Amazon has overtaken Microsoft as the world's most valuable publicly listed company

The online retailer is now worth one point one eight five trillion dollars after a good day on the stock market... about 12 billion more than Microsoft.

CEO Jeff Bezos created Amazon in 1994 in a Seattle garage - as a niche second-hand book seller

The internet giant is now expanding into retail stores, selling products from fresh food, to clothes and electronics.

It's also picking up sports broadcasting rights, and is tipped to go head-to-head with Sky for New Zealand rugby.

Bezos is also the world's wealthiest man, worth 200-billion dollars.