Amazon became the second U.S. company to reach a $1 trillion market value.
Amazon crossed the $1 trillion market-capitalization threshold on September 4, 2018, about one month after Apple. The company’s share price reflected the scale of its online retail operation, its growing cloud business, advertising activity, subscriptions, and expectations for continued expansion.
Amazon began in 1994 as an online bookstore founded by Jeff Bezos. It expanded into many product categories and built a marketplace where independent sellers could offer goods alongside Amazon’s own inventory. Amazon Web Services, launched in the mid-2000s, became another major part of the company.
Amazon is often described as an online retailer, but its market value has also depended heavily on businesses beyond retail. Its logistics network, Prime membership, digital media, and cloud infrastructure all contribute to how investors assess the company.