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USA Today
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
How many children does Jeff Bezos have? Everyone in Bezos and Sánchez's blended family
All eyes are on billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos who is getting ready to tie the knot with long-time fiancée Lauren Sánchez in a lavish ceremony in Venice, Italy. The grand wedding of the fourth-richest person in the world in Italy's historic city has caused consternation online and in Venice and even forced the couple to change venues last-minute. Celebrations for the wedding kicked off June 26 and a parade of stars, from Oprah Winfrey to the Kardashian-Jenners and Ivanka Trump were seen arriving in Venice for the event, reported to be spread over three days between June 26 and 28. Both Bezos, 61, and Sánchez, 55, were previously married to separate people and the upcoming nuptials mark their second marriages. The two, who have children from prior relationships and marriages, now share seven children between them. Sánchez, in a January 2023 interview, with the Wall Street Journal, referred to their blended family as "the Brady Bunch!" "On a typical Saturday, we hang out, we have dinner with the kids, which is always fun because you never know where the conversation is going to go with this many kids," she told the media outlet. Here's what to know about Bezos and Sánchez's blended family. Who are Jeff Bezos' parents? Bezos is the son of Jacklyn Bezos and Ted Jorgensen, who married when they were still teenagers. However, his biological father was never in the picture and Jacklyn's new husband Miguel Bezos adopted him, according to a 1999 Wired profile. "The reality, as far as I'm concerned, is that my Dad is my natural father," Bezos told the magazine. "The only time I ever think about it, genuinely, is when a doctor asks me to fill out a form." Miguel, who along with Jackie, were among the first investors in Amazon, putting in nearly $250,000, according to Bloomberg, was photographed arriving in Venice ahead of the wedding. Jorgensen, meanwhile, had no clue he was the biological father of Amazon billionaire until late 2012 when Brad Stone, a Bloomberg Businessweek reporter and author of "The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon" contacted him, USA TODAY previously reported. "I didn't know where he was, if he had a good job or not, or if he was alive or dead," Jorgensen reportedly told Stone. "I wasn't a good father or a good husband." People reported Jorgensen died in 2015. Who is Jeff Bezos' former wife? Bezos was previously married to influential philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, 55, who helped build Amazon in its early days. The two married in 1993 in Seattle and were married for 25 years before their divorce was finalized in 2019. Scott, 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. Jeff Bezos divorce: How much money did MacKenzie Scott get? How many children does Jeff Bezos have? Bezos shares four children with former wife MacKenzie Scott: three sons and a daughter. The tech tycoon is notoriously private about his children, and little is known about them. Bezos has never publicly revealed the names or birth dates of his three younger kids, according to Today. The former couple's eldest child Preston made a rare appearance with his father at the American Portrait Gala at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in 2019. Today and People reported Bezos and Scott adopted their daughter from China, though it is not known when. Who did Lauren Sánchez previously date and marry? Sánchez was previously married to media giant Patrick Whitesell. The former couple were married from 2005 to 2019. Whitesell, 60, has since remarried. She was also in a relationship with former NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez, with whom she has a son. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Sánchez opened up about her coparenting relationship with Gonzalez, describing him and his wife, October, as two of her best friends. "Tony and his wife (October 'Tobie' Gonzalez) are my best friends," Sánchez told the newspaper. "It wasn't always that way. There was friction (at the beginning). But Tony and Tobie were at Thanksgiving with us (this year), and we're really good friends." The two are reportedly also set to attend Sánchez's nuptials with Bezos, according to People magazine. Lauren Sánchez's first husband: Who is Patrick Whitesell? How many children does Lauren Sánchez have? Lauren Sánchez has three children. She has two children with Whitesell: Evan Whitesell, born in 2006 and Ella Whitesell, born in 2008, according to People. She also has a son with Gonzalez, Nikko Gonzalez, 24. Contributing: Greta Cross, Taijuan Moorman, Edward Segarra, USA TODAY Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Who is MacKenzie Scott? Jeff Bezos's ex-wife and philanthropist who has donated over $19 billion so far
