When Jeff Bezos takes the stage, you expect rockets, robots, and business revelations. But at the 2025 America Business Forum held at the Kaseya Center in Miami, the billionaire founder of Amazon and Blue Origin gave the audience a trip down memory lane.
Interviewed by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Bezos reminded the crowd that before he became one of the richest men on the planet, he was just another kid walking the halls of Miami Palmetto Senior High. The moment Suarez mentioned his alma mater, Bezos grinned and boomed, “Go, Panthers, Go!”
© Getty Images for America BusinesAccording to the Miami Herald, Bezos graduated as valedictorian of Palmetto High in 1982 and earned a Miami Herald Silver Knight Award that same year, long before founding Amazon from a Seattle garage.
The Burger-Flipping Billionaire
In a moment that charmed the crowd, Bezos reminisced about his teenage job at a South Florida McDonald’s. “I flipped burgers, mopped floors, cleaned bathrooms—I learned a lot,” he said, his voice filled with genuine fondness. He even confessed to taking his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos
© GC ImagesHis lesson was that no job is too small if you pay attention. “That was a great job,” Bezos said. “It taught me responsibility and problem-solving.” From grease stains to global domination, it’s a trajectory only Bezos could tell with that trademark chuckle.
Remembering His South Florida Family
Bezos also spoke about his late mother, Jackie Gise Bezos, a beloved philanthropist who lived in Coral Gables until her passing in August 2024 at 78. Jackie raised Jeff as a single mother before marrying Cuban immigrant Miguel Bezos, who adopted him and helped shape the family’s story of perseverance and love.
© JeffBezos/Instagram“She worked hard—studying at night, working at a bank during the day,” Bezos recalled. “She showed me what grit really looks like.” His voice softened when mentioning his adoptive father, Miguel, now 79, and siblings Christina and Mark.
Miami’s Magic
Bezos couldn’t resist commenting on Miami’s evolution. “Miami has completely transformed over the last four years—and for the better,” he said. “I love the Latin part of the culture here. As soon as I land, I feel the energy.”
Jeff thinks the city has a growing status as a global business hub, especially in tech and finance. After all, Miami isn’t just his hometown but the multicultural ecosystem Bezos has always admired.
© Getty ImagesHe urged aspiring entrepreneurs to “stay curious, stay humble, and never stop building,” adding that every big dream starts with small, consistent effort.
For Miami, seeing one of its own return as a global icon carried a special resonance. The kid who once mopped floors now launches rockets into space and has changed e-commerce forever.
Moving Back Home
In 2024, Jeff Bezos made colossal investments in Florida. Reports indicate that Jeff Bezos, who has an estimated net worth of $203.7 billion, has spent an impressive $90 million on a third mansion located on the exclusive Indian Creek Island.
This purchase further cemented his status as one of the area’s most prominent residents. Overall, his total investment in this prestigious locale, often referred to as the “Billionaire Bunker,” now amounts to a staggering $237 million.
© GrosbyGroupThe 61-year-old billionaire reportedly plans to utilize this mansion as a temporary residence while demolishing two previously acquired properties on the opposite side of the guard-gated island.
