History of Amazon#Amazon 4-Star

The company was created as a result of what Jeff Bezos called his "regret minimization framework" – to avoid regretting, in his old age, not having tried to participate in the emerging internet with his own startup.{{cite magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000408032804/http://www.time.com/time/poy/bezos5.html |url=http://www.time.com/time/poy/bezos5.html |archive-date=April 8, 2000 |magazine=Time |title=Person of the Year – Jeffrey P. Bezos |access-date=January 5, 2008 |url-status=dead |date=December 27, 1999}} In 1994, Bezos left his job as a vice president at D. E. Shaw & Co., a Wall Street firm, and moved to Seattle, Washington, where he began to work on a business plan{{cite web |title=Jeff Bezos: The King of e-Commerce |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197608 |website=Entrepreneur.com |date=October 10, 2008 |access-date=August 23, 2017}} for what would become Amazon.com.

On July 5, 1994, Bezos initially incorporated the company in Washington state with the name Cadabra, Inc.{{cite web |url=http://www.nasdaq.com/markets/ipos/filing.ashx?filingid=384706 |title=AMAZON COM INC (Form: S-1, Received: 03/24/1997 00:00:00) |publisher=nasdaq.com |date=March 24, 1997 |access-date=July 15, 2014}} After a few months, he changed the name to Amazon.com, Inc, because a lawyer misheard its original name as "cadaver".[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/amazon/11800890/jeff-bezos-interview-amazon-prime-jeremy-clarkson.html Amazon's Jeff Bezos: With Jeremy Clarkson, we're entering a new golden age of television] Retrieved August 18, 2015. Bezos selected this name by looking through a dictionary; he settled on "Amazon" because it was a place that was "exotic and different", just as he had envisioned for his Internet enterprise. The Amazon River, he noted, was the biggest river in the world, and he planned to make his store the biggest bookstore in the world.{{citation|last=Byers|first=Ann|title=Jeff Bezos: the founder of Amazon.com|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nz43wixr2IcC&pg=PA47|pages=46–47|year=2006|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=9781404207172}} Additionally, a name that began with "A" was preferred because it would probably be at the top of an alphabetized list. Bezos placed a premium on his head start in building a brand and told a reporter, "There's nothing about our model that can't be copied over time. But you know, McDonald's got copied. And it's still built a huge, multibillion-dollar company. A lot of it comes down to the brand name. Brand names are more important online than they are in the physical world."{{cite web |last=Murphy Jr. |first=Bill |title='Follow the Money' and Other Lessons From Jeff Bezos |date=August 6, 2013 |url=http://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/follow-the-money-lessons-from-jeff-bezos.html }}

In its early days, the company was operated out of the garage of Bezos's house on Northeast 28th Street in Bellevue, Washington.{{Cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/you-can-now-buy-the-house-where-jeff-bezos-started-amaz-1832547232|title=You Can Now Buy the House Where Jeff Bezos Started Amazon, If You Really Have to Or Something|website=Gizmodo|date=February 12, 2019 }}

After reading a report about the future of the Internet that projected annual web commerce growth at 2,300%, Bezos created a list of 20 products that could be marketed online. He narrowed the list to what he felt were the five most promising products, which included: compact discs, computer hardware, computer software, videos, and books. Bezos finally decided that his new business would sell books online, because of the large worldwide demand for literature, the low unit price for books, and the huge number of titles available in print.{{cite web |title=Amazon Company History |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/amazon-com-inc-history |access-date=May 6, 2013}} Amazon was founded in the garage of Bezos' rented home in Bellevue.{{cite magazine |last=Spiro |first=Josh |title=The Great Leaders Series: Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon.com |url=http://www.inc.com/30years/articles/jeff-bezos.html |magazine=Inc.com |access-date=February 7, 2013}}{{cite news |last1=Neate |first1=Rupert |title=Amazon's Jeff Bezos: the man who wants you to buy everything from his company |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2014/jun/22/jeff-bezos-Amazon-boss-wants-to-sell-you-everything |access-date=June 28, 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=June 22, 2014}} Bezos' parents invested almost $246,000 in the start-up.{{cite news| author=Tom Metcalf| title=A hidden Amazon fortune: Bezos' parents may be worth billions| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=August 1, 2018| url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tn-bezos-parents-investment-20180801-story.html}}{{Cite web|title=Jeff Bezos's Single Teen Mother Brought Him To School With Her As A Baby. They Couldn't Afford A Phone — Now She's Worth $30 Billion|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/jeff-bezoss-single-teen-mother-191115617.html|access-date=August 8, 2023|website=Yahoo! Finance|language=en}}

