5 unexpected (and expensive) purchases made by Jeff Bezos

As we all know, being rich doesn't mean you can't have fun (or be quite weird) with your purchases—and Jeff Bezos is a prime example. Here are some of the Amazon's CEO's most unexpected purchases:

1. A 10,000-year clock for $42 million

This project is a clock that will keep time for 10,000 years and was designed by Danny Hillis, co-founder of Applied Minds LLC and former chief technology officer at Walt Disney Imagineering. When complete, it will have an underground shaft that extends down 500 feet and a tower that stands 60 feet tall.

2. The Washington Post

Bezos' $250 million investment in the Post arguably saved the paper from extinction. Today, the Washington Post has grown to a global brand and remains one of the most popular newspapers in the United States. Granted, the paper has encountered some stumbles recently, but overall readership is still on the rise.

3. A $65 million private jet

Jeff Bezos uses his personal Gulfstream G-650ER for family vacations and business trips. The plane has a range of 7,000 miles and can accommodate 8 passengers. It has a master bedroom with a bathroom and shower, two bathrooms on the main deck and another two bathrooms in the lower deck.

4. The entire Whole Foods Grocery chain for $13.7 billion

Amazon has been on a buying spree in recent years, snapping up dozens of companies ranging from drone delivery service Kiva Systems to home security company Ring. But its most recognizable acquisition is one that shouldn't surprise you: Whole Foods Market.

This American supermarket chain specializes in organic and natural foods—a perfect complement to Amazon’s own “365” private label products. The decision to buy Whole Foods was a shock to many, but it’s clear that Amazon had a plan for the company. Just five months after acquiring Whole Foods, Amazon announced that it would be lowering prices on some of its most popular items.

Not everything has been smooth sailing, though, as revenue has been rocky lately (no thanks to the pandemic).

5. A $80 million New York City apartment

After spending years making enormous purchases, a billionaire like Bezos needs an equally extravagant place to rest. His choice doesn't disappoint.

In 2019, Bezos purchased a $80 million New York City penthouse (which came just after his divorce from MacKenzie Scott). The apartment is the largest and most expensive home ever sold in Manhattan: It has 23,000 square feet of space, including three stories and six bedrooms.

In terms of perks and features, this apartment has everything you could ever ask for: 13-foot-tall ceilings, two terraces, a private elevator, and one-of-a-kind views of Central Park. The penthouse also comes with 24-hour security and access to a gym and spa.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, Jeff Bezos is just like us (if we had billions of dollars, of course): he's easily excited by ideas and sometimes spends more than he should on investments that don't always instantly pan out.

We don't know if any of these purchases were worth it, but we do know that we're glad to watch how they evolve over time.