Amazon is one of the most well-known and influential companies in the world. In 2021, the company reported more than $420 billion in assets. In addition to their own proprietary cloud computing services and retail brands, there are many other Amazon-owned companies. The team at SMB Compass looked at the different companies Amazon owns to create the following visualization.
Quick Overview of Amazon’s Growth
Amazon has grown exponentially since its launch as a humble online bookseller. Today, it’s a global powerhouse reshaping industries from e-commerce to streaming, cloud computing, and healthcare. One key indicator of just how vast Amazon has become is its total assets, which is a measure of the company’s size and resource base.
As of the end of 2024, Amazon reported total assets of approximately $624.9 billion, marking an 18.4% increase from 2023. By the first quarter of 2025, assets had risen to about $643.3 billion, a 21.2% year-over-year jump. By mid-2025 (June 30), total assets had surged further to an estimated $682.2 billion—a nearly 23% increase.
This meteoric rise—from around $420 billion in 2021 to over $680 billion in mid-2025—reflects Amazon’s aggressive growth through acquisitions, technological investments, and global expansion. Over the years, Amazon acquired everything from major grocery chains to innovative tech startups, while building Amazon’s extensive delivery network to power its global logistics.
When you ask “what does Amazon own?”, the answer stretches from household names to independent company purchases and dozens of other acquisitions. These moves have secured Amazon’s position among the largest companies in the world.
This article dives into Amazon’s sprawling portfolio—its most significant acquisitions, subsidiaries by sector, and what might lie ahead—so you can see how this tech titan continues to build its empire.
Subsidiaries of Amazon
There are many Amazon subsidiaries, including:
- MGM Holdings (including MGM Studios)
- Whole Foods
- Zappos
- Ring
- Shopbop
- Twitch
- IMDb
- Goodreads
- Woot
- AbeBooks
- PillPack
- Goodthreads
One of the most recent Amazon subsidiaries is MGM Holdings, which is the parent company of the famed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. Amazon acquired MGM in 2021 for $8.45 billion. MGM was founded in 1924, and some of its most famous productions include the James Bond and Rocky franchises as well as influential classics like The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind. It’s considered to be one of the most famous film production companies in the world.
Amazon also acquired popular supermarket chain Whole Foods in 2017 for $13.7 billion. The chain has an estimated 91,000 employees and more than 500 locations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The original Whole Foods was founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, and had a staff of 19 employees.
In 2014, Amazon acquired popular live-streaming platform Twitch. The company was launched in 2011 and primarily focuses on video game and e-sports streaming. Some of the most popular games streamed on the service are Fortnite, League of Legends, Dota 2, Hearthstone, and Overwatch.
What Amazon Companies Had the Highest Acquisition Costs?
These are the Amazon businesses that have had the highest acquisition costs:
- Whole Foods Market (2017): $13,700,000,000
- MGM Holdings (2021): $8,450,000,000
- Zappos (2009): $1,200,000,000
- Zoox (2020): $1,200,000,000
- Twitch Interactive (2014): $970,000,000
- Ring (2018): $839,000,000
- Kiva Systems (2012): $775,000,000
- PillPack (2018): $753,000,000
- Souq.com (2017): $580,000,000
- Quidsi (2010): $545,000,000
The History of Amazon
Amazon was originally founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 in Bellevue, Washington. His then-wife, MacKenzie Scott, played a key role in shaping the company’s early operations and strategy. What began as a small online bookstore quickly grew into one of the most powerful corporations in history, changing the way people shop and consume digital services.
Over the years, Amazon acquired numerous companies to fuel its expansion. One of the most transformative purchases was Whole Foods Market in 2017, which allowed Amazon to move into physical grocery retail. Today, the list of companies Amazon owns stretches across multiple industries, from streaming services to healthcare startups, making it far more than a simple retailer.
Amazon also evolved into a dominant e commerce platform, connecting millions of third-party sellers with customers worldwide. Beyond retail, the company has invested heavily in consumer electronics such as Kindle e-readers, Fire TV, and Alexa-enabled devices, embedding itself in households across the globe. It also operates IMDb, a leading online database for films and television, further diversifying its reach into entertainment and media.
What started as a modest idea has transformed into an empire, proving how a single startup can redefine global business.
Amazon’s Acquisition Strategy
Amazon’s growth has always been guided by a clear and calculated approach. Instead of making random purchases, the company looks for acquisitions that strengthen its position or give it an entry point into new market sectors. This disciplined method is one reason Amazon’s net sales continue to climb year after year.
A major element of the strategy is diversification. From its early days as an online retailer, Amazon acquired businesses in food, streaming, media, and logistics. One of the most notable examples was the acquisition of Whole Foods, a leading grocery store chain, which gave Amazon a strong foothold in brick-and-mortar retail and expanded its physical storepresence. Such moves show how companies Amazon buys often give it immediate access to new customer bases.
Technology also plays a central role. Amazon seeks out innovations that can improve efficiency and expand its capabilities. Investments in automated storage systems, robotics, and artificial intelligence have transformed how its warehouses operate and how customers interact with its services. For example, acquiring Kiva Systems revolutionized Amazon’s fulfillment centers, while Zoox opened doors to autonomous delivery.
The final piece of the strategy is logistics and customer experience. Building a reliable distribution network is critical to Amazon’s success, and acquisitions like Ring and Zoox align with this focus. These companies support Amazon’s broader business practices of enhancing convenience, speed, and integration into everyday life.
For entrepreneurs and business owners, Amazon’s approach illustrates the value of strategic acquisitions. Instead of expanding slowly, targeted deals can accelerate growth, introduce new technologies, and create stronger customer relationships.
What Companies Does Amazon Own?
