Amazon first exceeded a $2 trillion market capitalization among online retailers in July 2024.
Amazon crossed the $2 trillion level during trading on July 9, 2024, as investors responded to growth in e-commerce, advertising, and Amazon Web Services. The company had already become one of the world’s most valuable businesses through the combination of retail scale and technology infrastructure.
Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore. The company began operations in 1995 and expanded into electronics, household goods, media, subscriptions, logistics, and cloud computing. Amazon Web Services, launched in 2006, became a particularly important part of its corporate story.
The phrase “online retailer” distinguishes Amazon from diversified technology companies that also sell products online. Alibaba and JD.com are major e-commerce companies, while Walmart operates both physical stores and digital channels. Market capitalization changes daily and does not equal Amazon’s sales or the value of goods sold through its marketplace.