Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said in an interview with Fox News that “success is not a sin” and rebutted the practice of portraying billionaires as villains. The interview, hosted by Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier, aired on the “Special Report” program on Wednesday, October 7th. It took place at Blue Origin, Bezos’ space company, located at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Bezos responded to criticism from Senator Bernie Sanders about billionaires, stating that entrepreneurs who expand their businesses also create jobs and should not be viewed as villains simply because of their success. Using the example of the chicken chain restaurant Raising Cane’s, Bezos emphasized that there’s nothing wrong with creating delicious chicken that people love, and it doesn’t make the founder a bad person.
When asked about why socialism is popular among certain groups, Bezos acknowledged the affordability issues in the United States, particularly housing costs making it difficult for young people to live near their workplaces. He pointed out that there are real problems that cannot be ignored.
However, Bezos believes that politicians who blame landlords overlook supply and demand factors. He mentioned that government subsidies on demand coupled with restrictions on construction drive up housing prices, using the example of Austin, Texas, where relaxed building regulations have had positive effects.
Bezos called on voters to scrutinize politicians who spend their time assigning blame. He emphasized that a politician who constantly plays the villain or accuses others likely lacks real solutions. He also mentioned that in his company, a manager behaving this way would not last long.
The perception of massive wealth in American society varies by age. A Pew Research Center survey from spring 2025 revealed that about one-third of American adults aged 18 to 29 believe extreme wealth, such as having billions of dollars, is morally wrong, a higher percentage than older age groups.
Oxfam reported in January this year that the total wealth of global billionaires grew by 16% in 2025, reaching a historic high of $18.3 trillion.
During an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on May 20th, Bezos stated that the bottom 50% of US taxpayers only pay 3% in taxes and suggested it should be lowered to zero. He gave the example of a nurse in Queens earning $75,000 annually and paying over $1,000 in taxes per month, arguing against taxing individuals like her. CNBC also noted that the lowest 40% of taxpayers, after considering tax deductions for labor income and child tax credits, on average do not owe federal income taxes.
At 62 years old, Bezos founded Amazon in his garage in 1994. In Fortune’s 2026 list of the top 500 companies, Amazon surpassed Walmart for the first time. According to Forbes, Bezos has an estimated net worth of around $380 billion, making him the second richest person globally.