Get All Access for $5/mo

Jeff Bezos Posts Heartwarming Photo Honoring Humble First Job: 'Still the Same Great Burger' The billionaire visited his old stomping grounds over the weekend for a quick lunch.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Becoming one of the world's richest men isn't something that happens overnight — the journey to get there is often arduous and at times, humbling.

Fans were delighted to see Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos pay homage to his first ever paid gig over the weekend when he posted a photo of himself on Twitter chowing down on a burger from his original place of employment — McDonald's.

Back in 1980, the now-billionaire took the job flipping burgers in the kitchen when he turned 16 years old.

"I was a cook," Bezos said in an interview with Fast Company back in 2001. "They wouldn't let me anywhere near the customers. This was my acned-teenager stage. They were like, 'Hmm, why don't you work in the back?'"

He went on to explain that the gig taught him that customer service is "really hard" and that the lessons he learned in that job set him up for making customer service a key pillar of Amazon's business model as the company developed.

In a book titled Golden Opportunity: Remarkable Careers That Began at McDonald's, Bezos also spoke about the lesson he learned in working under pressure and keeping up team morale.

"The most challenging thing was keeping everything going at the right pace during a rush," Bezos told the book's author, Cody Teets. "The manager at my McDonald's was excellent. He had a lot of teenagers working for him, and he kept us focused even while we had fun."

Bezos resigned as CEO of Amazon on July 5, 2021, marking the 27th anniversary of Amazon as a company. He still serves as Executive Chairman of the board.

As of Monday morning, Bezos' estimated net worth was $155.6 billion.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

Business News

Former Steve Jobs Intern Says This Is How He Would Have Approached AI

The former intern is now the CEO of AI and data company DataStax.