What Jeff Bezos’ Salary Would Be If He Had His Fantasy Job — Can You Relate To It?
Written by
Jacob Wade
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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Jeff Bezos is one of the richest people in the world, with an estimated net worth of over $200 billion.
But if he had his dream job, he wouldn’t be the world-famous billionaire he is today. In fact, no one would probably even recognize his name.
If Bezos had followed his dreams instead of building the largest e-commerce platform in the world, what would his salary be? And could he still have made a fortune in his fantasy job?
What Was Jeff Bezos’ Dream Job, Exactly?
While Bezos’ ultimately decided to build Amazon.com out of his garage and go on to become wildly wealthy, his dream job was actually to become a bartender.
In a recent interview with his brother, Mark Bezos, Mark posed the question: “What is your fantasy job?”
Jeff immediately responded with “bartender,” and said his reasons for this included that he “love(d) people, I love talking to people, I love making cocktails.”
He admits he’s glamourized the job in his mind, and that he’s “not very fast” at making craft cocktails, he loves the idea of the job.
What Would Jeff Bezos’ Salary Be in His Fantasy Career?
While bartenders can earn a decent income, the maximum earning potential is ultimately capped. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average bartender in the United States earns between $30,000 and $45,000 per year when base pay and tips are combined. In high-end restaurants, major cities, or luxury hotels, experienced bartenders can earn closer to $60,000, or even $70,000, annually.
Compared to the median household income of around $83,000, bartending would actually have put Bezos behind most Americans when it comes to income.
Could Jeff Bezos Have Still Become a Billionaire as a Bartender?
Honestly, no. Unless Bezos decided to open his own chain of bars that became a massive national (or global) business, it would be far-fetched to think he would become a billionaire as a bartender.
Bezos’ used the leverage of the internet to scale Amazon quickly, and ultimately used that leverage to change how the world makes online purchases. Bartending is an experience service that has limited scale, unless launching into a global brand.
The Real Lesson From Bezos’ Dream Job
Bezos’ dream job is something he fantasizes about, but it actually highlights a powerful lesson. The jobs that people dream about offer meaning and connection, not just mountains of cash.
And while it’s popular advice to say “chase your dreams,” most billionaires build wealth by solving difficult problems and providing solutions no one else can, which can mean tough work and long hours.
Dream jobs might just be a fantasy, because getting rich takes putting in hard work, whether you enjoy it or not.
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