Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man, was confronted on stage by an animal rights activist protesting conditions at a California poultry farm that supplies Amazon.

The protestor was first heard heckling the Amazon founder from the audience during his “fireside chat” on the fourth day of his company’s conference in Las Vegas.

She then rushed onto the stage, evading both event security and Mr Bezos’ personal security reported to cost $1.6m (£1.25m) a year.

“I have been inside Amazon’s chicken farms where animals are criminally abused,” the activist said as security surrounded her. "Jeff, you are the richest man on the planet. You can help the animals."

Mr Bezos and Jenny Freshwater, another Amazon executive on stage at the time, sat calmly as the activist was removed. “Do you have a response to that?” Mr Bezos said.

Priya Sawhney, 30, rushed onto the stage during Jeff Bezos’ “fireside chat” (AP)

Animal-rights group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) later claimed responsibility for the stunt and identified the protestor as Priya Sawhney, 30, of Berkley, California.

"Animal abuse is the crime here, not animal rescue," Ms Sawhney said in a press release published after the incident.

"It’s time Amazon and Jeff Bezos take a stand for transparency, rather than actively suppressing the truth."

Ms Sawhney was held on suspicion of misdemeanour trespassing and may face more serious charges, Las Vegas police officer Laura Meltzer said.

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Amazon’s first re: MARS conference is a larger version of an invitation-only 200-person event the company has organised for the past four years to discuss machine learning, automation, robotics and space.

Mr Bezos was explaining plans to send satellites into space when Ms Sawhney appeared on stage. He founded the rocket company Blue Origin in 2000 and has said he will sell $1bn in Amazon shares each year to fund it.