Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to step down as CEO of $1.7-trillion technology empire Jeff Bezos, who built an online bookstore into a $1.7-trillion technology empire reaching into space, has announced he will be stepping down as CEO at the apex of his career to focus on innovations. | 4 Feb 2021 2:20 AM GMT NEW YORK: Jeff Bezos, who built an online bookstore into a $1.7-trillion technology empire reaching into space, has announced he will be stepping down as CEO at the apex of his career to focus on innovations. Bezos, who extended the company's reach to India with multi-billion dollar investments, said on Tuesday that he will move away from its day-to-day operations and become the executive chairman of Amazon's board