These are the companies that Amazon has acquired or has a vested interest in:
Media and Entertainment
Amazon has steadily expanded into media by acquiring platforms like MGM Studios, Audible, and Twitch. As an entertainment company, it leverages content creation and video streaming to compete with Netflix and Disney, making Prime Video one of its most valuable assets.
- MGM Holdings
- Twitch
- Audible
- GoodReads
- IMDb
- Box Office Mojo
- Prime Video
- YES Network (15% ownership)
- Echo
- Wondery
- Brilliance Publishing
- ComiXology
- Freevee
- Graphiq
- Kindle Direct Publishing
- University Esports
- Amazon Music
- Amazon Publishing
- Amazon Studios
- Bray Film Studios
- Snackable AI
- MX Player
E-Commerce
Known worldwide as an e commerce giant, Amazon dominates online retail through acquisitions such as Zappos, Shopbop, and AbeBooks. Each company Amazon purchased helps it strengthen its core marketplace while reaching niche customer segments.
- Zappos
- Shopbop
- Prime
- Prime Now
- AbeBooks
- Woot
- Amazon Appstore
- Amazon Cash
- Amazon Digital Software & Video Games
- Amazon Marketplace
- Amazon Pay
- Book Depository
- Kindle Store
- 1-Click
- Veeqo
- GlowRoad
Grocery and Retail
The acquisition of Whole Foods in 2017 marked Amazon’s most significant move into physical retail. Adding this grocery store chain to its portfolio allowed the company to expand into food and everyday essentials while testing new retail technologies like Amazon Go. Check out the other companies Amazon acquired throughout the years.
- Whole Foods
- Amazon Fresh
- Amazon Go
- Treasure Truck
Devices and Services
Amazon is recognized for its integrated consumer electronics, from Kindle and Fire TV to Alexa-powered Echo devices. These products, combined with services like Ring and Zoox, highlight how deeply Amazon has embedded itself into customers’ daily lives.
- Ring
- Alexa
- Amazon Fire
- Blink
- Fire TV
- Kindle
- Amazon Halo
- Amazon Luna
- Astro
- Eero
- Kuiper Systems
- Zoox
- Perceive
- Bee
Health Care
With PillPack and Amazon Pharmacy, Amazon bought its way into the healthcare space. These acquisitions show how the company owns businesses that expand beyond retail, offering prescription delivery and telehealth services.
- PillPack
- Amazon Pharmacy
- One Medical
Household
Amazon has extended its reach into everyday living with home services and smart security solutions. By owning Ring, Blink, and the Neighbors app, Amazon acquired tools that support households in safety, convenience, and connectivity.
- Amazon Home Services
- Neighbors App
Cloud Computing
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is not only its most profitable arm but also a leader in global infrastructure. From cloud storage to AI tools, AWS contributes significantly to Amazon’s overall market cap, helping it maintain dominance in the tech industry.
- Amazon Web Services
- Mechanical Turk
- Amazon Aurora
- Amazon Glacier
- Amazon Machine Image
- Amazon Neptune
- Amazon Product Advertising API
- Amazon RDS
- Amazon Redshift
- Amazon Rekognition
- Amazon Route 53
- Amazon S3
- Amazon SageMaker
- Amazon SimpleDB
- AWS Lambda
- CloudFront
- DynamoDB
- Elastic Beanstalk
- Elastic Block Store
- Elastic Compute Cloud
- Elastic File System
- ElastiCache
- Simple Notification Service
- Simple Queue Service
- Virtual Private Cloud
Technology
Beyond cloud, Amazon purchased companies like Annapurna Labs and Body Labs to boost innovation in hardware, software, and AI. These strategic acquisitions show how the company owns technology businesses that shape future consumer and enterprise solutions.
- Amazon Drive
- Annapurna Labs
- Body Labs
- Book Finder
- CreateSpace
- Digital Photography Review
- Lab126
- Lumberyard
- Silk
- Fig
Proprietary Brands
Amazon also builds from within. Its proprietary brands, including AmazonBasics, Solimo, and 365 by Whole Foods, let the company compete directly with third-party sellers. Each company Amazon owns in this space strengthens brand loyalty and profitability.
- 365
- Goodthreads
- 206 Collective
- Amazon Elements
- Amazon Essentials
- AmazonBasics
- Happy Belly
- Mae
- Pinzon
- Presto!
- Solimo
- Vedaka
- Wag
- Wickedly Prime
Logistics
No empire runs without efficient delivery. Amazon invested heavily in robotics, Prime Air, and maritime shipping to build a reliable logistics backbone. By streamlining its distribution network, Amazon shows how acquisitions fuel its long-term growth.
- Amazon Business
- Amazon Maritime
- Amazon Prime Air
- Amazon Robotics
- Beijing Century Joyo Courier Services
- Cloostermans
How Businesses Can Finance Growth Like Amazon
Amazon’s long list of subsidiaries highlights how strategic acquisitions can transform a company’s growth. From Whole Foods to Twitch and MGM, each purchase expanded Amazon into new industries and strengthened its dominance in retail, technology, and entertainment.
When people ask what does Amazon own, the answer extends far beyond online retail—its portfolio spans groceries, media, healthcare, and cloud computing. These moves show that businesses don’t have to grow through organic expansion alone—buying or investing in the right companies can accelerate progress and open doors to entirely new markets.
For business owners, the takeaway is clear: scaling often requires both vision and resources. While you may not be operating on Amazon’s level, securing the right financing can help you take the next step toward growth. Whether it’s acquiring a competitor, investing in new technology, or expanding your operations, funding options like a business line of credit or SBA loan can give you the flexibility to move forward with confidence.
At SMB Compass, we help companies access the capital they need to pursue growth opportunities. Contact us today to explore financing solutions like a business line of credit or SBA loan.