Who is MacKenzie Scott? Jeff Bezos's ex-wife | Credit: @OnceRedacted Jeff Bezos, the Amazon billionaire, and journalist Lauren Sanchez are all set to host an extravagant wedding ceremony in the 'Queen of the Adriatic', Venice, on June 27. Bezos and Sánchez were first reportedly linked in 2019, during the time when both parties announced splits from their previous partners. Amid the forthcoming celebrations, the attention has turned to Bezos's ex-wife, American novelist and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. But who is she? Bezos and Scott got married in 1993 in Seattle and had four children together, three sons and one daughter. However, the couple divorced in 2019 after 25 years of marriage. In their divorce settlement, Scott received 25 per cent of their shared Amazon stake, valued at around $36 billion. The billionaire has been married once so far, and the one with Sanchez is going to be the second one. The 61-year-old Amazon founder, one of the richest men on the planet, is travelling to the Italian city with his $500 million superyacht. The multi-day affair includes a ceremony aboard Bezos's $500 million yacht, Koru. Credit: X | @MartinMcSports Who is MacKenzie Scott? MacKenzie Scott, an American novelist and philanthropist who is also one of the richest women in the world, has made headlines in the past for massive donations to hundreds of charities and has given away a total of $19 billion. The 55-year-old philanthropist helped Bezos build Amazon in its early days and remains a significant figure despite avoiding the spotlight post-divorce. The American Book Award winner has since authored two novels and gained recognition as a dedicated philanthropist, making significant impacts in education and racial equity while subtly transforming the landscape of contemporary charitable work. Credit: X | @OnceRedacted MacKenzie Scott's donations: Philanthropic transformation of Jeff Bezos' ex-wife Notably, after the divorce, the Amazon co-founder pledged to give away the majority of her wealth. She has donated over $19 billion to date through her foundation called Yield Giving, which has also been known as a rapid, "no-strings-attached" philanthropist. In the past six years, Scott has donated to over 2,000 nonprofits, proving to have a "transformational effect" on the mentioned organisations. While Jeff Bezos is worth $230 billion, Amazon pays wages so low that thousands of his workers are forced to survive on food stamps, Medicaid & public other words, your taxpayer dollars subsidized his $500 million yacht. Yes. Jeff Bezos is the real welfare queen: — Warren Gunnels (@GunnelsWarren) June 24, 2025 Bezos's ex-wife is also a member of The Giving Pledge, an initiative started by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates that supports organisations addressing poverty reduction, refugee assistance, disaster response, global health, and education. Her donations and generosity have made headlines in the past, but she has rarely given interviews to date and has kept her life quite low-key. Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott's divorce Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott filed for a divorce in September 2022, which was finalised in January 2023. Moreover, after Scott's first marriage to Bezos, she married Seattle science teacher Dan Jewett in 2021, after her first meeting with him at her children's school, as per the Washington Post. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. First Published: Jun 25, 2025, 11:58 IST Sneha is a dedicated writer with a passion for storytelling that enthrals and inspires the readers. With a background in Health and Wellness, she brings a unique perspective to every narrative. As a journalist, she aims to find solutions with authenticity and credibility. Read More 25/6/2025 12:17:38
USA Today
24-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Who is MacKenzie Scott? All about Jeff Bezos' first wife
Amid the forthcoming nuptials of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former TV anchor Lauren Sánchez, attention has turned to his ex-wife, influential philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. 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
Morocco World
15-06-2025
- General
- Morocco World
Moroccan Scholar Honored for Global Work on Malcolm X's Legacy
Moroccan scholar and Columbia University professor Hisham Aidi has received the prestigious Vanguard Award for his decades-long work preserving and promoting the legacy of Malcolm X. The award was presented by Ilyasah Shabazz — daughter of Malcolm X — and the City of New York on May 19, during a ceremony at the Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center in Harlem, the site where the civil rights revolutionary was assassinated. Aidi, who also serves as an academic advisor at the center, has spent over thirty years researching Malcolm X's global influence. He has worked closely with the Shabazz family on cultural and educational projects aimed at empowering Harlem youth, including incarcerated and marginalized communities. His contributions include curating a new exhibition tracing Malcolm X's political journey and directing the documentary 'Malcolm X and the Sudanese,' which explores Sudan's influence on the activist's worldview. As lead researcher of the Columbia Malcolm X Project, Aidi has traveled the world collecting testimonies and studying international perceptions of Malcolm X. Recognized for shaping global discourse on justice and equality, Aidi has previously received the American Book Award, the Hip Hop Scholar Award, and the Carnegie Scholar Award. The event's host, academic Marc Lamont Hill, praised Aidi for playing a pivotal role in advancing Malcolm X studies worldwide.
