Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore before it expanded into a global technology group.
Bezos incorporated the company in July 1994, and Amazon began operating online in 1995. Its original business focused on selling books through the internet, taking advantage of the large number of titles that could be offered online.
Amazon later expanded into categories such as electronics, clothing, groceries, and household goods. It also developed major businesses in cloud computing through Amazon Web Services, digital entertainment, advertising, devices, and logistics. These activities helped transform Amazon from a retailer into one of the world’s most valuable companies.
A common misconception is that the company was originally named after a marketplace or technology service. Bezos chose “Amazon” after the Amazon River, emphasizing scale. The company’s market capitalization reflects investor expectations for all of its businesses, not merely its online retail operation.