Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made headlines once again as she significantly reduces her stake in Amazon, the tech giant co-founded by her ex-husband, Jeff Bezos. A recent regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission reveals that Scott now owns 81.1 million shares, a dramatic decrease of 58 million shares, or approximately 42%, from a year earlier. This reduction is valued at nearly $12.6 billion based on the closing share price as of Tuesday.
The specifics of Scott’s reduced holdings—whether through direct sales, donations, or a combination of both—remain undisclosed, as her philanthropic organization, Yield Giving, has not provided comments on the matter. Notably, under the terms of her divorce with Bezos, he maintains voting authority over her shares and is required to disclose her holdings annually.
Scott, who reportedly has an estimated net worth of $32 billion following her 2019 divorce, stands as a testament to a new era of wealth distribution. She emerged with about 4% of Amazon’s shares and has since pledged to donate the majority of her wealth. Over the past five years, she has generously distributed approximately $19 billion to more than 2,000 nonprofit organizations.
Her philanthropic philosophy focuses significantly on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as evidenced by her recent contributions. Among her notable donations is a $42 million gift to 10,000 Degrees, a Bay Area organization aimed at improving college access for low-income and predominantly non-white students. Scott also made headlines with a $70 million donation to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) through the United Negro College Fund, which is designed to help close the funding gap between HBCUs and predominantly white institutions.
Throughout her philanthropic journey, Scott’s commitment to diverse causes has been profound, with donations that include $84 million to the Girl Scouts, $20 million to Vermont’s Champlain Housing Trust, $436 million to Habitat for Humanity, and $275 million to Planned Parenthood. She previously contributed $10 million to UNCF in 2020 as part of her ongoing efforts to support educational equity.
Scott, who signed the Giving Pledge in 2020—a commitment that encourages the world’s wealthiest individuals to give away a significant portion of their wealth—has consistently demonstrated a leading approach to philanthropy, outpacing many in her giving. Remarkably, despite her substantial donations, Scott’s financial standing continues to thrive, with her Amazon shares appreciating in value since her separation from Bezos.
Scott’s trajectory not only highlights her dedication to transformative philanthropy but also sets an inspiring example of how shared wealth can be leveraged for meaningful societal change. Her focus on empowering underrepresented communities through education and social equity reflects a broader movement towards addressing systemic disparities.