Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's wealth jumped by more than $98 billion after his space company Blue Origin was valued at $140 billion in its latest funding round, moving him up to second place on the list of the world's richest people, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
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Bezos's fortune reached approximately $379.2 billion, surpassing Alphabet co-founder Larry Page, while Elon Musk retained first place with a fortune estimated at around $1 trillion.
This latest funding round is the first of its kind for Blue Origin since its founding in 2000, after it opened its capital to outside investors in exchange for equity stakes, following years of relying mainly on funding from its founder, Jeff Bezos.
According to PitchBook data, Quattu Management was the only new investor whose identity was disclosed in the round, with a contribution of approximately $4 billion.
Bloomberg reported that Bezos retained a 93% stake in Blue Origin after the funding round, according to estimates from the Billionaires Index.
The agency had previously estimated the value of his stake in the company at around $17 billion, based on estimates of the funds he had invested in the project.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Bezos has invested about $30 billion in Blue Origin since its founding, including $2 billion in the latest funding round.
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, SpaceX generated revenues of approximately $18.7 billion last year, compared to approximately $800 million for Blue Origin.
Billionaires' fortunes
Investor interest in the space sector contributed to boosting the fortunes of Bezos and Musk in 2026, with rising valuations of companies involved in rocket launches and space services.
Musk became the first person to surpass a trillion-dollar net worth following SpaceX's initial public offering last June. Despite the company's stock subsequently declining, Musk has added approximately $405 billion to his fortune since the beginning of the year, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The recent surge in Bezos's wealth reflects the growing impact of private space company valuations on the fortunes of their founders, even before their shares are listed on the financial markets.
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