In a comprehensive interview with computer scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman, Jeff Bezos stated that he “would love to see a trillion humans living in the solar system.” With such a large number of people, Bezos said we would have “1,000 Mozarts and 1,000 Einsteins” at any given time, adding that the solar system would be “full of life, intelligence, and energy.” Although resources in the solar system could easily support such a civilization, it would only be possible by living in “giant space stations,” Bezos explained that “the surface of the planets is very small,” adding that we would be able to harness more energy and physical resources in space than we can on Earth or other planets.
Giant Cylindrical Space Stations
Such space stations, often referred to as O’Neill cylinders or settlements, are favored by Bezos, as they offer many advantages over living on planets. Among these advantages is the ability to rotate them to achieve “normal Earth gravity” and “place them where you want them.” However, Bezos said that most people would probably still prefer to live close to Earth anyway, predicting that people would one day vacation there as they do in Yellowstone National Park today.
Main Background
Bezos stated that the “primary reason” he stepped down as CEO of Amazon two years ago was to spend time at Blue Origin, his space and flight exploration project. The aim of this move was to add “some energy and some excitement” to the company. Bezos said that Blue Origin, which is scheduled to launch a rocket next week after months of delays, needs to move “faster,” adding that “it will.” Blue Origin launched its first crewed mission in 2021, taking Bezos to the edge of space, but its New Shepard rocket system stopped flying after a motor failure last year. The company, which is one of many ventures led by the billionaire in the commercial space race, trails Elon Musk’s SpaceX. In recent years, Musk’s company has launched thousands of satellites into orbit and launched nearly 100 rockets this year alone (Blue Origin has not launched any rockets this year). Rather than space stations, Musk has his sights set on the red planet, Mars. The billionaire has stated that he wants SpaceX to play a leading role in efforts to colonize Mars and send a million people there by 2050.
Forbes Estimates
Forbes magazine estimates Bezos’ net worth at around $169.7 billion. He is the third richest person in the world, followed by Elon Musk and Bernard Arnault, the richest and second richest respectively. In 2022, Bezos told CNN that he plans to donate the majority of his wealth during his lifetime. Most of Bezos’ wealth comes from his stake in the e-commerce giant Amazon, which he founded in 1994, and he also owns The Washington Post and space company Blue Origin. Bezos and his wife MacKenzie Scott divorced in 2019, with Scott receiving part of Bezos’ Amazon shares as part of the settlement. Forbes estimates that Scott’s net worth is now about $40 billion, making her the third richest person in the world.
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