Unidentified bidder pays $28 million in auction to join Bezos for July space flight

An unidentified enthusiast bid an astronomical $28 million Saturday to win an online auction for a seat aboard a New Shepard spacecraft and a chance to make history next month, joining rocket owner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos for a commercial flight to space.

Bidding for the 10- to 12-minute sub-orbital flight started at $4.8 million. In less than two minutes it shot up to $10 million, doubling to $20 million one minute and 10 seconds after that. The $28 million winning bid was accepted a little more than six minutes after the auction's final round began. "Going three times... and that is sold! Twenty-eight million dollars to number 107!" auctioneer Steve Little announced with a flourish.