Bezos selling Amazon stock to fund rocket

Amazon.com Chief Executive Jeff Bezos says he is selling stock to fund his Blue Origin rocket company.

Amazon.com boss Jeff Bezos says he is selling stock to fund his Blue Origin rocket company. (AAP)

Amazon.com Chief Executive Jeff Bezos says he is selling about $US1 billion ($A1.3 billion) worth of Amazon stock per year to fund his Blue Origin rocket company, and expects to spend about $US2.5 billion developing a rocket capable of lifting satellites and eventually people into orbit.

Blue Origin is aiming to launch paying passengers on 11-minute suborbital space rides next year, Bezos told reporters at the US Space Symposium in Colorado Spriongs on Wednesday.