MacKenzie Scott has donated more than $26 billion since 2019, including nearly $7.2 billion announced for 2025. Her trust-based approach prioritizes large, unrestricted gifts and minimal application burdens, enabling long-term planning for recipient organizations. While some critics — notably Elon Musk — have questioned parts of her portfolio, experts and beneficiaries praise the scale and flexibility of her giving as transformative.
MacKenzie Scott Has Donated Over $26 Billion — The Trust-Based Philanthropy Redefining Giving
Meet MacKenzie Scott, who has 'revolutionized philanthropy' and donated at least $26 billion since divorcing Jeff Bezos
MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has donated more than $26 billion to charities since their 2019 divorce. On December 9, 2025, she announced in a blog post that she had given nearly $7.2 billion over the prior year — the largest single-year total she has publicized.
Unrestricted, Large-Scale Gifts
Scott’s approach stands out because she provides large, unrestricted grants and largely skips a traditional, burdensome application process. Instead, her team conducts much of the vetting and delivers funding in ways that allow organizations to plan for the long term and deploy resources where they are most needed.
"The breadth and scale are unprecedented for a donor operating outside of a foundation structure," said Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Vice President of Research at the Center for Effective Philanthropy.
Where The Money Goes
The recent round of gifts went to colleges and a wide range of nonprofits, including organizations focused on environmental protection, women’s rights, economic security and other community services. Recipients and philanthropy experts have praised the flexibility and trust inherent in her grants — some calling her approach transformative for the nonprofit sector.
Financial Context
Forbes estimated Scott’s net worth at $33.8 billion as of December 2025, ranking her among the world's wealthiest women. Her philanthropic journey accelerated after a reported $38 billion divorce settlement from Jeff Bezos. Regulatory filings indicate Scott sold roughly 42% of her Amazon stake in 2025, generating about $12.6 billion.
Criticism And Continuity
Scott has also faced criticism from prominent figures. In 2024, Elon Musk publicly challenged aspects of her giving strategy, particularly donations to organizations working on race and gender issues. Scott’s giving, however, appears unchanged: she has continued to fund diversity-related causes and other mission-driven organizations.
"It's no overstatement to say that MacKenzie Scott has revolutionized philanthropy," said Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, CEO of a refugee charity that received a gift from Scott.
Commitment To Giving
Two months before her divorce was finalized, Scott signed The Giving Pledge, committing to give away at least half of her wealth. She has donated at a faster pace than many peers, with nearly $2 billion in 2022, about $2.2 billion in 2023, roughly $2 billion in 2024, and the nearly $7.2 billion announced for 2025.
Impact: Scott’s model — large, flexible grants with reduced administrative burdens — has prompted conversations across the philanthropic sector about trust-based giving and how funders and nonprofits can better structure support for sustained impact.
Reported figures and quotes cited above were announced via Scott's philanthropy blog and referenced in coverage by Business Insider and Forbes.
