Latest news with #BezosFamilyFoundation
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Jeff Bezos' mom dies from same disease that afflicted Robin Williams
Jackie Bezos, the mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and co-founder of the Bezos Family Foundation, has died after a long fight with Lewy body dementia — the same neurodegenerative disease that afflicted actor Robin Williams. She was 78. The Bezos Family Foundation, which she co-founded, confirmed her death on Thursday, Aug. 14. 'She passed away today, surrounded by so many of us who loved her — her kids, grandkids, and my dad,' Jeff Bezos wrote on social media. 'I know she felt our love in those final moments. We were all so lucky to be in her life. I hold her safe in my heart forever.' Diagnosed in 2020, Jackie's condition was a progressive brain disorder that affects memory, movement, behavior and sleep. In Williams' case, the disease was only identified after his death in 2014, when an autopsy revealed he had been suffering from an aggressive form. His widow later said the illness had caused paranoia, confusion, hallucinations and severe anxiety — symptoms that often make Lewy body dementia difficult to diagnose. Born Jacklyn Gise in New Mexico, she became a mother at 17 and later married Cuban immigrant Miguel 'Mike' Bezos, who adopted Jeff when he was four. The couple went on to have two more children, Christina and Mark. In his tribute, Bezos recalled his mother's determination. 'Her adulthood started a little bit early when she became my mom at the tender age of 17,' he wrote. 'That couldn't have been easy, but she made it all work. She pounced on the job of loving me with ferocity, brought my amazing dad onto the team a few years later, and then added my sister and brother to her list of people to love, guard, and nourish.' Bezos added, 'For the rest of her life, that list of people to love never stopped growing. She always gave so much more than she ever asked for.' In the comments of the post, Bezos' wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos wrote, 'We will miss her SO much.' The Bezos Family Foundation remembered her as a 'devoted mother' who 'always' put her children first — whether making trips to Radio Shack for Jeff, supervising Christina's cheerleading or hauling drums for Mark. Jackie and Mike Bezos were among the first to invest in Amazon in 1995, risking nearly $250,000. Their foundation has since donated hundreds of millions to education and medical research. She is survived by her husband, three children, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to a meaningful nonprofit or 'a simple act of kindness in her memory.' 'She had a remarkable way of making people feel like family,' the statement read.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Jackie Bezos, mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, dies at 78 after long illness
Jackie Bezos, the mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and a key figure in the company's early history, has died aged 78. The Bezos Family Foundation confirmed her passing on Thursday at her home in Miami, following a long battle with Lewy body dementia. Jeff Bezos paid tribute on social media, saying she died surrounded by loved ones after a life defined by determination and generosity. Before Amazon became the global powerhouse it is today, Jackie and her husband Miguel made the very first investment in Jeff's risky startup. In 1995, they wrote two cheques totalling $245,573, money they fully expected might be lost. Instead, the gamble paid off beyond anything they imagined, ultimately helping them amass a multibillion-dollar fortune. Jackie and Miguel channelled much of that wealth into philanthropic efforts, particularly early childhood education, decades before Jeff or Amazon had formal charitable arms. The Bezos Family Foundation, founded in 2000, has supported hundreds of initiatives for children and young people, including the Vroom parenting programme and the Bezos Scholars Program, which trains exceptional students from the US and Africa in leadership development. Just last year, the foundation made its largest gift yet, donating $185.7 million to the Aspen Institute to fund a centre focused on youth. Jackie's life story was one of resilience. Born Jacklyn Marie Gise in Virginia in 1946, she became a mother at 17 and faced early challenges, including raising Jeff largely on her own until meeting Miguel Bezos, who adopted him. Known for fiercely advocating for her son's education, she went to great lengths to place him in gifted programmes and encouraged his early passion for technology. In later years, Jackie continued her advocacy, writing opinion pieces and funding education reforms. Her death marks the loss of a woman whose belief in her son helped launch one of the most influential companies in history, while her philanthropy leaves a lasting legacy for generations to come.
