The minute we thought of Bezos it was obvious that he embodied both. The magazine is due out Monday. The company quickly became the Goliath of Internet bookselling and soon branched out into music and video. Now Amazon, trying to build itself into an online superstore, sells everything from software and electronics to toys and home improvement items. But the company suffers a problem common to Internet ventures.
Some analysts wonder how much longer it can afford to keep growing.
The attempt to build huge companies based on growth but not profit. Bezos said in a telephone interview he is confident Amazon and companies like it will eventually turn a profit. Time editors choose the person of the year by deciding who had the greatest impact, good or bad, during the year. Bezos beat out Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and an idea for a package story based on the shootings at Columbine High School, Isaacson said. Last year's joint winners were President Clinton and Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr.