the threshhold thereafter.

That success hasn't come overnight, however. Bezos began his career in the hedge fund world in the 90s, then left a cushy job to launch his own startup.

Here's how Bezos got his start, and built one of the largest tech companies in the world.

Jillian D'Onfro and Eugene Kim contributed earlier versions of this story.

Jeff Bezos' mom, Jackie, was a teenager when she had him in January 1964. She had recently married Cuban immigrant Mike Bezos, who adopted Jeff. Jeff didn't learn that Mike wasn't his real father until he was 10, but says he was more fazed about learning he needed to get glasses than he was about the news.

Jeff Bezos' mom, Jackie, was a teenager when she had him in January 1964. She had recently married Cuban immigrant Mike Bezos, who adopted Jeff. Jeff didn't learn that Mike wasn't his real father until he was 10, but says he was more fazed about learning he needed to get glasses than he was about the news.  (Screenshot / Bio)

Source: Wired

When Bezos was 4, his mother told his biological father, who previously had worked as a circus performer, to stay out of their lives. When Brad Stone interviewed Bezos' biological father for Stone's book "The Everything Store," Bezos' dad had no idea who his son had become.

Not Jeff Bezos' father.  (Reuters/Eric Gaillard)

Bezos showed signs of brilliance from an early age. When he was a toddler, he took apart his crib with a screwdriver because he wanted to sleep in a real bed.

Bezos showed signs of brilliance from an early age. When he was a toddler, he took apart his crib with a screwdriver because he wanted to sleep in a real bed.  (Daniel Lobo/Flickr)

From ages 4 to 16, Bezos spent summers on his grandparents' ranch in Texas, doing things like repairing windmills and castrating bulls.

From ages 4 to 16, Bezos spent summers on his grandparents' ranch in Texas, doing things like repairing windmills and castrating bulls.  (Flickr / Big Grey Mare)

His grandfather, Preston Gise, was a huge inspiration for Bezos and helped kindle his passion for intellectual pursuits. At a commencement address in 2010, Bezos said Gise taught him "it's harder to be kind than clever."

Jeff Bezos  (AP Images)

Bezos fell in love with reruns of the original "Star Trek" and became a fan of later versions too. Early on, he considered naming Amazon MakeItSo.com, a reference to a line from Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

Bezos fell in love with reruns of the original "Star Trek" and became a fan of later versions too. Early on, he considered naming Amazon MakeItSo.com, a reference to a line from Captain Jean-Luc Picard.  (Star Trek)

In school, Bezos told teachers "the future of mankind is not on this planet." As a kid, he wanted to be a space entrepreneur. Now he owns a space-exploration company called Blue Origin.

In school, Bezos told teachers "the future of mankind is not on this planet." As a kid, he wanted to be a space entrepreneur. Now he owns a space-exploration company called Blue Origin.  (Blue Origin)

Source: Wired

After spending a miserable summer working at McDonald's as a teen, Bezos, together with his girlfriend, started the Dream Institute, a 10-day summer camp for kids. They charged $600 a kid and managed to sign up six students. The "Lord of the Rings" series made the required reading list.

After spending a miserable summer working at McDonald's as a teen, Bezos, together with his girlfriend, started the Dream Institute, a 10-day summer camp for kids. They charged $600 a kid and managed to sign up six students. The "Lord of the Rings" series made the required reading list.  (Flickr / Jessie Moore)

Source: Wired

Bezos eventually went to college at Princeton and majored in computer science. Upon graduation, he turned down job offers from Intel and Bell Labs to join a startup called Fitel.

A young Bezos at an early computer.  (Screenshot / Bio)

After he quit Fitel, Bezos considered partnering with Halsey Minor — who would later found CNET — to launch a startup that would deliver news by fax.

After he quit Fitel, Bezos considered partnering with Halsey Minor — who would later found CNET — to launch a startup that would deliver news by fax.  (Karl Baron/Flickr)

Source: Wired

Instead, he got a job at the hedge fund D.E. Shaw. He became a senior vice president after only four years.

Instead, he got a job at the hedge fund D.E. Shaw. He became a senior vice president after only four years.  (Reuters/Arko Datta)

Meanwhile, Bezos was taking ballroom dancing classes as part of a scheme to increase his "women flow." Just as Wall Streeters have a process for increasing their "deal flow," Bezos thought analytically about meeting women.

Meanwhile, Bezos was taking ballroom dancing classes as part of a scheme to increase his "women flow." Just as Wall Streeters have a process for increasing their "deal flow," Bezos thought analytically about meeting women.  (Lisi Niesner/Reuters)

He married MacKenzie Tuttle, a D.E. Shaw research associate, in 1993. She's now a novelist. The couple has four kids together.

He married MacKenzie Tuttle, a D.E. Shaw research associate, in 1993. She's now a novelist. The couple has four kids together.  (AP)

In 1994, Bezos read that the web had grown 2,300% in one year. This number astounded him, and he decided he needed to find some way to take advantage of its rapid growth. He made a list of 20 possible products to sell online and decided books were the best option.

