Washington Post sold to Amazon founder

The Washington Post has been sold to Amazon.com founder and chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos, ending the Graham family’s stewardship of one of America’s leading news organizations after four generations. 

Jeff Bezos

Bezos will pay $250 million for the Post and affiliated publications to Washington Post Co., which owns the newspaper and other businesses.

Bezos, and not Seattle-based Amazon.com, will be the sole owner. He will take the company private, avoiding dealing with shareholders. 

Princeton graduate Bezos, 49, was born Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He took the Bezos name when his mother remarried.

Post Co. chairman/chief executive Donald E. Graham and Post publisher Katharine Weymouth, his niece, broke the news to hushed and tearful employees Monday.