MacKenzie Scott Sold Over $10 Billion Worth of Amazon Shares in 2023, Continues Philanthropic Efforts
MacKenzie Scott, the philanthropist and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has reportedly sold nearly 65.3 million Amazon shares in the past year, amounting to a value exceeding $10 billion, as revealed in recent filings.
Following her divorce from Jeff Bezos in 2019, Scott emerged as the world’s wealthiest woman, acquiring about 19.7 million Amazon shares—equivalent to 4% of the company’s total outstanding shares—in the settlement. Since then, she has systematically sold portions of her Amazon stake, directing the proceeds towards substantial charitable contributions.
The agreement with Bezos stipulated that he retained the voting rights to Scott’s shares, leading him to report them to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) when disclosing his 11.5% stake in Amazon.
In 2019, MacKenzie Scott committed to the Giving Pledge, a commitment undertaken by numerous affluent individuals worldwide to donate the majority of their wealth. Other notable signatories include Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg. Although Jeff Bezos is not a signatory to the pledge, he expressed his intention in a 2022 CNN interview to allocate the majority of his wealth toward combating climate change and supporting initiatives fostering global unity.
In December, Scott announced donations totaling $2.15 billion through her foundation, Yield Giving, over the preceding year. The nonprofit contributed to 360 organizations, as detailed in the announcement.
Despite divesting billions of dollars in Amazon shares in recent years, MacKenzie Scott’s net worth remains substantial, exceeding $37 billion according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index. Her ongoing philanthropic efforts continue to make a significant impact across various charitable causes.
