MacKenzie Scott, a Record-Setting Philanthropist

After her divorce in 2019, Scott ended up with a quarter of the Amazon.com Inc. shares the couple had held, landing her on the list of the world’s richest individuals. Soon after the split she signed the Giving Pledge, a promise to give away the majority of her wealth in her lifetime or in her will, and got to work. Over the course of 12 months starting in July 2020, Scott made three announcements that she’d given away billions of dollars to hundreds of groups. Her giving has been unprecedented in its scale, speed, and style, with much of it coming in the form of vast, unconditional grants.

Scott has given at least $1 billion to Goodwills, YMCAs, and other organizations that directly serve those in need. The nonprofits that form the backbone of the philanthropic industry—ones such as United Way that fundraise, dole out grants, and advocate—have received $1.2 billion. And she’s given at least $1.6 billion to often overlooked areas of education, including to two-year colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, and historically Black colleges and universities. With Amazon’s share price skyrocketing during the pandemic, Scott’s fortune currently stands at almost $60 billion, making her more than $20 billion richer than when she signed the pledge.