American novelist, the ex-wife of the founder of Amazon, and now one of the most notorious philanthropists on planet earth, MacKenzie Scott, has skyrocketed into the public consciousness in recent years because of her enormous net worth.
Indeed, after Bezos’ infamous affair with Lauren Sanchez and the ensuing divorce settlement in 2019 – the largest ever awarded in a marital split – MacKenzie Scott became an overnight multi-billionaire and the richest woman in the world. She’s since signed the Giving Pledge, promising to give the bulk of her wealth to charitable causes.
But just how much money does she have to give? In this article, we’re going to find out. So keep reading to discover MacKenzie Scott’s net worth.
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MacKenzie Scott’s Early Life and Career
Born in California on April 7, 1970, MacKenzie Scott Tuttle – named after her maternal grandfather, G. Scott Cuming – comes from an affluent family.
Her father, Jason Baker Tuttle, was a financial planner who ran his own investment firm; her mother, Holiday Tuttle, was a homemaker. They lived together in a sprawling family home in Marin County, and Scott received a stellar education at the prestigious Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut.
However, the Tuttle family’s financial situation worsened when Jason was investigated, suspended, and eventually barred by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 1989. Forced to file for bankruptcy to avoid prosecution, the family moved to Florida, where Scott’s parents still live today.
Despite this setback, Scott managed to pay her way through Princeton, where she studied English under the esteemed writer Toni Morrison. Morrison would later describe Scott as one of her best students.
After various early jobs, including a brief stint at a hedge fund, Scott went on to become an established author in her own right. She achieved national recognition for two books, The Testing of Luther Albright and Traps.
We know what you’re thinking, though. MacKenzie Scott’s meant to be one of the wealthiest people on the planet! So how does a novelist with just two – albeit well-received – published works generate such an immense personal fortune?
Answer: She married the founder of what will one day be the world’s biggest retailer, Amazon.
MacKenzie Scott’s Net Worth Made Her the Richest Woman on the Planet
Discussions of Mackenzie Scott’s net worth are inseparable from her infamous ex-husband, Jeff Bezos – the man who founded Amazon.com in his garage.
They met in 1992 at D.E. Shaw – the hedge fund we mentioned earlier – and got married a year later, in September 1993. By 1994, the newlyweds were living in Seattle, and Bezos decided to bring his idea for Amazon.com (AMZN) to fruition.
Back then, it was a small online bookseller that contemporary critics proclaimed was doomed for failure. Indeed, Barron’s cover story from May 31, 1999, even had “AMAZON.BOMB” emblazoned across the top, suggesting it was a matter of time before the company imploded. But, of course, we all know how that worked out.
Fast forward to 2019, the year Scott and Bezos finalized their divorce, and Amazon was an international company worth $1.32 trillion, generating $280 billion in annual revenue and $11.6 billion in profit. Bezos was officially the richest man alive.
And, when the couple separated, Scott became a financial beneficiary of that meteoric success. She walked away with a 4% stake in the retail giant worth an eye-watering $38 billion. A year later, in July 2020, Amazon stock broke $3,300 per share for the first time; Scott had almost 20 million of them.
In the process, she became the richest woman on the planet, with a purported net worth at the time of $66.4 billion.
Mackenzie Scott’s Philanthropy
Make no mistake, though, Scott didn’t marry for money.
She and Bezos tied the knot back when Amazon was nothing but a twinkle in his eye. Scott even had a hand in the company’s conception, helping to negotiate some of its earliest contracts. Were it not for Bezos’ affair, as mentioned above, it’s unclear if they’d ever have separated.
Not only that, but she’s also committed to giving the majority of the money away – a significant reason why MacKenzie Scott’s net worth is now considerably lower than it was a few years ago. Indeed, in combination with a dip in Amazon’s stock price, she’s donated billions of dollars to good causes and gives more away each year – making her one of the most generous philanthropists ever to exist.
According to Forbes, in the two years prior to April 2022, she gave away a staggering $12.5 billion to 1,250+ organizations. The lucky recipients span a wide range of sectors, from the fight for gender equality and racial justice to human rights. Her single largest donations to date include a $436 million gift to Habitat for Humanity and a $281 million donation to the Boys and Girls Club of America.
MacKenzie Scott’s Net Worth Is Still Substantial
At the time of writing, her net worth sits at $28.2 billion. That’s a sizeable drop from where it was, but it still makes her one of the 50 richest people on the planet.
MacKenzie Scott’s net worth is a direct outcome of two and half decades of marriage to Jeff Bezos. Unlike other billionaires, though, she isn’t hoarding her money or spending it on herself! Instead, Scott’s gone in the opposite direction – making generous donations to worthwhile causes is a striking example of philanthropy.
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Danny Newman is a digital nomad, blogger, and content writer from the UK. A passionate traveler with a perpetual itch in his feet, he’s always on the hunt for the next big adventure.