5 Money Moves That Made Bezos Rich

Some people dream about becoming uber wealthy. They have visions of hitting the lottery or inheriting from a distant relative. Others just want to be debt-free, so they take out debt consolidation loans to pay off credit cards. Jeff Bezos wanted much more, and he got it.

Becoming the richest man in the world isn’t something we’re likely to accomplish, but that doesn’t mean we can’t follow in his footsteps. Take a moment and study the path of Jeff Bezos. He didn’t get rich by accident. It was a process. Here are his steps, modified for you.

1. Take a Leap of Faith

Quitting a high-paying job as a Wall Street hedge fund manager takes incredible fortitude and an enormous amount of faith. Bezos had an idea. He wanted to start an online bookstore. Believing deep in his heart that it was the right move, he took that leap.

You must believe to achieve. That doesn’t mean you should walk off the job right now to pursue your dreams. Many entrepreneurs continue to work as they build their idea into a real business. This first step is all about making the decision to go for it.

2. Ignore the Background Noise

Jeff’s Wall Street buddies, his boss, and even his mom was not in favor of him going all in on an idea they didn’t particularly believe in. Bezos ignored them all. He went through with his resignation, put his all into his idea, and the rest is history.

It doesn’t matter what others say or believe about you. Belief in self is all that’s required for success in life. Sure, you’ll fail occasionally, maybe even a lot, but conviction in your ideas and hard work will always bring success in the end. Have you been on Amazon recently?

3. Think Outside the Box

Unlimited free shipping for $79 a year (now $119) was an outrageous concept that had all the “experts” predicting Amazon would be out of business within a year. The company brought in $400 billion in revenue in 2020. Bezos proved everyone wrong.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Doing it the way it has always been done will leave you mired in mediocrity. Jeff Bezos took a chance on a disruptive business model, and it paid off big. You can do that, too. Put fear aside and go with your gut occasionally.

4. Invest in Yourself

Jeff Bezos is an investor. He puts money into companies that will complement Amazon’s services and funds technology that will benefit his fellow human beings. One example of this is the Bezos Earth Fund, which was created to help fight climate change.

Investing in what you’re passionate about is investing in yourself. That becomes possible when you free yourself from debt and prioritize your spending. Do that and good things will happen. Help others and it will come back to you in ways you can’t imagine.

5. Shoot for the Stars

On July 20, 2021, Jeff Bezos was carried into space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket ship. He owns the company. That’s literally shooting for the stars. You can grouse about how “only the rich” can do this or you can take some inspiration from it.

Anything is possible if you’re willing to put the work in and you believe in what you’re doing. Ask any professional athlete who’s won a championship. Do you think Tom Brady settles for less? You shouldn’t either. Dream big and make it happen.

Kevin Flynn

Kevin is a former fintech coach and financial services professional. When not on the golf course, he can be found traveling with his wife or spending time with their eight wonderful grandchildren and two cats.