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Cape Town - MacKenzie Bezos has vowed to donate half of the billion dollar fortune she amassed following her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Last week the 49-year-old novelist signed with The Giving Pledge, an organisation for the world’s wealthiest people where they sign up to donate half or more of their fortune. The Pledge was created by Microsoft Corporation’s founder Bill Gates and business magnate Warren Buffet.
According to Daily Mail, MacKenzie received 25% of her and Jeff’s joint stake in Amazon in the divorce settlement. It was less than the 50% she was entitled to and she gave Jeff (55) voting power of her shares.
MacKenzie, estimated to be worth $37bn (R536bn), wrote in her pledge that she had a disproportionate amount of money to share, BBC reports.
"In addition to whatever assets life has nurtured in me, I have a disproportionate amount of money to share. My approach to philanthropy will continue to be thoughtful. It’ll take time and effort and care," she says.
Jeff, who’s currently the richest man in the world, had nothing but praise for his ex-wife.
"MacKenzie is going to be amazing and thoughtful and effective at philanthropy, and I’m proud of her. Her letter is so beautiful. Go get ‘em MacKenzie," he wrote on Twitter.
SEE THE TWEET HERE:
Jeff’s fortune stands at an eyewatering $150bn (R2 175bn), but he hasn’t signed with The Giving Pledge.
It wasn’t until last year that he and MacKenzie opened up about their philanthropic efforts when they announced that they were using $2bn (R29bn) of their fortune to fight homelessness and improve preschool education.
In January this year they announced their divorce after 25 years of marriage.
READ MORE: Super-rich Amazon billionaire and wife to split - how will they divide their $137bn fortune?
SOURCES: BBC.com, dailymail.co.uk, marketwatch.com
