Bolt was only fifth quickest out of the blocks but was quickly into his running and stormed to victory in 9.63 seconds, the second quickest in history and an Olympic record.
Only Bolt himself has run quicker with his world record of 9.58secs set in winning the world title in Berlin in 2009.
Reigning world champion and training partner Yohan Blake took silver in 9.75s to equal his personal best, with 2004 Olympic champion Justin Gatlin taking the bronze in 9.79.
The first seven men all broke 10 seconds, but the chances of all eight doing so for the first time ever were ruined when the unfortunate Asafa Powell, the third Jamaican in the final, suffered an injury shortly before the line and limped home in 11.99.
Bolt said he knew from his run in the heat he was in the right kind of form to win the title.
"I was happy," he told BBC1. "When I went out in the first round I felt I could do this.
"I was slightly worried about my start, I didn't want to false start again.
"I think I sat in the blocks a little bit so I don't think it's the best reaction in the world but I executed and that was the key.
"My coach said, 'stop worrying about the start, the best part of your race is at the end, that's where you rule'.
"So I stopped worrying about the start and I executed."
Asked about the people who had doubted him, Bolt said: "I'm not concerned. I've said it from the start, people can talk, all they can do is talk.
"I tell you people that when it comes to the championships it's all about business to me and I brought it."
Bolt enjoyed the atmosphere of the Olympic Stadium.
"It was wonderful," he said. "I knew it was going to be like this. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that it was going to be loud and it was going to be great and you can feel that energy.
"So I feel extremely good and I'm happy."
Bolt's oft-stated hopes of becoming a legend had looked in doubt after he lost twice to Blake at the Jamaican trials and needed treatment on a stiff back which was causing hamstring problems.
However, the 25-year-old insisted last week he was fit and ready to compete and proved it in emphatic style after easing through the heats and semi-finals.
A lightning fast track had even raised hopes Bolt could break his own world record, and even though that was not possible, a capacity 80,000 crowd had no complaints as cries of "Usain, Usain" rang out around the stadium.
Blake thanked training partner Bolt for driving him on to achieve second place at Olympic level.
"Usain has been to this level and he knows what it is. He's the fastest man in the world and I have to give him thanks for motivating me," Blake told BBC1.
"A silver medal - what more can I ask for?"
Bolt expects Blake to remain his biggest rival and said his countryman was an inspiration as well as a rival.
"I have to give thanks to Blake also," Bolt said.
"He always pushes me. He's worked harder than me.
"But when it comes to business I do what I have to do. I have a great talent.
"I think he's going to do better next time.
"Everyone who was in this race, he beat almost everybody. He's going to be more confident and I know he'll do better next time."
Usain Bolt Factfile
1986: Born August 21 in Trelawny, Jamaica.
2002: At the age of 15 Bolt wins gold in the 200m and silver in both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays at the 2002 World Junior Championships in Kingston.
2003: Wins gold in the 200m at World Youth Championships in Sherbrooke.
2004: Becomes first junior to break the 20-second mark in the 200m, clocking 19.93 seconds.
2005: Claims gold medal in the 200m at the Central American and Caribbean Championships with a time of 20.03secs.
2007: Wins 200m silver at World Championships in Osaka, and also wins silver as a member of the 4x100m relay.
2008: May 3 - Posts the second-fastest 100m time in history at the Jamaica Invitational, clocking 9.76secs.
May 31 - Breaks the world record in the 100m at the Reebok Grand Prix, posting a time of 9.72secs in only his fifth race over the distance.
July 13 - Beats his personal best in the 200m, finishing in 19.67 seconds in Athens to register the fastest time over the distance in 2008 and the fifth-fastest 200m time ever.
August 16 - Wins 100m gold at the Beijing Olympics, lowering his previous world record to 9.69secs.
August 20 - Completes Olympic sprint double, winning the 200m in a new world record time of 19.30secs.
August 22 - Runs third leg as Jamaica score Olympic 4x100m relay victory in world record time of 37.10secs.
November 23 - Voted IAAF World Male Athlete of the Year.
2009: April 29 - Escapes serious injury when his BMW M3 car skids off road outside of Kingston and overturns. Requires minor foot surgery.
May 17 - Wins Manchester Great City Games 150m in world best time of 14.35secs. Covered first 100m in 9.91sec and last 100m with flying start in 8.70secs.
June 10 - Wins 2009 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.
August 16 - Wins gold medal in 100m at World Championships in Berlin, with new world record time of 9.58 seconds.
August 20 - Claims second gold medal at World Championships in Berlin, with new world record time of 19.19 seconds over 200 metres.
2010: August 6 - Suffers only the second loss of his career in a 100m final, losing to Tyson Gay in Stockholm
2011: August 28 - Disqualified for a false start in the 100m final at the World Championships in Daegu. Training partner Yohan Blake goes on to take gold.
September 3 - Retains his world 200m title and later goes on to help Jamaica win the 4x100m relay in a new world record time of 37.04
2012: June - Loses to Blake over both 100 and 200m at the Jamaican Olympic trials, but seals his place on the team for London.
July 26 - Admits he had been suffering from a stiff back which was causing a hamstring problem, but insists he is ready to defend his titles.
August 5 - Retains Olympic 100m title in 9.63s, the second quickest time in history.
Source : espnstar.com
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