In 1994, Bezos read that the web had grown 2,300% in one year. This number astounded him, and he decided he needed to find some way to take advantage of its rapid growth. He made a list of 20 possible products to sell online and decided books were the best option.  (Paul Falardeau)

Bezos decided to leave D.E. Shaw even though he had a great job.

Bezos decided to leave D.E. Shaw even though he had a great job.  (AP)

"When you are in the thick of things, you can get confused by small stuff," he said later. "I knew when I was 80 that I would never, for example, think about why I walked away from my 1994 Wall Street bonus right in the middle of the year at the worst possible time. That kind of thing just isn't something you worry about when you're 80 years old. At the same time, I knew that I might sincerely regret not having participated in this thing called the Internet that I thought was going to be a revolutionizing event. When I thought about it that way … it was incredibly easy to make the decision."

His boss at the firm, David E. Shaw, tried to persuade Bezos to stay. But Bezos was already determined to start his own company. He felt he'd rather try and fail at a startup than never try at all.

His boss at the firm, David E. Shaw, tried to persuade Bezos to stay. But Bezos was already determined to start his own company. He felt he'd rather try and fail at a startup than never try at all.  (REUTERS/Jason Redmond)

Source: Wired

And so Amazon was born. MacKenzie and Jeff flew to Texas to borrow a car from his father, and then they drove to Seattle. Bezos was making revenue projections in the passenger seat the whole way, though the couple did stop to watch the sunrise at the Grand Canyon.

And so Amazon was born. MacKenzie and Jeff flew to Texas to borrow a car from his father, and then they drove to Seattle. Bezos was making revenue projections in the passenger seat the whole way, though the couple did stop to watch the sunrise at the Grand Canyon.  (Shutterstock/Galyna Andrushko)

Bezos started Amazon.com in a garage with a potbelly stove. He held most of his meetings at the neighborhood Barnes & Noble.

Bezos started Amazon.com in a garage with a potbelly stove. He held most of his meetings at the neighborhood Barnes & Noble.  (Mike Segar/Reuters)

Source: Wired

In the early days, a bell would ring in the office every time someone made a purchase, and everyone would gather around to see whether anyone knew the customer. It took only a few weeks before it was ringing so often they had to make it stop.

In the early days, a bell would ring in the office every time someone made a purchase, and everyone would gather around to see whether anyone knew the customer. It took only a few weeks before it was ringing so often they had to make it stop.  (Flickr / James Duncan Davidson)

Learn more about some of Amazon's early employees here.

In the first month of its launch, Amazon sold books to people in all 50 states and in 45 different countries. And it continued to grow. Amazon went public on May 15, 1997.

In the first month of its launch, Amazon sold books to people in all 50 states and in 45 different countries. And it continued to grow. Amazon went public on May 15, 1997.  (Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

When the dot-com crash came, analysts called the company "Amazon.bomb." But it weathered the storm and ended up being one of the few startups that wasn't wiped out by the dot-com bust.

When the dot-com crash came, analysts called the company "Amazon.bomb." But it weathered the storm and ended up being one of the few startups that wasn't wiped out by the dot-com bust.  (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Amazon shares have continued to go up since the crash (until the recent market correction). It has now gone beyond selling books to offering almost everything you can imagine, including appliances, clothing and even cloud computing services.

An Amazon warehouse.  (Shutterstock)

In the early days, Bezos was a demanding boss and could explode at employees. Rumor has it he hired a leadership coach to help him tone it down.

In the early days, Bezos was a demanding boss and could explode at employees. Rumor has it he hired a leadership coach to help him tone it down.  (Reuters)

Here are some of the strategies Bezos used in building his Amazon empire.

Bezos is known for banning PowerPoint presentations at Amazon. Instead, he requires his staff to turn in papers of a specific length on their proposals to encourage critical thinking over simplistic bullet points.

Bezos is known for banning PowerPoint presentations at Amazon. Instead, he requires his staff to turn in papers of a specific length on their proposals to encourage critical thinking over simplistic bullet points.  (Thomson Reuters)

Bezos is also known for creating a frugal company culture that doesn't offer perks like free food or massages.

An Amazon office.  (Business Insider)

In 1998, Bezos became an early investor in Google. He invested $250,000, which was worth about 3.3 million shares when the company went public in 2004. Those would be worth billions today (Bezos hasn't said whether he kept any of his stock after the initial public offering).

In 1998, Bezos became an early investor in Google. He invested $250,000, which was worth about 3.3 million shares when the company went public in 2004. Those would be worth billions today (Bezos hasn't said whether he kept any of his stock after the initial public offering).  (Bloomberg Game Changers)

What does Bezos do with all his money? In 2012, he donated $2.5 million to defend gay marriage in Washington.

Jeff Bezos  (REUTERS/Abhishek N. Chinnappa)

Bezos has also donated $42 million and part of his land in Texas to the construction of The Clock Of The Long Now, an underground timepiece designed to work for 10,000 years.

