Jeff Bezos' mother, Jackie Bezos, who provided the initial financial support that led to the establishment of Amazon, has sadly passed away at the age of 78.
Jackie Bezos, Mother of Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos, Passes Away at 78
Jacklyn "Jackie" Bezos, the mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has passed away at the age of 78. Her death was announced by the Bezos Family Foundation, which she founded with her husband Miguel (Mike) Bezos in 2000.
Jackie Bezos died on August 14, 2021, in her Miami home following a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), a progressive neurological disorder characterized by abnormal protein deposits in the brain that affect thinking, movement, behavior, and mood.
Throughout her life, Jackie Bezos made significant contributions to children’s education and medical research. Her legacy continues to be felt through the family’s foundation and public discussions of her illness.
The Bezos Scholars Program, an initiative connected to the Bezos Family Foundation, publicly acknowledged Jackie Bezos’s impact on youth education. Her philanthropic efforts reflected values such as grit, determination, and service to others, with a focus on education and health sciences.
Jackie Bezos was also involved in charitable projects focused on medical research and community healthcare. Her partnership with the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle led to breakthrough immunotherapy treatments for cancer.
In 2020, Jackie was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. Despite the challenges she faced, her passion for learning remained unwavering. In 1991, at the age of 45, she returned to school to earn a bachelor’s degree with honors in psychology from the Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, New Jersey.
The foundation described her passing as a "quiet final chapter to a life that taught all of us, friends and family alike, the true meaning of grit and determination, kindness, and service to others."
Jackie Bezos is survived by her husband Mike Bezos, children Jeff, Christina, Mark, eleven grandchildren, and one great grandchild. The family moved from Washington D.C. to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Jeff was born in 1964 while Jackie was still in school.
Her death has brought attention to Lewy Body Dementia, potentially encouraging more medical research into LBD and neurodegenerative diseases. The attention brought by both Jeff Bezos and media outlets may help increase understanding and support for those affected by this complex brain disorder.
In 1995, Jackie Bezos was among the first investors in Amazon.com, having loaned Jeff Bezos US$245,573 for his tech and e-commerce start-up. Her support played a crucial role in the early growth of one of the world’s most influential companies.
Jackie Bezos's life was a testament to perseverance, learning, and service. Her contributions to education, medical research, and her family will be remembered for years to come.
[1] Bezos Scholars Program website [2] Bezos Family Foundation website [3] Mayo Clinic: Lewy Body Dementia
- Jackie Bezos, despite battling Lewy Body Dementia, a neurological disorder, demonstrated an unwavering passion for learning, even returning to school at the age of 45 to earn a bachelor's degree in psychology.
- The Bezos Family Foundation, co-founded by Jackie Bezos, has been actively involved in health and wellness, focusing on children's education, medical research, and health sciences.
- The financial support provided by Jackie Bezos played a crucial role in the early stages of Amazon, a business venture that would later become one of the world's most influential companies.