On July 16, 1995, Amazon opened as an online bookseller, selling the world's largest collection of books to anyone with World Wide Web access.{{Cite web|title=Amazon opens for business|url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/amazon-opens-for-business|access-date=May 16, 2021|website=HISTORY|language=en}} The first book sold on Amazon.com was Douglas Hofstadter's Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies: Computer Models of the Fundamental Mechanisms of Thought.{{cite web|date=January 2015|title=Amazon company timeline|url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-corporateTimeline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027122712/http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-corporateTimeline|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 27, 2007|publisher=Corporate IR}} In the first two months of business, Amazon sold to all 50 states and over 45 countries. Within two months, Amazon's sales were up to $20,000 per week.{{cite web |last=Spiro |first=Josh |title=The Great Leaders Series: Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon.com |url=http://www.inc.com/30years/articles/jeff-bezos.html }} In October 1995, the company announced itself to the public.{{cite web |url=http://www.urlwire.com/news/100495.html |title=World's Largest Bookseller Opens on the Web |publisher=URLwire |date=October 4, 1995 |journal= |access-date=January 2, 2019 |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116021101/http://www.urlwire.com/news/100495.html |url-status=dead }} In 1996, it was reincorporated in Delaware. Amazon issued its initial public offering of capital stock on May 15, 1997, at $18 per share, on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol AMZN.{{Cite news|url=http://fortune.com/2017/05/15/amazon-stock-20-years-ipo/|title=If You Invested in Amazon at Its IPO, You Could Have Been a Millionaire|work=Fortune|access-date=July 13, 2018|language=en}}

Barnes & Noble sued Amazon on May 12, 1997, alleging that Amazon's claim to be "the world's largest bookstore" was false because it "...wasn't a bookstore at all. It's a book broker." The suit was later settled out of court and Amazon continued to make the same claim.[http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/businesses/A-F/Amazon-com.html "Forming a Plan, The Company Is Launched, One Million Titles"]. Reference for Business: Encyclopedia of Business, 2nd ed. Retrieved September 1, 2012. Walmart sued Amazon on October 16, 1998, alleging that Amazon had stolen Walmart's trade secrets by hiring former Walmart executives. Although this suit was also settled out of court, it caused Amazon to implement internal restrictions and the reassignment of the former Walmart executives.

In 1999, Amazon first attempted to enter the publishing business by buying a defunct imprint, "Weathervane", and publishing some books "selected with no apparent thought", according to The New Yorker. The imprint quickly vanished again, and {{as of|2014|lc=y}} Amazon representatives said that they had never heard of it.{{cite magazine |last1=Packer |first1=George |title=Cheap Words |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/02/17/cheap-words |access-date=February 15, 2018 |magazine=The New Yorker |date=February 10, 2014 |language=en}} Also in 1999, Time magazine named Bezos the Person of the Year when it recognized the company's success in popularizing online shopping.{{Cite magazine|url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,992927-2,00.html|title=Jeffrey Preston Bezos: 1999 PERSON OF THE YEAR|last=Ramo|first=Joshua Cooper|date=December 27, 1999|magazine=Time|access-date=July 13, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0040-781X}}

File: Amazon summer party 2000.jpg wearing a black shirt, {{Circa|2000}}]]

File:Day 1 Tower Seattle WA Jan 17.jpg in Seattle]]

Since June 19, 2000, Amazon's logotype has featured a curved arrow leading from A to Z, representing that the company carries every product from A to Z, with the arrow shaped like a smile.{{cite web|date=January 5, 2000|title=Amazon Logo and its History|url=https://blog.logomyway.com/history-amazon-logo-design/|publisher=Corporate IR.net}}