India.com
a day ago
- Business
- India.com
Who was Jackie Bezos? Jeff Bezos's mother passes away at 78, a single mother who took night classes and worked tirelessly, also first investor in Amazon, look at her Legacy
Jacklyn Gise 'Jackie' Bezos, the mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, passed away at the age of 78 after her long battle with Lewy body dementia. She died peacefully at her Miami home, surrounded by loved ones. Jeff shared the news in an Instagram post, praising her love, resilience, and dedication to her family and the causes she championed. Who Was Jackie Bezos? Jackie was just 17, while still in high school, she became a single mother. To provide for her son, she took night classes and worked hard to support Jeff. In his tribute, Jeff wrote: 'She pounced on the job of loving me with ferocity.' In 1968, Jackie married Miguel 'Mike' Bezos, a Cuban immigrant who adopted Jeff and helped raise him. Together, they built a nurturing home for their three children, Jeff, Christina, and Mark. Jackie's home was welcoming for friends, neighbors, and classmates. First Investor In Jeff Bezos Amazon In 1995, Jackie and Mike took a risk of investing $245,000 (Rs 2.08 crore) in Jeff's new idea of an online bookstore which later became ecommerce giant Amazon. Their backing helped Amazon during early days. Within four years, Jeff's net worth reached $9 billion, and by 2018, their investment had appreciated over 12 million percent, reportedly making them worth $30 billion. Jackie's Involvement In Bezos Family Foundation Jackie's influence was more than business. In 2000, she co-founded the Bezos Family Foundation with Mike and their children and took initiatives like: Vroom – offering practical tools to promote early childhood brain development. Bezos Scholars Program – empowering promising young leaders in the US and Africa. Through these efforts, Jackie touched countless lives, supporting educators, families, and future changemakers.
Economic Times
a day ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Jackie Bezos, Jeff Bezos's mother, dies: All you need to know about Amazon founder's big family
Jackie Bezos, Jeff Bezos's mother, who passed away on August 14, 2025, is survived by her husband, her three children, 11 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Jackie Bezos, the mother of Jeff Bezos, passed away on Thursday (August 14, 2025) in Miami, aged 78. She was one of the first investors in Amazon. Bezos shared the news of her mother's demise on social media, stating that she died due to Lewy body dementia, a neurological was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2020, the Bezos Family Foundation said in a statement. She is survived by her husband, her three children, 11 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, the family foundation said. Jeff Bezos was born on January 12, 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Jackie Bezos and Ted Jorgensen. Later, Miguel Bezos, his adoptive father, became part of his family. He has two siblings: a brother, Mark Bezos, and a sister, Christina Bezos. Jackie Bezos: Born on December 29, 1946, Jackie Bezos was raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she had her first child, Jeff, at 17. She died peacefully in her Miami home on August 14, 2025, at the age of 78. While attending night school and working in a bank, she met her second husband, Miguel Bezos, to whom she was married for nearly 60 years until her death, and who adopted Jeff. They had two other children, Christina and 1995, Jackie Bezos and her husband invested just over $245,000 in Amazon, the online bookstore that her son founded in 1994. It grew to become one of the world's most valuable companies, valued today at almost $2.5 trillion. "Her adulthood started a little bit early when she became my mom at the tender age of 17. That couldn't have been easy, but she made it all work," Jeff Bezos Jorgensen: Ted Jorgensen was the biological father of Jeff Bezos. The Amazon founder was born to teenage parents, Jackie Bezos and Ted Jorgensen, who split when Jeff was still an infant. Jeff lost all contact with his biological father. Jackie's second husband, Miguel Bezos, adopted him at age Bezos: Miguel Bezos was Jackie's second husband and Jeff Bezos's stepfather, whom she married on April 5, 1968, when Jeff was four years old. Miguel, a Cuban immigrant who moved to the United States in 1962 at age 16. According to media reports, Jackie and Miguel first met when they were both working at the Bank of New Mexico. Miguel had started a job as a clerk on the overnight shift to earn extra money while he studied at the University of Albuquerque, and Jacklyn began working in their bookkeeping department following her divorce from Ted. Their shifts overlapped by an hour. Mark Bezos: Mark Bezos is the half-brother of Jeff Bezos. Born to Miguel and Jackie in 1970, Mark Bezos grew up spending his summers on his grandparents' ranch with Jeff and his sister, Christina. After completing high school, Mark attended Texas Christian University. Later, he started his career in the advertising industry, working at companies like DDB Needham and Renegade Marketing Group, per AdWeek. By 1999, Mark had founded his agency, the Bezos-Nathanson Marketing Group, alongside his longtime colleague David Nathanson, according to PEOPLE. Over a decade later, Mark founded a private equity firm called HighPost Capital with professional investor David Moross. Besides advertising and investing, Mark also served on the board of directors for several organizations. Christina Bezos: Christina was born to Miguel and Jackie in 1969. She is Jeff's half sister. She grew close to Jeff. According to a 1997 SEC filing, Christina and Mark were two of his family members who decided to invest, PEOPLE reported, citing Bloomberg Ex-Spouse MacKenzie Scott: MacKenzie Scott is an American philanthropist and novelist. She was married to the Amazon founder for over 25 years, and the couple has four children together. Following their split in early 2019, both Jeff and MacKenzie maintained that they were still good friends and would continue to co-parent their children. Current Partner: Jeff Bezos announced and confirmed his relationship with news anchor Lauren Sanchez in 2019. At the start of their relationship, Lauren was also getting divorced from her husband and Hollywood agent, Patrick Whitesell. Sanchez and Bezos got engaged in May 2023. The two got married in June 2025.
