Amazon was founded in 1994 as an online bookstore before becoming one of the world’s most valuable companies.
Jeff Bezos incorporated the company in Washington in July 1994, and it began operating online in 1995. Books were a practical starting category because an online store could offer a much larger selection than a typical physical shop. The company later expanded into music, electronics, household goods, groceries, and many other categories.
Amazon’s growth also came from businesses beyond retail. Amazon Web Services became a major cloud-computing provider, while advertising, subscriptions, devices, and logistics added further sources of revenue.
Amazon’s market capitalization reflects investor expectations about all of these operations, not simply the value of its online storefront. The company’s name was inspired by the Amazon River, and its original corporate name was Cadabra before it was changed to Amazon. Jeff Bezos remained chief executive until Andy Jassy succeeded him in 2021.