That is an interesting way to compare wealth between time periods but I'm not sure it's the most valid method.
For one, Rockefeller grew rich quickly coz there wasn’t as much regulation as compared to what Bezos had to face.
On the other hand, Rockefeller wasn’t in the Internet age and Bezos banker on the exponential rise of internet.
I am sure there are many more variables.
Eh, Bezos got rich off of not having to pay state sales taxes while his brick and mortar competitors did.
But AWS makes up for that IMO.
Back then, federal income tax was way way lower than what it is today. At some point the highest income tax bracket was 7% but today it's 37%.
I'm not a history buff but Google says social security taxes first started in 1937. That could be potentially another 13% less taxes paid back then.
Also Google says corporate tax was hovering around 12% during the 1920s but it's upper 30%s now.
Imagine how fast you could gain wealth if the govt. only took 20% of your income instead of 50%.
Bezos rode the boom in the internet revolution.