Carmack also started a rocket company at a time when it was much more difficult to do so (there were far fewer government dollars available via contracts), Bezos also has far more capital to put in than Carmack.
Not undeservingly Carmack is something of a folk hero here (for example: http://h14s.p5r.org/2012/09/0x5f3759df.html) but I don't think being a 10X programmer necessarily translates into great rocket company CEO and in terms of entrepreneurial and organizational skill Bezos excels (at least based on Amazon's success).
It's a shame you picked q3's fast inverse square root. It's not a great example as it turns out someone else implemented it in Quake 3 and someone else entirely devised the algorithm itself. Though you're right - he's a bit of a hero and deservedly so.
edit: however ... I've just read that article and it is actually the most in-depth and interesting analysis I've read on the subject so thanks!
Carmack also started a rocket company at a time when it was much more difficult to do so
The two companies were founded in 2000. You're right about the capital, tough: as of 2014, Bezos had already invested half a billion dollars into Blue Origin.
Not undeservingly Carmack is something of a folk hero here (for example: http://h14s.p5r.org/2012/09/0x5f3759df.html) but I don't think being a 10X programmer necessarily translates into great rocket company CEO and in terms of entrepreneurial and organizational skill Bezos excels (at least based on Amazon's success).