Amazon first reached a $1 trillion market capitalization during the 2018 technology-stock rally, shortly after Apple.
Amazon crossed the threshold on September 4, 2018. Its valuation reflected the rapid expansion of online retail, Amazon Web Services, digital advertising, and subscription products such as Prime.
Amazon had begun as an online bookstore founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994. Over time, it expanded into a broad commerce platform and became a major provider of cloud infrastructure through AWS.
The company’s market capitalization was not the same as its sales or profits. Amazon historically reinvested heavily in warehouses, logistics, technology, and new businesses, so investors often valued it for long-term growth potential as well as current earnings.