Wealthy neighbors blast Jeff Bezos for ‘not picking up trash on Cleanup Day’: report
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos reportedly can’t be bothered to pick up the trash during an annual “day of service” in his ultra-exclusive Seattle-area enclave — and angry neighbors accuse the mogul of “acting like he owns” the place.
Bezos, the world’s second richest person with a fortune valued by Bloomberg Billionaires Index at $171 billion, owns four properties in the small, wealthy Hunts Point enclave that he bought for $45 million — which makes up part of his sprawling $190 million real estate portfolio in the Pacific Northwest.
But residents in Hunts Point, home to some of the wealthiest business leaders in the country, say the billionaire hasn’t participated in the neighborhood’s annual springtime ritual called “Cleanup Day” — in which denizens gather to plant trees, weed gardens and pick up litter.
“I’ve seen a billionaire pick up trash on Cleanup Day. Not Jeff Bezos,” one resident of Hunts Point told Business Insider on Friday.
The event includes a continental breakfast, a barbecue lunch and a bouncy house for kids, according to Business Insider.
In 2019, a newly divorced Bezos moved into Hunts Point — whose residents include former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Costco co-founder James Sinegal.
After separating from writer MacKenzie Scott, Bezos bought a $37.5 million waterfront estate in addition to three other smaller homes nearby for staffers.
Neighbors are also chafing over Bezos’ security guards, who have twice called police to report suspicious people who turned out to be employees and contractors of some of his wealthy neighbors, according to a report.
“Jeff Bezos acts like he owns Hunts Point,” one resident told Business Insider.
Bezos himself is rarely seen, according to local residents who lauded the fact that other uber-billionaires nearby are much more accessible
“He’s not much of a neighbor,” a Hunts Point local told Business Insider.
“He’s so busy with all this national stuff.”
While Bezos is nowhere to be found, Ballmer, the fifth richest person in the world with a net worth estimated by Bloomberg Billionaires Index at $128 billion, is considered much more accessible, according to Hunts Point residents.
Whereas Bezos’ estate is behind a gate that is constantly closed, Ballmer’s gates are usually open, according to Business Insider.
Ballmer’s property is also listed under his own name whereas Bezos has tried to shield his identity by purchasing the homes through several limited liability companies, according to the report.
When a Business Insider report approached Ballmer’s residence and rang the doorbell, Bill Gates’ former college classmate answered himself.
“Nothing to say,” Ballmer, who was asked about his relationship with Bezos, is quoted as telling Business Insider before he quickly shut the door.
The Post has sought comment from Bezos and Ballmer.
After divorcing Scott, Bezos began a relationship with his now-fiancée, Lauren Sanchez.
Last month, the two announced that they were leaving Seattle and relocating to Miami.
The 59-year-old Bezos said the move to South Florida was primarily motivated by his desire to be close to his parents as well as the wish to oversee rocket launches by his space exploration company, Blue Origin, whose “operations are increasingly shifting to Cape Canaveral.”
