Jeff Bezos Criticizes New York City School Spending During CNBC Interview

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said New York City spends $44,000 per student on schools but little reaches teachers. During a CNBC interview, Bezos stated that if Amazon operated like the city school system, packages would take six weeks to arrive and delivery fees would reach $100. He argued the extra spending goes into bureaucracy rather than classroom instruction.

Bezos defended his own tax payments and opposed proposals to raise taxes on wealthy residents. He said politicians often blame people instead of addressing root causes of problems. Bezos described Amazon's use of the "five whys" method to identify permanent solutions.

The Bezos family pledged $150 million to early childhood education programs in New York City. The donation includes a $100 million gift to create the Jackie Bezos Endowment for Early Childhood and an additional $25 million subject to matching funds. Mayor Zohran Mamdani responded on social media after the interview. City Hall did not immediately respond to requests for comment.