Long before she became one of the world's most significant philanthropists, MacKenzie Scott was a Princeton University student searching for her path. That crucial direction came from an iconic source: Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison, who was not just her professor but a lifelong mentor. This formative relationship built Scott's confidence as a writer, guided her early career, and now offers a lens to understand a unique giving philosophy that has disbursed over $19 billion since 2019.
A Transformative Princeton Bond
In the early 1990s, MacKenzie Scott enrolled in creative writing classes at Princeton University. There, she met Toni Morrison, who served as both her professor and her senior thesis adviser. Morrison provided rigorous critique paired with steadfast encouragement, working closely on Scott's intellectual and creative growth. The celebrated novelist later identified Scott as one of her most exceptional students, highlighting her discipline and original voice. For Scott, this period was profoundly transformative, occurring at a pivotal stage in her life.
Guidance That Extended Far Beyond Graduation
The mentorship did not conclude at Scott's 1992 graduation. They maintained contact through letters and conversations as Scott navigated the challenges of post-university life. While working low-wage jobs in New York and pursuing her writing, Scott received both reassurance and practical advice from Morrison. This support helped her manage creative doubts and the realities of early adulthood.
Morrison's role actively shaped Scott's professional journey. She introduced Scott to her literary agent, paving the way for her debut novel, The Testing of Luther Albright, which was published in 2005 with a promotional blurb from Morrison herself. In a decisive move, Morrison also provided a phone recommendation that helped Scott secure a position at the hedge fund D.E. Shaw.
The Path to Amazon and a Distinctive Philanthropic Vision
That role at D.E. Shaw proved fateful, bringing Scott into contact with Jeff Bezos. They married and left the firm in the mid-1990s to co-found Amazon. While Amazon generated unprecedented wealth, Scott consistently points to her pre-Amazon years and Morrison's mentorship as the bedrock of her purpose and independence.
Scott's approach to philanthropy is notable for its scale and structure. Her giving, which includes over $7 billion in disclosed donations in 2025 alone, focuses on unrestricted grants. This allows recipient organizations in education, racial equity, public health, and community development to use the funds as they see fit.
Honouring her mentor's legacy, a significant portion of Scott's giving supports Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Since 2020, she has donated over $1.2 billion to HBCUs, including more than $700 million in 2025. Some gifts directly celebrate Morrison, such as funding the Toni Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and Humanities at Howard University.
Today, MacKenzie Scott is recognized as a novelist, philanthropist, and former Amazon executive. Yet, the roots of her worldview and monumental generosity can be traced to a Princeton classroom and the enduring belief of a teacher who saw her potential long before fortune or fame.
