Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin Sells Spaceflight Seat for $28 Million

Blue Origin Announces Winner of Inaugural Human Spaceflight Auction

Blue Origin has identified the successful bidder for its pioneering human spaceflight. The winning bid reached $28 million, granting the purchaser a place on the company’s first private astronaut mission.

Intense Bidding Competition

The winning offer was determined during a live auction today. A remarkable 7,600 individuals, representing 159 countries, registered to participate in the competition for this unique opportunity.

This auction concluded Blue Origin’s three-stage bidding procedure. It began with a blind auction, then transitioned to an open, asynchronous auction where the leading bid was publicly displayed on the company’s website with each update.

The final live auction significantly increased the bid’s value, which had previously stood at just under $5 million before the event commenced.

Cost Comparison and Flight Details

The price paid for this initial seat substantially exceeds the anticipated cost of future commercial flights aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard capsule. This capsule provides suborbital space travel, with a brief duration before returning to Earth.

Current estimates suggest a typical launch cost of under $1 million, potentially closer to $500,000. However, this inaugural flight holds a special significance.

The winning bidder will have the extraordinary opportunity to travel alongside Blue Origin’s founder, Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark, and a fourth passenger. Blue Origin will announce the identity of this fourth crew member in the coming weeks, prior to the scheduled launch date of July 20.

Winner’s Identity and Charitable Donation

The identity of the auction winner will also be revealed in the weeks following the conclusion of the live bidding process.

Despite the substantial $28 million sum, Blue Origin will not retain the revenue. The company is donating the entire amount to its Club for the Future nonprofit foundation.

Supporting STEM Education

This foundation is dedicated to inspiring children to pursue careers in STEM fields. This initiative aligns with Jeff Bezos’ broader vision of establishing humanity as a spacefaring civilization.

A recording of the complete live auction event is available for viewing below.