Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Becomes World's Fourth Richest Person With $6 Billion Gain

Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos got nearly $6 billion richer as his company’s stock surged 12% in after-hours trading on Thursday. FORBES estimates that he is now worth $59.2 billion, based on the after-hours stock price of $676.25 per share.

Bezos is now the world’s fourth richest person, rising in the ranks past Mexican telecom billionaire Carlos Slim Helu, who has a net worth that Forbes pegs at $57.3 billion. Bezos is worth $9 billion less than legendary investor Warren Buffett, who maintains his rank as the world’s third richest person with a net worth of $68.5 billion.

According to report from Ryan Mac, Amazon announced better-than-expected earnings results, beating analyst expectations for profit. Amazon stock has risen 57% in the past year. The company reported an annual profit in 2015 following a net loss the year before.

The ranks of the world’s wealthiest also had a shake up late Wednesday as Facebook's FB +0.18% Mark Zuckerberg became the sixth richest  person in the world. He gained $3.3 billion and grabbed the slot back from Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who is worth $49.6 billion. Zuckerberg’s fortune is now estimated by Forbes at $50.8 billion.

Credit: Forbes