MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has been on a philanthropic journey since her divorce six years ago, donating an estimated $19 billion to over 2,000 organizations and transforming the nonprofit world with her generosity.
MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has been on a philanthropic journey since her divorce six years ago. With an estimated $19 billion given away to over 2,000 organizations, she has transformed the nonprofit world with her generous donations.
MacKenzie Scott is a philanthropist and novelist, best known as the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos.
She has pledged to give away the majority of her wealth during her lifetime.
As of 2022, she has donated over $12 billion to various charitable causes.
Her donations have focused on supporting historically black colleges and universities, community development organizations, and arts institutions.
Scott's philanthropic efforts aim to address issues such as education inequality, economic mobility, and social justice.
The Philanthropist’s New Chapter
Since her marriage to Bezos ended in 2019, Scott has focused on raising her family and continuing to make a positive impact through her philanthropic work. Her first husband, Dan Jewett, was not part of this journey, as the couple finalized their divorce in January 2023.
A Shift in Philanthropy
Scott’s new chapter in philanthropy began with her split from Bezos. The two share four children — three sons and a daughter. In 2019, “giving away $640 million to 361 nonprofit groups across the country” was just one of many milestones in her journey as a philanthropist.
MacKenzie Scott is an American novelist and philanthropist. She was born on April 7, 1970, in San Francisco, California. Scott is best known for being the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. After her divorce from Bezos, she inherited a significant portion of his wealth, making her one of the richest women in the world. Since then, Scott has pledged to give away most of her fortune during her lifetime. She has donated over $12 billion to various charitable causes and organizations.
A Commitment to Raising Voices
Scott’s approach to philanthropy is centered around elevating community-led non-profits that advance the voices and opportunities of individuals and families from modest means. Her focus on these organizations has had overwhelmingly positive effects, according to a three-year study published by the Center for Effective Philanthropy.
The Giving Pledge
In 2019, Scott also made the Giving Pledge, a list of billionaires who have pledged to donate half of their fortunes. In her letter, she emphasized the importance of acting quickly on the impulse to give and creating positive ripple effects through philanthropy.
A Lasting Legacy
Currently, “Forbes reports that Scott’s net worth totals $28.2 billion”. Despite her wealth, she continues to focus on making a lasting impact through her philanthropic work. With her generosity and commitment to elevating community-led non-profits, Scott is leaving a lasting legacy that will be felt for years to come.
