Jeff Bezos Says People Should Stop Buying Big-Ticket Items Right Now (and It Has Nothing to Do With Upcoming Prime Sales) But the billionaire still claims the American Dream is and will be "attainable."

By Amanda Breen Edited by Jessica Thomas

Samir Hussein | Getty Images

With inflation and recession on the mind, many Americans are scaling back.

And they should be, says Amazon and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos. The billionaire businessman told CNN that people should hold off on major purchases like new cars and televisions in case a lengthy economic downturn comes to pass.

Related: How Entrepreneur Millionaires Prepare for a Recession

Similarly, small businesses should avoid spending large amounts of capital or making sizable acquisitions at this point, he told the outlet.

Even the biggest companies are feeling the pressure, especially in the hard-hit tech industry. Elon Musk's Twitter laid off 3,700 people (about half its staff); Mark Zuckerberg's Meta slashed 11,000 jobs.

Just yesterday, Amazon — down more than 40% year over year — announced it would cut approximately 10,000 employees, following a hiring freeze instated last month.

Having some extra cash on hand can benefit individuals and organizations alike amid so much economic uncertainty. "Take some risk off the table," Bezos told CNN. "Just a little bit of risk reduction could make the difference."

Related: Jeff Bezos Awards Dolly Parton $100 Million, Plans to Give Back

The billionaire, who was once the richest man in the world, also said he's still a big believer in an "attainable" American Dream.

Amanda Breen

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior Features Writer

Amanda Breen is a senior features writer at Entrepreneur.com. She is a graduate of Barnard College and received an MFA in writing at Columbia University, where she was a news fellow for the School of the Arts.

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

Starting a Business

"Nothing Is Obvious the First Time": How This Serial Entrepreneur Is Redefining Sports Media with On3

On3 founder and serial entrepreneur Shannon Terry shares his thoughts on the evolving sports media landscape and his insights on building and growing a business from personal experience.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Growing a Business

What Our Digital World Is Missing — and How I Turned It Into $100 Million After Dropping Out of High School

I went from high school dropout to $100 million CEO by sticking to one very important learning principle.

Business News

Walmart Is Laying Off Hundreds, Relocating Others as the Company Closes a U.S. Office

Walmart is giving some employees at least a month to decide if they want to relocate.

Business Plans

Healthy Business Growth Comes from Depth, Not Just Disruption — Here's Why

For startups with a strong foundation, here's how to discover and deliver new products and services that customers want.