Jeff Bezos Posts Heartwarming Photo Honoring Humble First Job: 'Still the Same Great Burger' The billionaire visited his old stomping grounds over the weekend for a quick lunch.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Becoming one of the world's richest men isn't something that happens overnight — the journey to get there is often arduous and at times, humbling.

Fans were delighted to see Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos pay homage to his first ever paid gig over the weekend when he posted a photo of himself on Twitter chowing down on a burger from his original place of employment — McDonald's.

Back in 1980, the now-billionaire took the job flipping burgers in the kitchen when he turned 16 years old.

"I was a cook," Bezos said in an interview with Fast Company back in 2001. "They wouldn't let me anywhere near the customers. This was my acned-teenager stage. They were like, 'Hmm, why don't you work in the back?'"

He went on to explain that the gig taught him that customer service is "really hard" and that the lessons he learned in that job set him up for making customer service a key pillar of Amazon's business model as the company developed.

In a book titled Golden Opportunity: Remarkable Careers That Began at McDonald's, Bezos also spoke about the lesson he learned in working under pressure and keeping up team morale.

"The most challenging thing was keeping everything going at the right pace during a rush," Bezos told the book's author, Cody Teets. "The manager at my McDonald's was excellent. He had a lot of teenagers working for him, and he kept us focused even while we had fun."

Bezos resigned as CEO of Amazon on July 5, 2021, marking the 27th anniversary of Amazon as a company. He still serves as Executive Chairman of the board.

As of Monday morning, Bezos' estimated net worth was $155.6 billion.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

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

Business News

'Now Accepting Applications': Elon Musk Is Opening a New Preschool in Texas Called Ad Astra. Here's How to Apply.

The school got an official permit last month to operate with as many as 21 students.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

'We're Not Allowed to Own Bitcoin': Crypto Price Drops After U.S. Federal Reserve Head Makes Surprising Statement

Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments on Bitcoin and rate cuts have rattled cryptocurrency investors.

Business News

A New Hampshire City Was Named the Hottest Housing Market in the U.S. This Year. Here's the Top 10 for 2024.

Zillow released its annual lists featuring the top housing markets, small towns, coastal cities, and geographic regions. Here's a look at the top real estate markets and towns in 2024.

Business Ideas

Is Your Business Healthy? Why Every Entrepreneur Needs To Do These 3 Checkups Every Year

You can't plan for the new year until you complete these checkups.