MacKenzie Scott gave away $7.2 billion in just one year. That’s more than Jeff Bezos and most other billionaires have donated in their lifetimes

Fortune

by Sydney Lake

February 26, 2026

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MacKenzie Scott, former wife of Jeff Bezos, has outpaced her ex-husband in philanthropy by an extraordinary margin. In 2025 alone, she donated $7.2 billion, surpassing the total donations from many billionaires over their lifetimes, including Bezos, who has given around $4.7 billion since his divorce from Scott in 2019. Over five years, her cumulative giving reached $26 billion through her organization, Yield Giving, which supports more than 2,700 causes. This generosity underscores a shift in philanthropic practices among the ultra-wealthy. Scott’s ability to donate such vast sums stems from her net worth, estimated at $39.2 billion, largely driven by Amazon shares that have surged since her divorce. She has consistently donated over $5 billion annually since 2019 and signed the Giving Pledge in 2010, committing most of her fortune to charity. In contrast, Bezos, though he and his wife have increased their giving through initiatives like the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, which totals $850 million so far, lags significantly behind Scott’s scale. While Bezos has pledged billions toward climate efforts through the Bezos Earth Fund, much of this remains earmarked rather than distributed. Scott’s approach to philanthropy also sets her apart. She employs trust-based giving, allowing recipients to decide how best to use funds without traditional reporting or restrictions. This model empowers grantees and aligns with a growing trend toward more effective, less bureaucratic charity. Her donations have included historic gifts to HBCUs and climate-focused organizations, often dwarfing previous contributions these groups had received. As one of the most generous philanthropists globally, Scott’s methods challenge traditional models and highlight the

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Originally published on Fortune on 2/26/2026