MacKenzie Scott's net worth is estimated at around $34-41 billion, built primarily from the Amazon stock she retained in her 2019 divorce from Jeff Bezos. What makes her financial story unusual is that despite giving away more than $26 billion to charity since the divorce, her fortune has kept growing -- Amazon's stock has appreciated faster than she has given the proceeds away, an outcome widely covered as an illustration of just how large the underlying fortune is.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | MacKenzie Scott Tuttle |
| Born | April 7, 1970, San Francisco, California |
| Known For | Novelist; former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos; large-scale philanthropist |
| 2019 Divorce | Received Amazon stock then worth about $35.6 billion, roughly a quarter of the couple's combined shares |
| Philanthropy | Over $26 billion donated to more than 1,600 organizations through Yield Giving since 2019 |
| Estimated Net Worth | Around $34-41 billion, depending on Amazon's share price |
Early Life and Writing Career
Scott graduated from the Hotchkiss School in 1988 and earned a bachelor's degree in English from Princeton University in 1992, studying creative writing under Nobel laureate Toni Morrison. She met Jeff Bezos while both worked at the hedge fund D.E. Shaw, and the two married in 1993. Scott contributed directly to Amazon's founding the following year, helping with the company's name, early business plan, and initial operations. She later published two novels, "The Testing of Luther Albright" (2005), which won an American Book Award in 2006, and "Traps" (2013).
The 2019 Divorce Settlement
Scott and Bezos divorced in 2019 after 25 years of marriage. As part of the settlement, Scott received a stake in Amazon then valued at roughly $35.6 billion -- about a quarter of the couple's combined shares, or a little over 4% of the company at the time -- while Bezos retained voting control of his remaining stake. She signed the Giving Pledge that same year, committing to give away the majority of her wealth during her lifetime.
Yield Giving and Her Approach to Philanthropy
Since the divorce, Scott has given away more than $26 billion through her giving initiative, Yield Giving, to over 1,600 nonprofit organizations. Her approach has been distinctive in the philanthropy world: large, unrestricted, no-strings-attached gifts decided quickly and often without the lengthy application processes typical of major foundations, letting recipient organizations decide how to use the money themselves. Despite the scale of the giving, Amazon's stock appreciation has repeatedly outpaced her donations, leaving her fortune larger today than when she started giving it away. In December 2024, she said she would also begin directing some of her advisors toward investing in for-profit companies working on social challenges, alongside her continued charitable giving.
Personal Life
Scott has four children from her marriage to Bezos, including three biological sons and one adopted daughter. She married science teacher Dan Jewett in 2021; the two divorced in January 2023. She lives in Seattle, Washington.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MacKenzie Scott's net worth?
Estimated at around $34-41 billion, depending on Amazon's stock price, built primarily from the shares she received in her 2019 divorce from Jeff Bezos.
How much has MacKenzie Scott given to charity?
More than $26 billion since 2019, distributed to over 1,600 organizations through her Yield Giving initiative.
Why is MacKenzie Scott richer despite giving away billions?
Her remaining Amazon stock has appreciated faster than she has given away the proceeds, so her overall fortune has grown even as her total lifetime giving has climbed past $26 billion.
Is MacKenzie Scott still married to Dan Jewett?
No. They married in 2021 and divorced in January 2023.