Stories
Jeff Bezos Loses World’s Richest Man Title And Gains It Back
On October 24th 2019, Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos temporarily lost the title of being the world’s richest person. This happened after Amazon announced its shares fell by 7 % in after hours trading. This resulted in Bezos, who owns a 12 % stake in the Company, losing almost $ 7 billion in a few hours. However, Bezos managed to claim back the title within 24 hours of losing it.
After the loss, Bezos was replaced by Microsoft founder Bill Gates as the richest person in the world. Gates previously held the title for 24 years until 2018, when he was replaced by Bezos.
Even though Amazon’s shares fell further on Friday, the fall was not as steep as Thursday’s. On Friday, Amazon’s share fell by 1 %. This put Bezos’ net worth at $ 109.9 billion and resulted in him surpassing Gates’ net worth. Bill Gates is, once again, the world’s second richest person, behind Bezos by $ 4.1 billion. Gates has a net worth of $ 105.8 billion.
Jeff Bezos, whose net worth heavily relies on Amazon’s performance, has been at the top of the world’s richest people list since 2018. Jeff Bezos ended Bill Gates’ 24 year old run as the world’s richest man in 2018 with his net worth of $ 160 billion. However, Bezos lost a significant amount during his divorce proceedings with wife Mackenzie Bezos. Jeff Bezos agreed to give Mackenzie Bezos a 4 % stake in Amazon, which is worth more than $ 37 billion. The divorcee also made Mackenzie Bezos the third richest woman in the world.
However, it is speculated Jeff Bezos may lose the spot as the world’s richest person soon as Amazon is investing heavily in infrastructure supporting one day shipping, on which the Company reportedly spent almost $ 800 million.
A decade ago, the success of a startup was measured largely by its ability to raise capital. Today, a different metric is gaining importance: the ability to generate meaningful exits for investors. Large stake sales by early backers are becoming increasingly common, not because growth opportunities have disappeared, but because India’s startup ecosystem is entering a more mature phase where capital is expected to complete its full cycle from investment to returns.
This evolution is particularly significant for consumer brands that have successfully blended technology, retail, and strong brand-building. Companies that were once viewed as high-risk startup bets are now attracting institutional investors capable of absorbing large transactions. Such developments indicate that these businesses are no longer being valued solely on future potential; they are increasingly being assessed on operational performance, market leadership, and long-term profitability. In many ways, investor exits are becoming a validation of a company’s ability to create lasting enterprise value.
The broader implication extends beyond a single company or investor. Successful exits encourage more global capital to enter India’s startup ecosystem because they demonstrate that liquidity opportunities exist at scale. As more venture-backed companies approach public listings, secondary transactions, or strategic investments, the focus of founders and investors alike may shift from chasing headline valuations to building durable businesses. The next chapter of India’s startup journey will likely be defined not just by the creation of unicorns, but by the creation of companies capable of delivering sustained returns to all stakeholders.
Apple has unveiled the new MacBook Air with M5 chip, starting at $999 for 13-inch and $1,299 for 15-inch models. The MacBook Air M5 boasts a 2nm M5 chip with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, and 50 TOPS Neural Engine for seamless AI tasks like real-time translation and 8K editing. Up to 22 hours of battery life, Thunderbolt 5, and Wi-Fi 7 make it the ultimate ultraportable, now 10% thinner at 0.44 inches with fanless cooling.
Key MacBook Air M5 features include Liquid Retina XDR display (500 nits, nano-texture option), 12MP Center Stage camera, and six-speaker Spatial Audio. Colors like new Sky Blue join Midnight and Starlight. Pre-orders are live today, with macOS Sequoia 15.4 enhancing Apple Intelligence and iPhone Continuity for students, pros, and remote workers.
Why buy MacBook Air M5 now? It outpaces Snapdragon X Elite rivals with ecosystem magic and future-proof performance, eyeing top 2026 laptop sales. CEO Tim Cook calls it “more capable than ever.” Visit apple.com for M5 MacBook deals and specs.
Delhi NCR-based gaming startup Zupee has acquired Mumbai-based microdrama platform Vertical TV in a deal valued under INR 40 Cr. This move strengthens Zupee Studio, its short-video arm launched in September 2025, by integrating Vertical TV’s expertise in bite-sized dramas like romance and thrillers.
Facing challenges from India’s 2025 real-money gaming ban, Zupee valued at $1 Bn after raising $120 Mn has pivoted to non-gaming content, including recent layoffs of 40% of its workforce. The acquisition builds on its November 2025 purchase of Australian AI firm Nucanon for interactive storytelling, targeting its 200 Mn+ users with engaging, mobile-first formats.
This deal underscores the rising microdrama trend in India, helping Zupee diversify amid regulatory pressures and compete in the short-video space dominated by quick, shareable content for on-the-go audiences.
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