Jackie Bezos, the mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, passed away on Thursday in Miami at the age of 78 after battling Lewy body dementia.
Why it matters: Jackie Bezos was one of the first investors in Amazon, contributing to the company’s early growth and success.
The details:
- Jackie and her husband invested approximately $245,000 in Amazon during its first year in 1995.
- She became a mother to Jeff at the age of 17 and persevered through challenges to complete her education.
- Jackie later married Miguel Bezos, a Cuban immigrant, and they had two more children together.
- At age 45, she earned a degree in psychology from Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey.
In 2020, it was revealed that Ms. Bezos had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurological disorder affecting cognition, movement, behavior, and mood.
Family and legacy:
- Jackie Bezos was the president of the Bezos Family Foundation, which she started with her husband in 2000 to provide educational grants.
- She is survived by her husband, three children, eleven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
- Jeff Bezos expressed gratitude for being a part of her life and reminisced about her dedication and love for her family.
- “Together, we can change the trajectory of an entire generation,” Jackie once said, according to her obituary.
The Bezos Family Foundation remembered Jackie as a devoted mother who always put her children first and dedicated her life to raising them with compassion, patience, and wisdom.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions be made to a nonprofit organization meaningful to the donor or that a simple act of kindness be performed in Jackie’s memory.