According to sources, Amazon did not expect to make a profit for four to five years. This comparatively slow growth caused stockholders to complain that the company was not reaching profitability fast enough to justify their investment or even survive in the long term. In 2001, the dot-com bubble burst, destroying many e-companies in the process, but Amazon survived and moved forward beyond the tech crash to become a huge player in online sales. The company finally turned its first profit in the fourth quarter of 2001: $0.01 (i.e., 1¢ per share), on revenues of more than $1 billion. This profit margin, though extremely modest, proved to skeptics that Bezos' unconventional business model could succeed.{{cite book |first=Robert |last=Spector |title=Amazon.com: Get Big Fast |year=2002}}{{Cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2002/01/22/technology/amazon/|title=Amazon posts first-ever profit in 4Q - Jan. 22, 2002}}

In 2011, Amazon had 30,000 full-time employees in the US, and by the end of 2016, it had 180,000 employees.{{Cite web|title=Amazon employs 1 out of 153 workers in America|url=https://www.shoppersinusa.com/2021/12/amazon-employs-1-out-of-153-workers-in.html|access-date=December 6, 2021|website=shoppersinusa}}

In 2014, Amazon launched the Fire Phone. The Fire Phone was meant to deliver media streaming options but the venture failed, resulting in Amazon registering a $170 million loss. This would also lead to the Fire Phone production being stopped the following year. In August of the same year, Amazon would finalize the acquisition of Twitch, a social video gaming streaming site, for $970 million. This new acquisition would be integrated into the game production division of Amazon.

In June 2017, Amazon announced that it would acquire Whole Foods, a high-end supermarket chain with over 400 stores, for $13.4 billion.{{cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/06/16/investing/amazon-buying-whole-foods/index.html |title=Amazon is buying Whole Foods for $13.7 billion |last1=La Monica |first1=Paul |last2=Isidore |first2=Chris |website=CNN Money |date=June 16, 2017 |publisher=CNNMoney |access-date=June 16, 2017}} The acquisition was seen by media experts as a move to strengthen its physical holdings and challenge Walmart's supremacy as a brick and mortar retailer. This sentiment was heightened by the fact that the announcement coincided with Walmart's purchase of men's apparel company Bonobos.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/business/walmart-bonobos-merger.html |title=Walmart to Buy Bonobos, Men's Wear Company, for $310 Million |last=Merced |first=Michael |date=June 16, 2017 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 16, 2017}} On August 23, 2017, Whole Foods shareholders, as well as the Federal Trade Commission, approved the deal.{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |title=Whole Foods shareholders say yes to Amazon deal |url=http://kxan.com/2017/08/23/whole-foods-shareholders-say-yes-to-amazon-deal/ |work=KXAN.com |date=August 23, 2017 |access-date=August 24, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824020021/http://kxan.com/2017/08/23/whole-foods-shareholders-say-yes-to-amazon-deal/ |archive-date=August 24, 2017 }}{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Alex |title=Amazon's Acquisition of Whole Foods Won't Be Blocked by FTC |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/amazon-s-acquisition-whole-foods-won-t-be-blocked-ftc-n795431 |work=NBC News |date=August 23, 2017 |access-date=August 24, 2017}}

In September 2016, Amazon announced plans to locate a second headquarters in a metropolitan area with at least a million people.{{cite news |url=http://www.journalnow.com/business/business_news/local/triad-to-take-regional-approach-to-amazon-proposal/article_108401d3-3fca-5844-b69e-1d976682e2cc.html |title=Triad to take regional approach to Amazon proposal |last=Barron |first=Richard M. |work=Winston-Salem Journal |date=September 8, 2017 |access-date=October 20, 2017}} Cities needed to submit their presentations by October 19, 2017, for the project called HQ2.{{cite news |url=http://www.journalnow.com/business/triad-woos-amazon-in-bid-for-second-headquarters/article_27db598f-8215-5534-9800-de91821703d4.html |title=Triad woos Amazon in bid for second headquarters |last=Craver |first=Richard |work=Winston-Salem Journal |date=October 19, 2017 |access-date=October 20, 2017}} The $5 billion second headquarters, starting with 500,000 square feet and eventually expanding to as much as 8 million square feet, may have as many as 50,000 employees.{{cite news |url=http://www.journalnow.com/business/business_news/local/triad-economic-officials-prepare-to-cast-long-shot-bid-for/article_9baa482e-cc51-50b9-a284-a269c150d028.html |title=Triad economic officials prepare to cast long-shot bid for second Amazon headquarters |last=Craver |first=Richard |work=Winston-Salem Journal |date=September 16, 2017 |access-date=October 20, 2017}} In 2017, Amazon announced it would build a new downtown Seattle building with space for Mary's Place, a local charity in 2020.{{Cite web|url=http://kgmi.com/news/007700-amazon-provides-non-profit-for-homeless-families-with-new-building/|title=Amazon donates space in headquarters to Seattle nonprofit {{!}} 790 KGMI|website=790 KGMI|language=en-US|access-date=May 12, 2017}}

