Jacklyn ‘Jackie’ Bezos, mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has died at her home in Miami at the age of 78. The news was confirmed by the Bezos Scholars Program on Thursday, calling her passing “a quiet final chapter to a life that embodied grit, determination, kindness, and service to others.”
A Life of Grit and Love
“As a young, single mom, Jackie was relentless – taking night school classes following high school and working in a bank by day. Her shift overlapped with a young Cuban immigrant who worked the night shift named Miguel (Mike) Bezos. The two fell in love and were married on April 5th, 1968,” the tribute noted.
Jackie Bezos’ Cause of Death
The official statement did not specify the cause of death but revealed that Jackie was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2020, a progressive neurological disorder.
“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 read.
Her husband, Miguel ‘Mike’ Bezos, cared for her throughout the illness, with the family expressing gratitude to healthcare professionals.
Jeff Bezos and Family Tribute
Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, posted a heartfelt photo of Jackie on Instagram with a broken heart emoji.
From Teenage Mom to Amazon’s Early Investor
Born Jacklyn Gise, Jackie married Ted Jorgensen as a teenager and gave birth to Jeff at 17. After their split, she married Cuban refugee Mike Bezos, who later adopted Jeff. The couple also had a son, Mark.
In 1995, Jackie and Mike took a bold step, investing nearly $250,000 in Jeff’s then-small online bookstore. Today, Amazon is worth over $2 trillion, making Jeff Bezos one of the richest people in the world.
