Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife MacKenzie Scott has donated over $26 billion since 2019, making her one of the world’s most generous philanthropists. The billionaire author and former spouse of Jeff Bezos built much of her wealth through her stake in Amazon, which she received after their 2019 divorce. Since then, she has rapidly given away a large portion of her fortune through her platform, Yield Giving, supporting causes like education, diversity, and disaster relief. However, one of her recent donations has drawn attention after links emerged between a recipient network and groups facing investigations in the United States.
Mackenzie Scott’s donation under spotlight amid investigations
In 2025, Scott donated $5 million to the Solidaire Network, a funding group that supports progressive social movements. She had earlier given the same network $10 million in 2021. The organisation, in turn, has supported several activist groups, including Students for Justice in Palestine and American Muslims for Palestine.These groups are now facing scrutiny from US lawmakers.Some members of Congress are worried that some groups that helped organize protests after the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel may have ties to or support for the militant group.The issue has also reached federal agencies, with calls for investigation by the FBI into certain activist networks and their activities.A US Senate request reportedly asked authorities to examine whether some of these groups were involved in activities that could affect national security. However, there is no evidence that Scott’s donations were directly used by these organisations, as her giving model allows recipients to decide how funds are spent.Mackenzie
Mackenzie Scott’s record of massive giving
Despite the controversy, Scott’s overall track record in philanthropy remains significant. In 2025 alone, she donated more than $7 billion, taking her total giving since 2020 to over $26 billion. Her gifts have gone to more than 2,700 groups. Some of her biggest recent gifts are $80 million to Howard University, $50 million to Virginia State University, and $70 million to the United Negro College Fund. Many of these gifts are among the biggest in the institutions’ histories. Scott’s method is unique because her donations are usually unrestricted, which means that organizations can use the money however they see fit. This method has been praised for giving recipients more freedom, especially smaller or less well-funded groups.
Mackenzie Scott’s wealth continues to grow
Mackenzie Scott’s wealth keeps growing. She is still one of the richest women in the world, with a net worth of over $40 billion. Her wealth has continued to rise, thanks in part to Amazon’s stock price going up. In comparison, Jeff Bezos has given away less of his wealth so far, though he has made big promises like the $10 billion Bezos Earth Fund. Scott is widely seen as one of the most generous philanthropists in the world, often ranked alongside Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.