At the end of 2017, Amazon had over 566,000 employees worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/02/01/technology/amazon-earnings/index.html|title=Amazon: We hired 130,000 workers in 2017 |first=Kaya |last=Yurieff |website=CNN Tech |date=February 2018 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/amazon-now-employs-566000-people-worldwide-66-percent-jump-year-ago/ |title=Amazon now employs 566,000 people worldwide — a 66 percent jump from a year ago |first=Kurt |last=Schlosser |website=GeekWire |date=February 2018 }}

According to an August 8, 2018, story in Bloomberg Businessweek, Amazon has about a 5% share of US retail spending (excluding cars and car parts and visits to restaurants and bars), and a 43.5% share of online spending in the U.S. in 2018. The forecast is for Amazon to own 49% of the total American online spending in 2018, with two-thirds of Amazon's revenue coming from the US.{{cite news |last=Ovide |first=Shira |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-08/amazon-captures-5-of-american-retail-spending-is-that-a-lot |title=Amazon Captures 5 Percent of American Retail Spending. Is That a Lot? |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |date=August 8, 2018 |access-date=August 9, 2018 }}

Amazon launched the last-mile delivery program and ordered 20,000 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans for the service in September 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-05/amazon-orders-20-000-mercedes-vans-to-bolster-delivery-program|title=Amazon Orders 20,000 Mercedes Vans to Bolster Delivery Program|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=September 5, 2018|access-date=September 6, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-orders-20-000-mercedes-benz-vans-for-new-delivery-service-1536157804|title=Amazon Orders 20,000 Mercedes-Benz Vans for New Delivery Service|last=Stevens|first=Laura|date=September 5, 2018|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 6, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}

Amazon generated $386 billion in US retail e-commerce sales in 2020, up 38% over 2019. Amazon's Marketplace sales represent an increasingly dominant portion of its e-commerce business.

On November 14, 2022, it was announced that Amazon had plans to lay off 10,000 employees among its corporate and technology staff.{{cite web |last1=Capoot |first1=Ashley |title=Amazon reportedly plans to lay off about 10,000 employees starting this week |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/14/amazon-reportedly-plans-to-lay-off-about-10000-employees-starting-this-week.html |website=CNBC |date=November 14, 2022 |access-date=November 14, 2022}} The number increased to 18,000 in a January 2023 announcement.{{cite news |last=Thorbecke |first=Catherine |date=January 5, 2023 |title=Amazon will lay off more than 18,000 workers |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/04/business/amazon-layoffs/index.html |publisher=CNN Business}} In March, Amazon announced it would eliminate an additional 9,000 jobs.{{cite news |last=Hadero |first=Haleluya |date=March 20, 2023 |title=Amazon cuts 9,000 more jobs, bringing 2023 total to 27,000 |url=https://apnews.com/article/amazon-layoffs-jobs-cuts-jassy-0e857f39702de134c8f677c5b5731688 |publisher=Associated Press}}

On September 25, 2023, Amazon and artificial intelligence startup Anthropic announced a strategic partnership in which Amazon would become a minority stakeholder by investing up to US$4 billion, including an immediate investment of $1.25 billion. As part of the deal, Anthropic would use Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its primary cloud provider and will make its AI models available to AWS customers.{{Cite news |last=Dastin |first=Jeffrey |date=September 28, 2023 |title=Amazon steps up AI race with Anthropic investment |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/amazon-steps-up-ai-race-with-up-4-billion-deal-invest-anthropic-2023-09-25/ |agency=Reuters}}{{Cite web |date=September 25, 2023 |title=Amazon and Anthropic announce strategic collaboration to advance generative AI |url=https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/amazon-aws-anthropic-ai |access-date=September 25, 2023 |website=US About Amazon |language=en}}

