MacKenzie Scott Donates $1.7 Billion of Amazon Wealth to LGBTQ, Black Groups

On Tuesday, MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Amazon founder/CEO Jeff Bezos, announced a $1.7 billion donation to 116 organizations devoted to public health and racial and LGBTQ+ justice. The Hill reports Scott's net worth at approximately $60.4 billion, the 22nd wealthiest person in the world, according to Forbes. The hefty donation, Scott explains, is due to a pledge she made last year:

"...to give the majority of my wealth back to the society that helped generate it, to do it thoughtfully, to get started soon, and to keep at it until the safe is empty. There's no question in my mind that anyone's personal wealth is the product of a collective effort, and of social structures which present opportunities to some people, and obstacles to countless others."

Scott observes that after observing "the heartbreak and horror" of the first seven months of 2020:

"Life will never stop finding fresh ways to expose inequities in our systems; or waking us up to the fact that a civilization this imbalanced is not only unjust, but also unstable. What fills me with hope is the thought of what will come if each of us reflects on what we can offer. Opportunities that flowed from the mere chance of skin color, sexual orientation, gender, or zip code may have yielded resources that can be powerful levers for change. People troubled by recent events can make new connections between privileges they've enjoyed and benefits they've taken for granted."

Ultimately, Scott explains that a factor in her decision to make the donation was in the consideration that "people who have experience with inequities are the ones best equipped to design solutions."

Read Scott's announcement, including where her money will go, in full by clicking here.