MacKenzie Bezos Pledges $17 Bn, Becomes Top Women Philanthropist

MacKenzie Bezos, who became the third richest woman after divorcing her husband Jeff Bezos, also became the wealthiest woman to sign onto the ‘Giving Pledge’. Jeff Bezos being the world’s richest man, the novelist and former accountant MacKenzie Bezos became the third richest woman after divorcing him. Soon after this, she promised to give half of her assets away. “I have a disproportionate amount of money to share,” she declared. “I will keep at it until the safe is empty”. With this, she became an important personality in the world of women philanthropist.

MacKenzie Bezos believes in writing daily in order to stay connected with the story. She wrote her first book, The Book Worm while she was six years old. According to her Amazon author bio, the book was later on lost in a flood.

Half of her assets means around $17 billion in today’s dollars and giving it up makes her more generous than her husband. Jeff Bezos was announced as the richest man in the world when his wealth hit the $150 billion mark. He hasn’t been involved in the philanthropic activities to the same extent as other billionaires. He has also not signed the Giving Pledge. Moreover, he hadn’t signalled to indulge in any such activity. It was only in 2018 when the couple decided to donate $2 billion for the homeless and fund a network of schools too.

Wrote her first novel at the age of six

Right from the beginning of Amazon, MacKenzie Bezos has gone to publish her literary dreams and has published two books namely, ‘The testing of Luther Albright’ in 2005 and ‘Traps’ in 2013. She believes in writing daily in order to stay connected with the story. She wrote her first book, The Book Worm while she was six years old. According to her Amazon author bio, the book was later on lost in a flood. She earned her graduate degree from Princeton University with the highest of honour in 1992. She also founded the Bystander Revolution in 2014, which is an anti-bullying organisation and she serves as its executive director.

Half of her assets means around $17 billion in today’s dollars and giving it up makes her more generous than her husband.

Other Women Philanthropists

Priscilla Chan

Priscilla Chan and her husband Mark Zuckerberg, in 2015, pledged to donate 99 percent of their Facebook shares to the cause of human advancement. This was also the biggest pledge in history as it amounted to around $45 billion of donation. The donated money is planned to be given to Can Zuckerberg Initiative, a company that according to Facebook, “will pursue its mission by funding non-profit organizations, making private investments and participating in policy debates, in each case with the goal of generating positive impact in areas of great need”. The initiative focuses on bringing in equality and promoting human advancement.

Melinda Gates

Melinda Gates along with her husband Bill Gates was named as the most generous philanthropists in the USA in August 2018. The couple has donated more than $36 billion for the charitable causes. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation focuses on global health, education, and poverty. The couple is leading in philanthropy for many years.

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