With more than one million workers employed in warehouses around the world, Amazon in 2023 started testing humanoid robots that provide partial automation of its work tasks.{{cite web |url=https://www-tomshw-it.translate.goog/scienze/amazon-robot-umanoide-prende-servizio-nei-magazzini?_x_tr_sl=it&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=it&_x_tr_pto=wapp |title=Amazon, humanoid robot takes service in warehouses |author=Andrea Riviera |date=October 20, 2023}} The robots are able to position empty boxes and indicate where new ones are stored. {{cite web|url=https://amp-video.repubblica.itd/amp/tecnologia/tech/amazon-prova-i-robot-umanoidi-nei-magazzini-aiuteranno-gli-umani-non-li-sostituiranno/455200/456165|title=Amazon tests humanoid robots in warehouses: "They will help humans, not replace them"|date=October 22, 2023}}

{{Main|Amazon HQ2}}

In November 2018, Amazon {{cite news |title= Amazon ERC Phone Number |url=https://4lolipop.com/amazon-erc-number/}} announced it would open its highly sought-after new headquarters, known as (HQ2) in Long Island City, Queens, New York City,{{cite magazine |last1=Taibbi |first1=Matt |title=Amazon's Long Game Is Clearer Than Ever |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/why-amazon-chose-new-york-virginia-756355 |access-date=January 3, 2019 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=November 14, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Stevens |first1=Laura |last2=Morris |first2=Keiko |last3=Honan |first3=Katie |title=Amazon Picks New York City, Northern Virginia for Its HQ2 Locations |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-chooses-new-york-city-and-northern-virginia-for-additional-headquarters-1542075336 |access-date=January 3, 2019 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=November 13, 2018}} and in the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington County, Virginia.{{cite news |last1=Martz |first1=Michael |title=How Virginia sealed the deal on Amazon's HQ2, 'the biggest economic development project in U.S. history' |url=https://www.richmond.com/news/plus/how-virginia-sealed-the-deal-on-amazon-s-hq-the/article_5655da71-5cde-57f0-a556-3a831707af86.html |access-date=November 17, 2018 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch}} On February 14, 2019, Amazon announced it was not moving forward with plans to build HQ2 in Queens{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/14/nyregion/amazon-hq2-queens.html|title=Amazon Pulls Out of Planned New York City Headquarters|last=Goodman|first=J. David|date=February 14, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 14, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} but would instead focus solely on the Arlington location. The company plans to locate at least 25,000 employees at HQ2 by 2030 and will invest more than US$2.5 billion{{cite web |last1=Miranda |first1=Mariah |title=Virginia is now the sole winner of Amazon's HQ2. Here's what its planned neighborhood looks like right now. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-hq-arlington-virginia-national-landing-crystal-city-photos-2018-11 |access-date=March 17, 2020 |website=Business Insider |date=February 15, 2019}} to establish its new headquarters in Crystal City as well as neighboring Pentagon City and Potomac Yard, an area jointly marketed as "National Landing." The announcement also created a new partnership with Virginia Tech University to develop an Innovation Campus to fill the demand for high-tech talent in National Landing and beyond.

At the end of March 2020, some workers of the Staten Island warehouse staged a walkout in protest of the poor health situation at their workplace amidst the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. One of the organizers, Chris Smalls, was first put on quarantine without anyone else being quarantined, and soon afterwards fired from the company.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-fires-chris-smalls-walkout-staten-island-new-york-warehouse/|title=Amazon fires worker who organized Staten Island warehouse walkout|website=www.cbsnews.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/02/dear-jeff-bezos-amazon-instead-of-firing-me-protect-your-workers-from-coronavirus|title=Dear Jeff Bezos, instead of firing me, protect your workers from coronavirus | Chris Smalls|first=Chris|last=Smalls|newspaper=The Guardian |date=April 2, 2020|via=www.theguardian.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/29/tech/amazon-workers-walkout-coronavirus/index.html|title=Amazon workers to stage a walkout Monday, demanding closure of Staten Island facility|author=Brian Fung |website=CNN|date=March 29, 2020 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-warehouse-workers-staten-island-walkout-coronavirus/|title=Amazon warehouse workers walk out over coronavirus|website=www.cbsnews.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/30/21199942/amazon-warehouse-coronavirus-covid-new-york-protest-walkout|title=Amazon warehouse workers walk out in rising tide of COVID-19 protests|first=Josh|last=Dzieza|date=March 30, 2020|website=The Verge}}

