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Technology Stocks : Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bill Harmond who wrote (16948)	9/11/1998 10:00:00 PM
From: Oeconomicus	Respond to of 164684

Bill Gates built a company that makes huge amounts of money. That's how he got to $50 billion. Besides, Bezos hardly needs to (or could) swap his entire stake in AMZN. Neither could he realize anywhere near a billion by selling. But, he could swap or hedge a few million shares without raising concerns among directors or KP about his commitment. A few hundred million is quite a windfall for a guy that started a retail business with a few thousand dollars that is not expected to do anything but lose millions of dollars for the first five or more years of its life. If he put a few million of his shares into the market, the stock would never have made it to the current level, much less $147.

To: Bill Harmond who wrote (16948)	9/11/1998 10:40:00 PM
From: llamaphlegm	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 164684

<<< Oh, I see. That's how Bill Gates got to $50 billion...by off-loading his Microsoft risk! Jeez. When exactly did Jeff enter into this arrangement? How then is he worth a billion? >>>> William: Do you understand the mechanics of a total return swap or a zero cost collar? If you do, I expect that you understand how Bezos is worth, what you claim to be a, billion. If you do not, just ask, and I or someone else will explain. As to the question of when ... I suggest that you just go back and read my post. I stated quite clearly that I did not know this to be a fact (since Bezos need not report this with the SEC) only that I believe it to be true given its prevalence as a strategy employed by investment bankers seeking to win or maintain company aka mgt. loyalty. Will, man, just chill out -- you'll enjoy the weekend more and can also better analyze stocks. With boundless awe for your conviction and amazement for your ability to let no fact get in its way -- LP