Quick Facts On Jeff Bezos' Mother Jackie: Net Worth, Ethnicity, Death And How She Funded Son's Billion-Dollar Startup

Jackie Bezos, the mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, passed away at 78, leaving a legacy tied to her pivotal role in launching one of the world's largest companies.

Known for her early investment in Amazon and her philanthropy through the Bezos Family Foundation, her life has drawn public interest following her death.

Let's take a look at the key details about her net worth, ethnicity, passing, and her critical support for her son's billion-dollar venture.

Jackie Bezos' Background and Ethnicity

Born Jacklyn Gise in 1946 in New Mexico, Jackie Bezos was of Caucasian descent, with roots tied to a family that valued education and resilience.

At 17, she became a mother to Jeff, born Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen, on 12 January 1965, in Albuquerque. Facing the challenges of teenage motherhood, she attended night school while raising her son, demonstrating determination.

After divorcing Jeff's biological father, Ted Jorgensen, she married Cuban immigrant Miguel 'Mike' Bezos in April 1968, who adopted Jeff, changing his surname.

The family moved to Houston, Texas, and later Miami, Florida, where Jackie supported Jeff's early scientific interests, including his experiments with electric alarms.

Her background shaped her commitment to fostering education, evident in her later philanthropy.

Philanthropy and Net Worth

Jackie and Mike Bezos amassed significant wealth through their early investment in Amazon.

In 1995, they provided Jeff with £180,779 ($245,000) to fund his online bookstore, a stake that grew to an estimated £22.5 billion ($30 billion) by 2018, per Bloomberg calculations, though their current holdings remain unclear.

Their wealth fueled the Bezos Family Foundation, established in 2000, which drives the Bezos Scholars Program and backs hundreds of other programs, primarily for early childhood education.

A notable donation includes £138.7 million ($185.7 million) to the Aspen Institute on 13 August 2025, the largest gift in the institute's history, to create the Center for Rising Generations for youth leadership.

In 2022, they gave £530.8 million ($710.5 million) to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, ranking them among the top U.S. donors that year.

Jackie's net worth, while not individually disclosed, is tied to these investments and donations, reflecting her focus on impactful giving.

Death and Legacy in Funding Amazon

Jackie Bezos passed away on 13 August 2025, as reported by Bloomberg, with no cause of death specified.

Her death prompted tributes, with X user @seattletimes posting on 15 August, 'Jackie Bezos, a fierce protector of her son Jeff before he founded Amazon and a deep-pocketed advocate for early childhood education, has died.'

Another post by @BNODesk stated, 'Jackie Bezos, mom of Jeff Bezos whose $245,573 investment helped launch Amazon, has died at 78.'

Her seed investment in 1995, equivalent to £187,120 ($250,000) today, was a leap of faith in Jeff's vision, as she told CNBC in 2013, 'Don't quit your job, Can you do this on the weekends and nights?'

This funding enabled Amazon's growth from a garage startup to a £698 billion ($916.97 billion) market-value giant by 2018.

Her legacy endures through Amazon's global impact and her foundation's work, with X user @straits_times noting on 15 August, 'Jackie Bezos, who funded her son Jeff's start-up Amazon, dies at 78.'

Jackie Bezos' life reflects a blend of personal sacrifice and visionary support for her son's ambitions.

Her passing marks the end of an era, but her contributions continue to influence education and innovation worldwide.