Jeff Bezos has moved back to the No. 3 spot on the world's wealthiest list, overtaking Google co-founder Sergey Brin.
The shift came after Amazon's stock jumped sharply following a strong earnings report.
>>> Johan Derksen Slams Isa Hoes' Public Grief and Facelift Reveal
On Thursday, Amazon reported quarterly results that beat expectations, and its shares surged 14% in early trading Friday.
That marked the company's biggest single-day gain since April 2015.
FactSet data shows Amazon generated $206.6 billion in revenue for the quarter, well above the $197 billion analysts had predicted.
The cloud division led the way with a 37% year-over-year increase, reaching $42.2 billion in sales, compared to the expected $40.5 billion.
To meet growing demand for artificial intelligence, Amazon raised its annual capital expenditure target from $200 billion to $220 billion.
CEO Andy Jassy said the company is "unusually well-positioned for this AI inflection," with most of the spending going toward AI capacity.
>>> Severe Weather Risk Prompts Rain and Storm Alerts Across Region
Analysts see the cloud growth as proof that the investments are paying off.
Forrester analyst Tracy Woo called it a "clear indicator" that Amazon's cloud spending is "meeting market demand rather than outpacing it."
Bezos's Net Worth Climbs $25 Billion
The stock surge added about $25 billion to Bezos's fortune, bringing his total net worth to $271.5 billion.
That places him between Google co-founders Larry Page at $279.3 billion and Sergey Brin at $257.6 billion.
Meanwhile, other tech giants saw mixed results. Apple's shares fell 9% after its revenue forecast missed expectations due to supply chain pressures.
CEO Tim Cook noted that memory costs are rising, saying, "If you look beyond September, we see the market pricing for memory continuing to increase, which could drive an increasing impact on our business."
>>> Montana Senate Race Intensifies as Bankhead and Bodnar Refuse to Withdraw
The rapid changes in billionaire rankings highlight ongoing volatility in the tech sector as investors weigh AI spending strategies and supply chain challenges.