Associated Press
05-02-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
Marquis Who's Who Recognizes Steven M. Stanley for Expertise in Paleontology
UNIONDALE, NY / ACCESS Newswire / February 4, 2025 / Marquis Who's Who honors Steven M. Stanley, PhD, for his expertise in paleontology. Dr. Stanley is a leading authority in paleontology and an acclaimed author, focusing his career on evolutionary biology and education. Now a research professor at Florida State University, Dr. Stanley's contributions to science are widely recognized and his latest work, 'T. Rex, Darwin and Adventures Out West,' further exemplifies his ability to inspire both within and beyond the scientific community. 'Writing this novel was a way to engage with a broader audience and share the excitement of discovery that has driven my career in paleontology,' Dr. Stanley explains. His previous works, such as 'Children of the Ice Age' and 'The New Evolutionary Timetable,' have been lauded for their depth and accessibility, with 'The New Evolutionary Timetable' earning a nomination for an American Book Award. Dr. Stanley's passion for science began early in life. Growing up on 24 acres of river land, he developed an interest in collecting rocks and minerals, which later led him to study geology at Princeton University, where he graduated summa cum laude. He went on to earn a PhD from Yale University in 1968. His doctoral dissertation, 'Relation of Shell Form to Life Habits in the Bivalvia (Mollusca),' remains a seminal work in the study of skeletal morphology and continues to be cited nearly 50 years after its publication. At age eight, 'The First Book of Stones' motivated Dr. Stanley to collect rocks and minerals. At 15, a famous medical researcher invited him for a month of mineral collecting in Colorado. The next summer, he collected minerals in northern Michigan. Dr. Stanley became the youngest full professor at Johns Hopkins University at 32 years old, where he founded and chaired a part-time evening master's program in environmental sciences and policy. Since 1972, he has been a research associate at the Smithsonian Institution, where he maintains a laboratory for ongoing research. In 'T. Rex, Darwin and Adventures Out West,' Dr. Stanley weaves a narrative rich in scientific detail and human drama. The story, which at one point becomes a mystery, follows a group of college students and their professors on a journey that challenges their understanding of the world around them. 'The novel allowed me to explore themes of adventure, discovery and the bonds that form through shared experiences,' he adds. Dr. Stanley is renowned for his contributions to evolutionary biology, particularly his work on the theory of punctuated equilibria and the magnesium/calcium ratio in seawater. These studies have significantly advanced the understanding of marine life's history and evolutionary processes. Dr. Stanley's textbook 'Principles of Paleontology,' co-authored with David Raup, transformed paleontology education in the U.S. and abroad. His historical geology text 'Earth System History,' now in its seventh edition, has been used by approximately half a million students. Dr. Stanley's work has earned him numerous accolades, including the Penrose Medal, which is the highest award of the Geological Society of America, for eminence in pure research, and the Mary Clark Thompson Medal from the National Academy of Sciences. His influential book, 'Macroevolution: Pattern and Process,' remains widely cited in both biology and paleontology. Dr. Stanley attributes his success to deductive reasoning, creativity and a willingness to embrace controversy. In 'T. Rex, Darwin and Adventures Out West,' Dr. Stanley's unique perspective as a scientist and storyteller shines through, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of science and literature. Looking ahead, Dr. Stanley plans to write another textbook. About Marquis Who's Who®: Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms worldwide. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website,
