The journey of Amazon: 20 milestones on 20th birthday

Throughout its two decades, Amazon has been brazen: it gives two hoots about maximising profits for investors and, instead, focuses on expansion at any cost. Last year, its revenues hit $88 billion, but it lost $240 million.

The story about Amazon's rise to power as the world's biggest e-commerce website began with a single transaction on July 16, 1995 -- exactly 20 years ago. Computer scientist John Wainwright bought a book about artificial intelligence and became the company's first customer. Amazon sold only books in the beginning -- mostly because they were easy to stock, didn't break, and were easy to ship -- but expanded to include nearly every item you can think of in just a few years.

Throughout its two decades, Amazon has been brazen: it gives two hoots about maximising profits for investors and, instead, focuses on expansion at any cost. Last year, its revenues hit $88 billion, but it lost $240 million.

Here are 20 milestones in Amazon's 20-year-old life that makes it what it is today.