Going viral is not something only teenagers or influencers crave. Nowadays, even 9-5 working adults are keen to have a viral moment. Since no one knows what can go viral, everything is content. Even a crane working on 5th Avenue can go viral if one is imaginative enough.
Currently, a viral video is going viral sparking claims that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos “shut down” Manhattan’s iconic Fifth Avenue. And why would Jeff Bezos do that? Apparently just to move furniture into his $119 million penthouse.
Now, this is something that could generate a lot of clicks either through rage bait or through genuine curiosity. While the spectacle looked like a billionaire flex, the truth is far more ordinary, albeit luxurious.
Businessman Raffi Arslanian shared the footage in question on TikTok. In this footage, it shows a massive crane in the middle of the street. It is seen to be lifting what appears to be a large, wrapped piece of furniture high into a luxury skyscraper.
American showing how Jeff Bezos gets furniture delivered to his New York City penthouse
He has one of the largest mega cranes in the city with an entire team dedicated to hoisting furniture into his penthouse. The entire road is blocked off
This is the same guy who wanted to… pic.twitter.com/0q5h3bdZyt
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) May 31, 2025
The building is located at 212 Fifth Avenue, in the heart of Manhattan. Arslanian then jokes in the video if people wanted to see how Jeff Bezos delivers his furniture? He then pans to a street closed off with barricades, police presence, and moving equipment.
In the age of social media, that was all it took. Speculation took off, with comments flooding in. Some users joked about Bezos having his own version of “Amazon Prime Ultra.” Others questioned how one man could “close Fifth Avenue for a couch.”
However, there was an answer and it was: it’s all false and a lie. Jeff Bezos didn’t personally shut down Fifth Avenue. The street was temporarily closed but it was with full permits and city approval for a crane operation. It is standard procedure for large-scale moves in Manhattan, New York.
One of my favorite NYC buildings is the Puck Building in SoHo.
Originally built for Puck Magazine in 1893, this romanesque revival has housed retailers, tech companies, restaurants, and luxury residences.
Bonus points if you can name the Shakespearian statue above the door 🎭 pic.twitter.com/oN6aaMbQnT
— Gabriel Hamilton (@GabrielsNotes) May 6, 2022
Such operations are not uncommon in Manhattan. It can be seen especially in the case of historic or high-rise buildings where elevators are too small to accommodate oversized items.
Hoisting furniture or custom fixtures with cranes is routine. Even for people who aren’t billionaires. Though certainly it is less common due to the cost. Anyone seeking this service would need permits, police escorts, and crane rentals. The cost for all this for a single day can total $20,000 or more.
In this case, it’s the sheer size of the delivery and the celebrity status of the recipient that made it a viral moment.
Jeff Bezos purchased the penthouse at 212 Fifth Avenue in multiple stages. He started with buying one apartment and eventually acquired five adjacent apartments across the top floors.
212 fifth avenue three story Manhattan penthouse $80 Million pic.twitter.com/igak17LneD
— Gold Smith (@mubashar44bur) February 3, 2024
The property spans more than 17,000 square feet in total. It includes panoramic views of Madison Square Park and the Empire State Building. The building itself is a 24-story converted neo-Gothic skyscraper once home to a commercial office.
Bezos is reportedly finalizing renovations at the Fifth Avenue residence as he swings between Miami and New York.
Internet sleuths have been hard at work trying to guess what piece of art was being carried, and the guesses have ranged from special couches to expensive art pieces.
Social media didn’t disappoint when it came to the comments on the post, too. While some admired the logistical choreography, others criticized the perceived extravagance.
Isn’t it incredible how these billionaires can just do whatever the hell they want and the government’s just allow them
— Mr. Bill’s prophetic word (@patriotbill36) May 31, 2025
Comments ranged from those who found it hilarious and called it “Amazon Prime: Billionaire Edition” to those who are born critics and called it a symbol of inequality in modern America.
As one Twitter user perfectly summed it up, “Jeff Bezos moves furniture, and the internet loses its mind. New York just calls it Tuesday.”
