Jeff Bezos has become the latest billionaire to reach the edge of space. Yet, instead of praise for attempting to simplify space travel, the world's richest person was mocked online for the comment he made upon returning to Earth. During a news conference Bezos thanked Amazon employees and customers for funding his space voyage.
"I want thank every Amazon employee and every Amazon customer because you guys paid for all this. So seriously, for every Amazon customer out there, and every Amazon employee, thank you from the bottom of my heart, very much. It's very appreciated", he said.
His comment was first roasted by the US media, which noted that the $28 million ticket to space aboard the New Shepard rocket could have been spent on much important issues, before social media users began ridiculing him.
Many users drew attention to what they described as poor working conditions at Amazon.
Others remembered a report by ProPublica in June that said Bezos, who according to Forbes' real-time billionaires' list is worth $200 billion, paid no taxes in 2007 and 2011.
There were those who said there was nothing wrong with Bezos' comments.
Still other users made fun of Bezos' decision to wear a cowboy hat during his space trip.
Bezos' space trip came nine days after another billionaire, founder of the Virgin Group Richard Branson flew to space on board a rocket manufactured by his company.