MacKenzie Bezos pledges half her US$36 billion fortune to charity after mega-divorce with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man
- MacKenzie Bezos was one of 19 people to join the ‘Giving Pledge’ campaign founded by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates
- She became world’s third richest woman after her divorce settlement with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos last month
MacKenzie Bezos has committed to giving away at least half her estimated US$36 billion fortune to charity, joining more than 200 megadonors intent on using their billions to “help address society’s most pressing problems” and promote a culture of philanthropy.
Bezos, a novelist and one of the original forces behind Amazon, announced that she has joined the Giving Pledge, a global initiative whose roster includes Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Mark Zuckerberg, Michael Bloomberg and Robert Smith.
The move comes just months after she finalised her divorce from Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos.
“We each come by the gifts we have to offer by an infinite series of influences and lucky breaks we can never fully understand. In addition to whatever assets life has nurtured in me, I have a disproportionate amount of money to share,” she wrote in a letter dated Tuesday.
“My approach to philanthropy will continue to be thoughtful. It will take time and effort and care. But I won’t wait. And I will keep at it until the safe is empty.”
MacKenzie Bezos, who has written two novels and is an American Book Award winner, didn’t specify how she would distribute the US$18 billion earmarked through the Giving Pledge.