Who is MacKenzie Scott? All about Jeff Bezos' first wife
Scott, 55, helped build Amazon in its early days and remains a major figure despite avoiding the spotlight post-divorce. The American Book Award winner has gone on to write two novels and become a celebrated do-gooder, providing sizable contributions to educational and racial equity causes and quietly redefining modern philanthropy.
As Bezos, 61, moves into a more high-society life with Sánchez, 55, here's what to know about his first wife.
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's wedding: Everything we know so far
Why did Jeff Bezos get divorced? How much money did MacKenzie Scott get?
Bezos and Scott married in 1993 in Seattle, going on to have four children – three sons and one daughter.
The couple divorced in 2019 after 25 years of marriage. In their divorce settlement, Scott received 25% of their shared Amazon stake, valued at roughly $36 billion. Bezos retained 75% of the couple's Amazon stock, in addition to her voting control in the company, as previously reported by USA TODAY.
The settlement made Scott one of the wealthiest women in the world.
Selena Gomez is one of Forbes' richest self-made women, Rihanna falls on list
MacKenzie Scott foundation: Philanthropic transformation of Jeff Bezos' ex-wife
Post-divorce, the Amazon cofounder pledged to give away the majority of her wealth. She has given away more than $19 billion in donations to date through her foundation, Yield Giving, and has become known as a rapid, "no-strings-attached" philanthropist – in contrast to Bezos' slower pace of giving.
Scott has donated to more than 2,000 nonprofits over the past six years, proving to have a "transformational effect" on said organizations, a February study said.
Scott is also part of The Giving Pledge, founded by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates to fund groups working on issues such as poverty alleviation, refugee aid, disaster relief, global health and education.
Her generosity has made headlines, though not much else. She rarely gives interviews to date and has kept a low public profile.
MacKenzie Scott has donated $19 billion. The impact? 'Transformational,' new study says
MacKenzie Scott married (and divorced) after Jeff Bezos
After her first marriage to Bezos, Scott married Seattle science teacher Dan Jewett in 2021, after first meeting at her children's school, the Washington Post reported.
Scott filed for divorce in September 2022, which was finalized in January 2023.
Contributing: Coral Murphy Marcos and Greta Cross
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