Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ mother, Jackie Bezos, died at 78 after battling Lewy body dementia today. She breathed her last in Miami as confirmed by Jeff Bezos’ emotional Instagram post. Jackie Bezos was a celebrated figure in the field of philanthropy, education and played a crucial role in her son’s ventures.
In a post for his mother, Jeff Bezos paid tribute to her early days when she became a single mother at 17. “She pounced on the job of loving me with ferocity,” he added and was proud of his growing family including his father and siblings.
Who was Jackie Besoz?
In a post made by the Amazon founder, he shared that Jackie was born to Lawrence Preston Gise and Mattie in Washington DC. While still in high school, she became a young single mother who took up night classes and looked after him. Later, she married Miguel (Mike) Bezos in 1968. Spending nearly 60 years together, the couple built a fruitful life for themselves.
While she is known widely for her contributions to society with her philanthropic efforts, she also played a significant role in Amazon’s homecoming. Jeff Bezos’ parents, Jackie and Miguel, made an investment of $245,000 in 1995 for the online bookstore, and they lived to see it transform into a multi-trillion dollar company. Not only did Jeff Bezos reign as the richest man in the world, he revolutionised the e-commerce industry.
Within four years of this investment, Jeff Bezos’ net worth had reached $9 billion. A 2018 report from Bloomberg also suggested that Jackie and Miguel’s share in Amazon made them worth $30 billion with a return of 12 million per cent on their investment.
Jeff Bezos’ mother philanthropy
Jackie Bezos, mother of Jeff Bezos, left behind a remarkable legacy of service, education, and philanthropy. Her contributions went far beyond her family; she dedicated her life to improving communities and empowering future generations.
She co-founded the Bezos Family Foundation in 2000 with her husband and their children, focusing on education and lifelong learning. Under her leadership, the foundation launched impactful initiatives like Vroom, which helps parents and caregivers nurture children’s brain development through practical tips, and the Bezos Scholars Program, which supports young leaders in the US and Africa.
Jackie also championed medical research and healthcare projects, including partnerships with Seattle’s Fred Hutch Cancer Center, where her support advanced groundbreaking immunotherapy treatments for cancer. Her passion for service was matched by her belief in personal growth, returning to school at age 45 to complete her psychology degree, inspiring others that it’s never too late to learn.
in 2020, Jackie was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive neurological disorder. She left behind eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. This news comes just a month after Jeff Bezos tied the knot with Lauren Sanchez in an extravagant Venetian wedding.