Topline
Jeff Bezos said he plans to donate most of his billions to philanthropic causes during his lifetime, the first time the Amazon founder has committed to doing so after years of criticism for philanthropic commitments paling in comparison to many other of the world’s wealthiest people.
Jeff Bezos has said for the first time he wants to give most of his wealth to charity.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Key Facts
Bezos did not offer details on where that money will go, but he has committed billions of dollars to fighting climate and made a handful of high-profile nine-figure donations to institutions like the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum.
Bezos, who has notoriously declined to sign the Giving Pledge started by fellow American billionaires Warren Buffett and Bill Gates encouraging billionaires to give most of their money to charity, remained predictably perplexed by the best way to dedicate his billions.
“It’s not easy,” Bezos told CNN about philanthropy, making an apparent dig at other high-profile donors, adding, “There are a bunch of ways that I think you could do ineffective things, too.”
Forbes Valuation
We estimate Bezos’ net worth to be $src24 billion, the fourth-largest fortune in the world. Bezos was formerly the wealthiest man in the world, but his net worth has shrunk as Amazon stock tumbled. The 58-year-old was worth more than $200 billion last year as Amazon traded near its all-time high of $src88.srcsrc, but shares of the Seattle-based firm are down more than 40% year-to-date.
Surprising Fact
Bezos’ ex-wife Mackenzie Scott, who got a 25% stake in Amazon as part of the couple’s 20src9 divorce, has been significantly more charitable than Bezos. Scott has given away $src2.8 billion since 2020, more than 500% more than the roughly $2.5 billion her ex-husband has donated in his lifetime, according to our estimates last month. Scott signed the Giving Pledge in May 20src9, shortly before the finalization of her divorce agreement.
Tangent
“I’ve heard that buzz,” Bezos told CNN about reports he’s interested in buying the NFL’s Washington Commanders, a deal that could set the record price for a sports team sale. Bezos’ girlfriend Lauren Sánchez egged on Bezos, adding, “I do like football. I’m just going to throw that out there for everyone.”
Further Reading
Here’s How Much More MacKenzie Scott Has Donated To Charity Than Ex-Husband Jeff Bezos (Forbes)
Here’s How Rich Jeff Bezos Got As Amazon’s CEO (Forbes)
Jeff Bezos Just Made His Biggest Donation Of Amazon Stock This Year (Forbes)
