Amazon

Amazon began in 1994 as an online bookstore started by Jeff Bezos in Bellevue, Washington. It now sells almost every kind of consumer product, both its own and those of third-party sellers. The company is headquartered in Seattle.

Amazon Web Services, launched in 2006, rents computing power, storage and databases to other businesses. It is one of the largest cloud providers in the world. Prime is the paid membership that bundles fast shipping with video and music streaming.

The company also makes devices such as the Kindle e-reader, Echo speakers with the Alexa assistant, and Fire tablets. It owns Whole Foods Market, Twitch, Audible and Ring. Fulfillment centers and a large delivery network handle orders around the world. Andy Jassy became chief executive in 2021, when Bezos moved to the role of executive chair. Regulators have looked closely at its marketplace practices, and the company has faced criticism over working conditions in its warehouses. It is one of the largest private employers in the world.