The pandemic caused a surge in online shopping and resulted in shortages of household staples both online and in some brick-and-mortar stores. From March 17[https://nypost.com/2020/03/17/amazon-suspends-shipments-of-non-essential-products-to-warehouses-amid-coronavirus-driven-shortages/ but that didn't last for long. Amazon suspends shipments of non-essential products to warehouses amid coronavirus-driven shortages] to April 10, 2020,[https://nypost.com/2020/04/13/amazon-lifts-ban-on-shipping-of-non-essential-products/ Amazon lifts ban on shipping of non-essential products amid hiring spree] Amazon warehouses stopped accepting non-essential items from third-party sellers. The company hired approximately 175,000 additional warehouse workers and delivery contractors to deal with the surge, and temporarily raised wages by $2/hour.

{{Further|Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer}}

After months of speculation due to MGM's poor financial performance from the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the movie industry, Amazon entered negotiations to acquire MGM at an estimated {{USD|9 billion|long=no}} on May 17, 2021.{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Amazon Said to Make $9 Billion Offer for MGM |url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/amazon-mgm-acquisition-talks-9-billion-1234975168/ |access-date=May 17, 2021 |work=Variety|date=May 17, 2021|language=en}} The companies agreed to the merger deal on May 26, 2021, for a total value of {{USD|8.45 billion|long=no}}, subject to regulatory approval. The deal would allow Amazon to add the MGM library to the Amazon Prime Video catalog, with the studio continuing to operate as a label under the new parent company.{{cite web| url = https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/amazon-buys-mgm-studio-behind-james-bond-for-8-45-billion-1234980526/ | title = Amazon Buys MGM, Studio Behind James Bond, for $8.45 Billion | first1= Brent | last1 = Lang | first2 = Todd | last2= Spangler | date= May 26, 2021 | accessdate = May 26, 2021 | work = Variety }}

The merger was finalized on March 17, 2022, following the expiration of the FTC's review deadline{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/17/u-s-antitrust-enforcers-amazons-mgm-deal-00018252|title=U.S. Antitrust enforcers won't challenge Amazon's MGM deal, dashing hopes of monopoly critics|website=Politico}} and having cleared the European Commission two days earlier on March 15.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-purchase-of-mgm-gets-green-light-in-eu-11647361866?mod=flipboard|title = Amazon Purchase of MGM Gets Green Light in EU|newspaper = Wall Street Journal|date = March 15, 2022|last1 = MacKrael|first1 = Kim}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-15/amazon-wins-eu-nod-for-8-45-billion-mgm-film-studio-purchase|title=Amazon Wins EU Approval for $8.45 Billion MGM Film Studio Purchase|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=March 15, 2022}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/amazon-wins-eu-antitrust-nod-85-billion-mgm-acquisition-2022-03-15/|title=Amazon wins EU antitrust nod for $8.5 BLN MGM deal|newspaper=Reuters|date=March 15, 2022|last1=Chee|first1=Foo Yun}}{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/amazon-mgm-merger-european-union-1234979098/|title = Amazon's MGM Acquisition Cleared by European Union in Key Approval|date = March 15, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/european-regulators-amazon-mgm-1235107571/|title=Amazon's MGM Buy Approved by European Regulators|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 15, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/amazon-stock-mgm-51647371919|title = Amazon's Buy of MGM Cleared in EU}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/amazon-mgm-eu-approval-acquisition-182237862.html?guccounter=1|title=Amazon wins EU approval for its $8.45 billion purchase of MGM}} Later that day, Amazon Studios and Prime Video SVP Mike Hopkins revealed that Amazon will continue to partner with United Artists Releasing (MGM and Annapurna Pictures' joint distribution venture), which will remain in operation to release all future MGM titles theatrically on a "case-by-case basis," while "all MGM employees will join my organization." It was also revealed that Amazon had no plans to make changes to the studio's production slate and release schedules nor make all MGM content exclusive to Prime Video, providing some hope that the studio would operate autonomously from Amazon Studios. These plans are expected to not impact the future of the James Bond franchise and its creative team. Two town halls further detailing MGM's future post-merger took place on March 18, 2022, which included one for MGM employees and one for Amazon Studios/Prime Video employees.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/amazon-mgm-mike-hopkins-town-hall-memo-1234981242/|title = Amazon-MGM Town Hall Scheduled for Friday; Amazon's Mike Hopkins Presages Upcoming Mesh & MGM COO – Updated|date = March 17, 2022}} Both revealed the new interim reporting structure as part of Amazon's "phased integration plan," which would involve De Luca, Mark Burnett (Chairman of MGM Worldwide Television) and COO Chris Brearton reporting to Hopkins on behalf of the studio.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/mike-hopkins-integration-changes-interim-reporting-structure-mgm-amazon-1234982307/|title = Amazon's Mike Hopkins Stresses "Phased Approach to Integration Changes", Details Interim Reporting Structure in Memo to MGM Staff|date = March 18, 2022}} On April 27, 2022, it was announced that De Luca and Abdy would leave the studio.{{cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/mgm-mike-de-luca-pam-abdy-leaving-mgm-studio-folds-into-amazon-1235011024/ | title=MGM Shakeup: Mike de Luca & Pam Abdy Leaving as Studio Enters Amazon Fold; Read Exit Memos | date=April 27, 2022 }}