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Jackie Bezos, Jeff Bezos' mother, passes away at 78 — what is Lewy Body Dementia, the disease she battled?
Jackie Bezos , the mother of Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos , died at the age of 78. The Bezos family is mourning the death of a woman they apparently called their biggest support system. She spent her life dedicated to family and philanthropy. She bravely battled Lewy body dementia before her passing. Jackie is remembered as a devoted mother and co-founder of the Bezos Family Foundation , leaving behind her husband, three children, eleven grandchildren, and a legacy of love and generosity. Jeff Bezos wrote a heartfelt tribute on social media, saying that his mother died after a long battle with Lewy body dementia, surrounded by family and friends. He wrote, "I know she felt our love in those final moments. We were all so lucky to be in her life. I hold her safe in my heart forever,' as per a report by People. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo ALSO REA D: Jacklyn Gise Bezos Dies at 78: Jeff Bezos mother's cause of death and net worth What did Jeff Bezos do to honor his mother? Jeff talked about Jackie becoming a mother at the age of 17 in his tribute. "She pounced on the job of loving me with ferocity," he wrote, talking about how she welcomed his stepfather, Mike Bezos, into their lives and later added his siblings Christina and Mark to her love. Live Events Jeff remembered her as someone whose "list of people to love never stopped growing" and who always gave more than she asked for. Lauren Sánchez Bezos, his wife, also said how sad she was. She wrote, "We will miss her SO much." What is Lewy Body Dementia? Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a brain disease that gets worse over time and is caused by abnormal protein deposits that change how you think, move, and act. After Alzheimer's disease, it is the second most common type of dementia in older people. Jackie was diagnosed in 2020, and her family has been honest about how hard it is to deal with the condition. People with LBD may have memory problems, confusion, hallucinations, trouble moving, mood swings, and trouble sleeping. ALSO READ: Orca attack mystery: What really happened to marine trainer Jessica Radcliffe Stiff muscles, trembling, sluggish steps, poor balance, trouble speaking or swallowing, and a lack of facial expression are examples of movement problems. Blood pressure, digestion, temperature regulation, bladder and bowel control, lightheadedness, fainting, and loss of smell are all examples of nervous system problems. Sleep problems can also manifest as restless legs at night, drowsiness, or erratic dreams, as per a report by Cleveland Clinic. It's possible for symptoms to appear early or later. A biological family history of LBD or Parkinson's disease, specific genes like APOE and GBA, and ongoing research on additional factors that may raise the risk of developing this condition are risk factors for LBD, though the exact cause of the condition is unknown, as per a report by Cleveland Clinic. There is no cure, but treatments can help with symptoms and make life better. What will people remember Jackie Bezos for? The Bezos Family Foundation said that Jackie was a "dedicated mother" who always put her kids first. She was known for going to Radio Shack a lot for Jeff's projects, helping Christina with her cheerleading practices, and bringing Mark's drums to shows. She spent her life caring for her family, giving to others, and making a warm, welcoming space for everyone. Jackie always knew how to make people feel loved and important, whether it was by cooking them a meal, listening to them, or giving them good advice. FAQs What caused Jackie Bezos' death? She passed away after a lengthy battle with Lewy body dementia. Who survives Jackie Bezos? Her husband, Mike Bezos, and their three children, Jeff, Christina, and Mark, have 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
