In an unprecedented act of philanthropy, MacKenzie Scott, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has given away more than $19 billion since 2020. This remarkable generosity was reported by Forbes on Friday, November 7, 2025, highlighting her continuous effort to redistribute the wealth from her Amazon stake acquired during their 2019 divorce.
The Source of the Wealth: A 4% Stake in Amazon
When MacKenzie Scott and Jeff Bezos finalized their divorce in 2019, Scott received a nearly 4% stake in Amazon, a testament to her pivotal role in the e-commerce giant's founding and early operations. This stake originally amounted to approximately 139 million shares of the company.
Since then, Scott has sold 42% of her initial stake. The value from the sale of nearly 58 million shares, worth around $12.6 billion as of 2025, has been channeled into her philanthropic endeavors. Despite these massive donations, her net worth remained a formidable $35.6 billion as of November 8, 2025, according to the Forbes Rich List.
The Philanthropic Vehicle: Yield Giving
All these monumental donations have been facilitated through Scott's philanthropic venture, Yield Giving, which she founded in 2022. A key feature of her giving is that the donations are unrestricted, granting recipient organizations the full freedom to decide how to utilize the funds for maximum impact.
Where Have the Billions Gone?
In 2025 alone, MacKenzie Scott has donated hundreds of millions to organizations focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), education, and disaster recovery. Some of the notable beneficiaries include:
- $80 million to Howard University
- $70 million to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
- $60 million to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy
- $50 million to Virginia State University
- $42 million to Alcorn State University
- $40 million to the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
- $38 million to Spelman College
As Scott continues her philanthropic mission, the financial markets reflect the enduring strength of her primary asset. Amazon's share price closed 0.56% higher at $244.41 after the Friday trading session, boasting a massive market capitalization of $2.61 trillion. The stock has rewarded US investors with over 47% returns in the last five years.
