In honor of Women's History Month, celebrated author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott will go down in history as one of the most influential women in history. We wanted to tag her on Instagram, but she's known for keeping a low profile--and for helping others. Last week Scott donated $640 million to 361 nonprofits, through her philanthropic organization, Yield Giving.
After receiving nearly $38 billion of Amazon stock from her 2019 divorce from Jeff Bezos, Scott pledged to donate half of her fortune to charity. And she has continued to deliver on that pledge. In 2022 alone, she donated a historic $275 million to Planned Parenthood to support public health equity and women's rights throughout the US.
One of the most generous billionaires in the world, she's become the Queen of our hearts for her elegant style, grace (especially the graceful way she handled her very public divorce), and commitment to giving back. A commitment she wrote in a post on Medium that was inspired by recognizing her own privilege. "My reflection after recent events revealed a dividend of privilege I'd been overlooking: the attention I can call to organizations and leaders driving change."
Here are just a few reasons why we —and the entire world — are obsessed with Mackenzie Scott.
1. SHE JUST MADE A MONUMENTAL IMPACT
Her latest $640 million donation went to so many good causes, all chosen from a pool of 6000 applicants. Among the recipients to benefit from her incredible generosity were Inside Out Literary Arts, a program that helps Detroit students hone their creative writing skills, Immigration Equality, an organization that promotes justice for LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants and Neighbors Together, a soup kitchen and community center focused on ending homelessness and hunger in the Brooklyn communities of Ocean Hill, Brownsville, and Bed Stuy. Each organization received a cool $2 million, double what Scott initially promised.
"We are incredibly moved by this tremendous vote of confidence in our programming and in our team," Inside Out's executive director Suma Karaman Rosen said in a statement.
@fortune MacKenzie Scott trims Amazon stake by $10 billion. She now owns about 1.9% of the tech giant and has a “disproportionate amount of money to share.” #mackenziescott #amazon #amazonfinds #amazonprime #prime #owner #stake #stock #shares #money #value #worth #billionaire #billion #donate #givingpledge #donation #charity #jeffbezos
♬ [News coverage] Inorganic: Flat: 12(1011945) - 8.864
2. SHE'S A RESPECTED AUTHOR
Scott graduated with a BA in English from Princeton and studied creative writing under Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison, who described Scott as an "extraordinary writer, almost full-blown." So the donation to literary arts was fitting for Scott, who has published two books. Her 2005 debut novel The Testing of Luther Albright, which details the psychological impact of an earthquake on a Sacramento family landed her an American Book Award. Her 2013 follow-up Traps, tells the story of four complex women whose struggles intertwine as they face redemption.
3. HER GENEROSITY IS LEGENDARY
Scott's generosity might be legendary, but it's also nothing new. In 2020, she donated $6 billion to over 100 organizations, which the New York Times said might be the largest amount to be given by a single donor directly to organizations within a year. Scott also gives discretely, allowing the organizations to do whatever they please with the donations. Altruistic acts like this by Scott are in stark contrast to the many billionaires who donate a large sum to a company only to plaster their name all over the building.
4. SHE IS A CAREER WOMAN WITH A FAMILY
Scott is also a badass in business. In 1993, she helped ex-husband Bezos build Amazon from the ground up, assisting with the business plan and shipments during the company's early days. Not to mention, while Bezos turned Amazon into the corporate powerhouse that it is today, launching Prime and Kindle and acquiring Whole Foods, Scott was busy juggling her own career with raising their four children.
5. SHE'S A MODERN ICON OF STYLE AND GRACE
On top of being one of the most admired and respected women in the world, 53-year-old Scott has been a pinup of timeless elegance over the past few decades. Though she prefers to keep a low profile, she understands the power of making a style statement when the occasion calls for it. During her marriage to Bezos, she quietly wowed at red-carpet events including The Met Gala and Vanity Fair Oscar Party. In her day-to-day life, she opts for sleek suits in classic shades, flattering v-neck necklines, and pointed-toe heels and never underestimates the power of a simple black (or red) dress.
Just like we should never underestimate her power and influence.
