Jacklyn “Jackie” Bezos, the mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has passed away at the age of 78. Her death was confirmed Thursday by the Bezos Scholars Program, which shared that she died peacefully at her home in Miami.
“In 2020, Jackie was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive neurological disorder that she battled with the same dignity and courage that shaped every aspect of her life. Mike, her husband and partner for more than a half century, remained by her side at every step of this journey,” the statement reads.
The tribute continued, describing 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.”
The news was first shared publicly by the Bezos Scholars Program’s Instagram account. “I’m so honored I got to work with Jackie on the Bezos Scholars program and stay in touch with her and Mike. The universe is a better place for having had her in it,” one person commented.
© JeffBezos/InstagramAnother user added, “Jackie taught and lived by the ripple effect. The ripples she created will continue to magnify. How she touched so many lives.”
© JeffBezos/InstagramFollowing Jackie’s death, Jeff posted a heartfelt message to Instagram, acknowledging the challenges she must have faced as a teenage mother. “It couldn’t have been easy, but she made it all work,” he wrote. “I know she felt our love.”
Jeff’s wife, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, also paid homage to her late mother-in-law, posting a photo of Jackie on Instagram with a broken heart emoji.
Jackie Bezos’s life and legacy:
Jackie gave birth to Jeff Bezos at the age of 17, while still a high school student in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She married Jeff’s biological father, Ted Jorgensen, the year before, but filed for divorce when Jeff was just 17 months old.
© JeffBezos/InstagramDetermined to build a life for her son, Jackie took night classes after high school while working at a bank during the day. There, she met a young Cuban refugee, Miguel “Mike” Bezos, who worked the night shift. The two married in April 1968, beginning a lifelong partnership that would shape the Bezos family’s future.
Jeff would later be adopted by Mike, and the couple went on to have another son, Mark. Jackie and Mike’s belief in their son’s vision was tested in 1995 when they invested nearly $250,000 into Jeff’s startup, an online bookstore that few believed in at the time.
© JeffBezos/InstagramJeff, recalling that decision at an event in 2015, said he warned them. “I want you to know how risky this is. Because I want to come home at dinner for Thanksgiving and I don’t want you to be mad at me.”
That investment would prove historic. Today, Amazon is valued at more than $2 trillion, and Jeff Bezos ranks among the world’s wealthiest individuals, with a fortune surpassing $243 billion.
© Todd WilliamsonBetween 2001 and 2016, they donated nearly 600,000 shares to the Bezos Family Foundation. In 2022, Jeff purchased a $34 million waterfront mansion in Miami for his parents, a six-bedroom, seven-bath estate.
The Bezos family also expressed gratitude to the healthcare workers who supported Jackie during her illness, a battle that began after her Lewy Body Dementia diagnosis in 2020.
© JeffBezos/Instagram“Jackie’s life of service was second only to her passion for family and gathering,” the Bezos Scholars tribute stated. “As a grandmother, Jackie found immense joy in watching her family grow. She passed down not only traditions and stories, but also her values — kindness, resilience, and the importance of togetherness.”
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