MacKenzie Scott net worth is third on the list of richest women in the world. But Forbes names her as the world’s most powerful woman, and being a billionaire’s ex-wife has nothing to do with it. Read more about Mackenzie Scott net worth.
MacKenzie Scott net worth of $62.2 billion comes third on the list of the world’s wealthiest women, with Francoise Bettencourt Meyers leading the pack. But according to Forbes, she is not just some billionaire’s ex-wife. MacKenzie Scott is the most powerful woman in the world.
After receiving a divorce settlement from Jeff Bezos, Scott immediately committed half her fortune to philanthropy by signing up for the Giving Pledge. Forbes also reported that between 2020 to 2021, Scott donated no less than $8.5 billion across 720 organizations.
Amid people singing her thanks and praise, some wonder how MacKenzie Scott was able to give away so much of her wealth?
Who was MacKenzie Scott before she became one of the richest people in the world?
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MacKenzie Scott Short Bio
MacKenzie Scott Tuttle was born on April 7, 1970, in San Francisco, California. Her father, Ted, was a financial planner, while her mother, Jacqueline, was the typical homemaker. At a very early age, Mackenzie was already showing signs of a great potential of becoming a writer.
At six years old, MacKenzie wrote her earliest work which she called The Book Worm. The book had 142 pages. Unfortunately, it was destroyed during a flood.
Scott attended Princeton University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in English in 1992. She had the excellent opportunity to study under Toni Morrison, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Morrison described Scott as one of the brightest students he has ever encountered.
MacKenzie Scott helped as a research assistant for Toni Morrison’s 1992 novel, Jazz.
MacKenzie Scott the Author
By 2006, MacKenzie Scott won the American Book Award for her 2005 debut novel, The Testing of Luther Albright. During the ten-year creation of her book, MacKenzie was already a wife to Jeff Bezos and mother to their children. But marriage was not a reason to give up her dream.
Eight years after her first novel, Scott published her second book in 2013, Traps.
Jeff Bezos and Amazon
MacKenzie Scott and Jeff Bezos were married in 1993, only after three months of dating. The two met as colleagues at the investment management firm, D.E.Shaw & Co. A year later, the couple moved to Seattle to start their family.
Starting Amazon
Jeff Bezos carries the honor of being the founder of Amazon. But during the company’s early days, Mackenzie was right there next to Bezos, humbly set up in the family’s Bellevue garage. She took charge of many things like keeping their books and negotiating freight contracts.
Perhaps the most significant support Bezos received from MacKenzie is that she fully supported his endeavor. She set aside her dream, despite already being an accomplished author. MacKenzie left work and agreed to move their entire family to a different state for her husband.
Divorce
The reason for the separation was never made public, and the media only rolled with speculations and heightened the event as an issue that will reflect Amazon’s stock value. Though stocks did go down 0.5 percent, the slight decline did not affect the company’s growth prospects.
In 2019, MacKenzie Scott was awarded 14.9 million shares from Bezos’ Amazon stake of 64.6 million shares. The settlement made Scott the 22nd richest person in the world and the third richest woman on earth. She didn’t waste time and sold 2.5 million shares to start her philanthropy.
MacKenzie Scott the Philanthropist
Immediately after her divorce was settled in 2019, MacKenzie Scott signed up for the Giving Pledge, promising to give away half of her entire wealth. And not even two years after she began her philanthropy, MacKenzie Scott’s donations summed up to no less than $8.6 billion.
She donated to almost 800 different organizations focused on public health, gender equality, racial justice, and many more. Forbes described her commitment as “giving away her fortune at a pace unheard of in the philanthropy world.” But making a difference is what matters to Scott.
And true enough, MacKenzie was far from done.
Hiding the Dollar Signs
After accumulating $8.6 billion in pledges, Mackenzie changed her approach. Before, she kept her donations transparent, from the amount to recipient organizations. But in December 2021, MacKenzie announced that details of her future contributions would be kept secret.
MacKenzie explained that it is to avoid confusing people with her intentions. And let’s face it, there will be people who will try to take advantage of her goodwill or the recipients. MacKenzie added that she wants to keep the attention on the organizations and not on her donations.
MacKenzie Scott is also praised for her no-strings-attached approach to philanthropy. She left the decision to the recipients on how to spend the money. She doesn’t help to make her presence known. She’s just a stepping stone so these organizations can help more people.
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Mackenzie Scott Net Worth – Frequently Asked Questions
What Is MacKenzie Scott Net Worth?
MacKenzie Scott net worth is currently estimated at $62.2 billion, which she got as a divorce settlement from her ex-husband Jeff Bezos. MacKenzie Scott net worth immediately debuted at 22nd on Forbes’ list of wealthiest people and 3rd richest woman in the world.
Why is McKenzie Scott So Powerful?
McKenzie Scott’s influence comes from her philanthropy. How she used her voice and fortune to help change the world. And there was no one other than McKenzie Scott, who displayed an extraordinary need to use the resources at her disposal to make that change possible.
Did McKenzie Scott Come From Money?
It’s safe to say that McKenzie Scott came from an average family. Her father was a financial planner, and her mother was a full-time housewife. After she married Bezos and the success of Amazon, she came into money.
Did McKenzie Scott Help Start Amazon?
McKenzie Scott was right next to Jeff Bezos at the founding of Amazon. The company office was set up in their garage. McKenzie owned the other pair of hands that helped plant the roots of the now $800 billion company, Amazon.
MacKenzie Scott Net Worth – Final Thoughts
Who among us never once wished for the chance to help others? How many pleas for help have we seen on the news or social media, but all we can do is hope for the best? And how many were able to breathe a sigh of relief that there are still people like McKenzie Scott?
Forbes named her the most powerful woman in the world, and no wonder because according to the great woman herself, she intends to continue helping “until the safe is empty.” But with MacKenzie Scott net worth at $62.2 billion and rising, she’s bound to be around for a long time.
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