MacKenzie Scott's $12.55B Amazon Divestment Fuels Philanthropy's New Era

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has significantly reduced her stake in Amazon.com Inc. by 42% over the past year, according to regulatory filings. The latest disclosure, dated Sept. 30, shows she now holds 81.1 million shares, down from 139 million a year earlier. At recent closing prices, this reduction is valued at approximately $12.55 billion, according to a Bloomberg report, with similar figures noted in a GuruFocus analysis and a Nairametrics piece. The move marks one of the largest single-year decreases among major shareholders and underscores Scott's ongoing commitment to philanthropy.

Scott, 55, retains 1.3% of Amazon's shares, valued at $41.2 billion before this latest disposal, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. However, Jeff Bezos, her ex-husband and Amazon's founder, still exercises voting authority over her holdings under their 2019 divorce settlement. Bezos, who owns over 964 million shares, is required to disclose Scott's stake annually, as noted by GuruFocus.

The exact reason for the share reduction remains unclear, as Scott and her charity arm, Yield Giving, have not responded to requests for comment. The drop could stem from sales, gifts, or a combination of both. Analysts note that Scott's approach to wealth management aligns with her broader philanthropic strategy, which prioritizes direct, unrestricted donations to small nonprofits.

Since her divorce, Scott has donated over $19.25 billion to 2,450 organizations, including $2 billion to 199 groups in 2024 alone. Her grants often bypass high-profile institutions, favoring smaller, under-resourced nonprofits with minimal reporting requirements. Recent donations include a $42 million grant to 10,000 Degrees, a Bay Area nonprofit supporting low-income students, reported in an ABC7 report, and coverage by KTVU of a $70 million grant to the United Negro College Fund.

Scott's philanthropy has redefined donor practices, with critics and advocates alike noting its impact. "Her model has been influential in shaping discussions about effective and impactful charitable giving," one analyst said in coverage by Nairametrics. Despite her generosity, Scott's net worth has grown due to Amazon's soaring stock price, and she remains among the world's top 50 wealthiest individuals, according to Nairametrics.

The divorce settlement, finalized in 2019, granted Scott 4% of Amazon's shares, valued at $36 billion at the time. Bezos retained 75% of the couple's Amazon stock, while Scott's remaining shares continue to appreciate. The arrangement has drawn scrutiny, with some questioning the ethical implications of Bezos controlling her assets; further background is available in her Wikipedia entry.

Scott's latest stake reduction highlights her dual focus on wealth redistribution and large-scale philanthropy. While the scale of her Amazon divestment is unprecedented, it aligns with her pledge to give away the majority of her fortune. As of September 2025, she has donated nearly $19.3 billion, with her Yield Giving platform tracking these efforts in real time and detailed on Yield Giving's Wikipedia page.

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