Jeff Bezos Says Bye Bye to Amazon as the CEO and Set to Foray in Space Tech Business Blue Origin

Amazon's top boss Jeff Bezos leaves an enduring legacy having transformed Amazon from a modest online bookseller into one of the world's most powerful corporations. Now, however, he will start a new chapter in his career.

Blue Origin, the space transportation company owned by Jeff Bezos, has announced in June that Jeff Bezos and his brother Mark Bezos will join the auction winner on New Shepard's first human flight on 20 July.

New Shephard is set to be on track to be the first commercial flight to take a civilian beyond the Kármán Line that defines a boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space.

New Shepard has flown 15 successful consecutive missions to space and back above the Kármán Line through a meticulous and incremental flight program to test its multiple redundant safety systems.

Bezos, 57, was set to hand over the job of Amazon chief executive on Monday to Andy Jassy and turn his attention to his private space exploration firm, philanthropy and other endeavors. He will retain a key role, however, as executive chair at the technology and e-commerce colossus he founded 27 years ago.

The transition comes after a spectacular streak for Amazon, which has drawn attention for its innovations.

But the firm has also been vilified over business practices that have crushed competitors and raised concerns over treatment of a workforce of more than 1 million.

Today, Amazon has a market value of more than $1.7 trillion. It posted 2020 annual revenues of $386 billion from operations in e-commerce, cloud computing, groceries, artificial intelligence, streaming media and more.