Bezos has also donated $42 million and part of his land in Texas to the construction of The Clock Of The Long Now, an underground timepiece designed to work for 10,000 years.  (The Long Now Foundation / Facebook)

In August 2013, Bezos bought The Washington Post for $250 million.

In August 2013, Bezos bought The Washington Post for $250 million.  (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

His space company Blue Origin made history in 2015 when it became one of the first commercial companies to successfully launch a reusable rocket.

His space company Blue Origin made history in 2015 when it became one of the first commercial companies to successfully launch a reusable rocket.  (Isaiah J. Downing/Reuters)

Bezos' interest in flying has gotten him into trouble in the past. In 2003, Bezos almost died in a helicopter crash in Texas while scouting a site for a test-launch facility for Blue Origin.

This isn't Bezos' helicopter.  (NTSB)

Source: CNN

But in early 2016, he flew his personal jet to Germany to pick up and bring home the Washington Post reporter who had been detained by Iran.

But in early 2016, he flew his personal jet to Germany to pick up and bring home the Washington Post reporter who had been detained by Iran.  (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Bezos is said to own a 5.35-acre estate on Seattle's Lake Washington that includes 200 yards of shoreline.

An Amazon-branded Boeing 767 freighter, nicknamed Amazon One, flies over Lake Washington.  (Stephen Brashear/Getty)

He also bought a seven-bedroom, $24.5 million mansion in Beverly Hills in 2007. There's a greenhouse, tennis court, pool, and guest house on the property, and it neighbors Tom Cruise's estate.

Bezos' house in Beverly Hills.  (Dream Homes Magazine)

Source: Forbes

In January 2017, Bezos bought the Textile Museum, a pair of mansions in Washington, D.C.'s Kalorama neighborhood. The property sold for $23 million and is the largest in Washington. He's currently spending $12 million to renovate the place.

In January 2017, Bezos bought the Textile Museum, a pair of mansions in Washington, D.C.'s Kalorama neighborhood. The property sold for $23 million and is the largest in Washington. He's currently spending $12 million to renovate the place.  (AgnosticPreachersKid/Wikimedia Commons)

Here's another look at the mansions.

Here's another look at the mansions.  (Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider)

Bezos also owns three linked apartments totaling 10,000 square feet in New York City's Century Tower.

Bezos also owns three linked apartments totaling 10,000 square feet in New York City's Century Tower.  (iStock)

Source: Forbes

Now, more than 20 years after going public, Amazon has a market cap of over $900 billion. Barclays predicted Amazon could be the first trillion-dollar company.

Now, more than 20 years after going public, Amazon has a market cap of over $900 billion. Barclays predicted Amazon could be the first trillion-dollar company.  (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

In August 2017, Amazon officially acquired Whole Foods for $13.7 billion. Almost a year later, the changes to the popular grocery store are visible: Customers who are Amazon Prime subscribers can get 10% of sale prices, and you'll see some Amazon branded items offered, including tech products like the popular Amazon Echo line.

In August 2017, Amazon officially acquired Whole Foods for $13.7 billion. Almost a year later, the changes to the popular grocery store are visible: Customers who are Amazon Prime subscribers can get 10% of sale prices, and you'll see some Amazon branded items offered, including tech products like the popular Amazon Echo line.  (Kate Taylor/Business Insider)

In July 2017, Bezos became the world's richest person for the first time, surpassing Microsoft founder Bill Gates. At the time, his net worth was more than $90 billion. While Gates reclaimed his top spot shortly after, Bezos became No. 1 again after Amazon released its Q3 2017 earnings in late October. Now, he's holding steady as the richest person in modern history.

In July 2017, Bezos became the world's richest person for the first time, surpassing Microsoft founder Bill Gates. At the time, his net worth was more than $90 billion. While Gates reclaimed his top spot shortly after, Bezos became No. 1 again after Amazon released its Q3 2017 earnings in late October. Now, he's holding steady as the richest person in modern history.  (Getty Images)

Despite his high net worth, Bezos doesn't actually take home a high salary, comparatively speaking. His annual salary comes out to $81,840, according to Bloomberg.

Despite his high net worth, Bezos doesn't actually take home a high salary, comparatively speaking. His annual salary comes out to $81,840, according to Bloomberg.  (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Much of Bezos' wealth comes not from his salary but from the Amazon shares he owns. Bezos currently holds 78,893,033 shares in Amazon, accounting for a 16.3% ownership stake.

In August, Amazon became the second US company after Apple to reach a $1 trillion valuation after its stock gained 2% to hit the magic number of $2,050.27 per share. However, it quickly dipped below that magic threshold in intraday trading.

In August, Amazon became the second US company after Apple to reach a $1 trillion valuation after its stock gained 2% to hit the magic number of $2,050.27 per share. However, it quickly dipped below that magic threshold in intraday trading.  (Reuters/Lindsey Wasson)