Just the Facts: A retail revolution turns 10

by Tom Carroll

I am trying out a new idea, just list the facts from the story and ignore all else. So with out further delay:

A Retail Revolution Turns 10 (not free as in beer)

Original Seed Money: $300 thousand
Amazon active users: 49 Million
Number of categories on Amazon: 31
Cost of free shipping in 1st qtr 2005: $55 million
Amazon Revenue:

  • 1996 $15.7 million.
  • 1997 $147.8 million.
  • 1999 $1.6 billion (pinky pointing to mouth like Dr. Evil)
  • 2004: $6.9 billion

Percent of Revenue generated by provideing services to third parties: 27%

Amazon Profit:

  • 1999: – $719 million.
  • 2004: $588 million

Amazon total losses as of 2001: $2.9 billion

Share Price:

  • All time High: $113.
  • 7/8/2005: $34.74

Share Price change:
2004: -16%
2005 YTD: -22%

Year Amazon was founded: 1994
First year Amazon turned a profit: 2003
Years it took Amazon to make a profit: 9
Amount Borrowed from Banks: $2 billion.

Jeff Bezos Networth: $3.5 Billion
Jeff Bezos Age: 41
Percent of Amazon shares owned by Jeff Bezos: ~ 25%
Jeff Bezos current salery: $81,000

My favorite quote from the article is by Mark R. Anderson. Mr Anderson said,

“You have to give Jeff credit.”

No shit???? I think everyone has given Jeff credit, to the tune of…… 2 Billion dollars.
Here is my question, how many small business loans does it take to fund Amazon?