{{Main|Amazon Go}}

On January 22, 2018, Amazon Go, a store that uses cameras and sensors to detect items that a shopper grabs off shelves and automatically charges a shopper's Amazon account, was opened to the general public in Seattle.{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-go-cashierless-convenience-store-opening-to-the-public/|title=Amazon Go cashierless convenience store opens to the public in Seattle|author=Day, Matt|date=January 22, 2018|work=Seattle Times|access-date=June 4, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2018/01/21/amazon-set-open-its-grocery-store-without-checkout-line-public/1048492001/|title=Amazon opens its grocery store without a checkout line to the public|author=Weise, Elizabeth|date=January 21, 2018|work=USAToday|access-date=June 4, 2018}} Customers scan their Amazon Go app as they enter, and are required to have an Amazon Go app installed on their smartphone and a linked Amazon account to be able to enter. The technology is meant to eliminate the need for checkout lines.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/curtissilver/2016/12/05/amazon-announces-no-line-retail-shopping-experience-with-amazon-go/|title=Amazon Announces No-Line Retail Shopping Experience With Amazon Go|last1=Silver|first1=Curtis|date=December 5, 2016|work=Forbes|access-date=December 5, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/05/amazon-go/|title=Amazon launches a beta of Go, a cashier-free, app-based food shopping experience|last=Heater|first=Brian|date=December 5, 2016|access-date=December 6, 2016|work=TechCrunch}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/12/5/13842592/amazon-go-new-cashier-less-convenience-store|title=Amazon just launched a cashier-free convenience store|author=Garun, Natt|date=December 5, 2016|work=The Verge|access-date=June 4, 2018}} Amazon Go was initially opened for Amazon employees in December 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-go-grocery-store-future-photos-video-2016-12?op=1|title=This is Amazon's grocery store of the future: No cashiers, no registers and no lines|last1=Leswing|first1=Kif|date=December 5, 2016|website=Business Insider|access-date=December 5, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/12/05/amazon-go-grocery-store/|title=Amazon Go is a grocery store with no checkout lines|last1=Hardawar|first1=Devindra|date=December 5, 2016|website=Engadget|access-date=December 5, 2016}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/groupthink/2017/01/20/amazon-go-is-about-payments-not-grocery/|title=Amazon Go Is About Payments, Not Grocery|last=Say|first=My|newspaper=Forbes|access-date=January 24, 2017}} By the end of 2018, Amazon was operating a total of 8 Amazon Go stores located in Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco and New York.{{cite news |last=Statt|first=Nick|date=October 23, 2018 |title=Amazon's latest cashier-less Go store opens in San Francisco today |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/23/18010022/amazon-go-cashier-less-store-san-francisco-location-opens |work=The Verge |access-date=November 2, 2018}} As of August 2024, Amazon Go had 23 locations in New York, California, Washington, and Illinois.

Amazon announced to debut the Amazon 4-star in the Soho neighborhood of New York City on Spring Street between Crosby and Lafayette on September 27, 2018. The store carries 4-star and above-rated products from around New York.{{Cite news|url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/09/=https://www.amazon.com/b/ref=s9_acss_bw_cg_agojwo_2a1_w?node=20931388011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-2&pf_rd_r=EQZPV6NGQZ543GVZQD5T&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=af2fd307-caca-4918-828c-dd8277d81050&pf_rd_i=1600858901126/amazon-4-star/|title=Amazon's new retail store only stocks items rated 4 stars and up|work=Engadget|access-date=September 27, 2018|language=en-US}} The Amazon website searches for the most rated, highly demanded, frequently bought, and most wished for products which are then sold in the new Amazon store under separate categories. Along with the paper price tags, the online review cards will also be available for the customers to read before buying the product.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/26/amazon-is-opening-a-new-store-that-sells-items-from-its-website.html|title=Amazon is opening a new store that sells items from its website rated 4 stars and above|last=Thomas|first=Lauren|date=September 26, 2018|work=CNBC|access-date=September 27, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/26/17907520/amazon-4-star-retail-store-new-york-soho|title=Amazon's new store only sells products with 4-star ratings and above|work=The Verge|access-date=September 27, 2018}} In late 2021, Amazon opened two 4-star stores in the United Kingdom. Its store at the Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent opened in October, and its store at Westfield London opened in November.{{cite news |last=Bourke |first=Joanna |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/leisure-retail/amazon-westfield-london-4-star-uk-general-store-b965342.html |title=Amazon heads to Westfield London for next '4-star' UK general store |work=Evening Standard |date=November 10, 2021 |accessdate=March 13, 2022 }}

In March 2022, Amazon announced that they would be closing all 4-star stores, along with their Books and Pop Up stores, across the US and the UK, stating that they were refocusing on their grocery and fashion stores.{{cite news |last=Gartenberg |first=Chaim |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/2/22958745/amazon-book-4-star-pop-up-physical-retail-locations-closing |title=Amazon is closing all 68 of its Books, 4-Star, and Pop Up physical stores |work=The Verge |publisher=Vox Media |date=March 2, 2022 |accessdate=March 13, 2022 }}

Amazon has grown through several mergers and acquisitions. The company has also invested in a number of growing firms, both in the United States and internationally.{{cite web|url=http://www.forbesindia.com/article/special/modi-effect-amazon-to-pour-additional-$3-billion-into-india-says-jeff-bezos/43467/1|title=Modi effect: Amazon to pour additional $3 billion into India, says Jeff Bezos|date=June 8, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://qz.com/242383/amazon-matches-flipkarts-1-billion-indian-investment-and-doubles-it/|title=Amazon India Investments|date=July 30, 2014|work=Quartz}} In 2014, Amazon purchased top level domain .buy in auction for over $4 million.{{cite web|url=http://domainnamewire.com/2014/09/17/amazon-dotby-dottech/|title=Wow: Amazon.com buys .Buy for $4.6 million, .Tech sells for $6.8 million|author=Domainnamewire.com|date=September 14, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://uttamujjwal.com/2014/09/buy-domain-sold-amazon-com-4588888/|title=.Buy Domain Sold to Amazon.com for $4,588,888|date=September 2014|publisher=Uttamujjwal|access-date=September 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924041922/http://uttamujjwal.com/2014/09/buy-domain-sold-amazon-com-4588888/|archive-date=September 24, 2014|url-status=dead}} The company has invested in brands that offer a wide range of services and products, including Engine Yard, a Ruby-on-Rails platform as a service company,{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-9990466-92.html|title=Amazon invests in Engine Yard's cloud computing|last=Olsen|first=Stefanie|date=July 14, 2008|publisher=News.cnet.com|access-date=August 4, 2011}} and Living Social, a local deal site.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeisaac/2010/12/02/livingsocial-receives-175-million-investment-from-amazon|title=LivingSocial Receives $175 Million Investment From Amazon|last=Isaac|first=Mike|date=December 2, 2010|work=Forbes|access-date=September 6, 2012}}

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite news

|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/business/dealbook/amazon-whole-foods.html

|title=Amazon to Buy Whole Foods in $13.4 Billion Deal

|author1=Michael J. de la Merced |author2=Nick Wingfield

|date=June 16, 2017

|newspaper=The New York Times

}}

}}

{{Amazon.com}}

Category:Amazon (company)

Amazon