Wow. And it's finalized. A mere 85 days after announcing their separation, Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos have reached a deal to split what is currently the largest private fortune on the planet. At the time they announced their divorce on January 9, Jeff was worth $136 billion. Thanks to a nice little rally in Amazon over the last few months, today his paper net worth is $150 billion. Jeff and MacKenzie had been married for nearly 25 years, since well before he was the richest person in the world, so there had been talk that she might walk away with a full 50% of Jeff Bezos' net worth. In theory, that could have been a $60-70 billion payout which would have absolutely shattered all divorce records by a mile. Well, today we have the final numbers!
MacKenzie just announced over Twitter that she and Jeff have finalized their divorce and she will be given $35.6 billion worth of Amazon stock. This significant amount instantly elevates MacKenzie to the status of the fourth-richest woman in the world, trailing only behind prominent heiresses like Francoise Bettencourt Meyers (L'Oreal), Alice Walton (Walmart), and Jacqueline Mars (Mars candy). Even after losing $36 billion, Jeff remains the richest person in the world, with a net worth of $114 billion, leaving Bill Gates trailing by $14 billion at $100 billion.
According to an SEC filing, MacKenzie will own around 4% of Amazon's outstanding shares, though she has agreed to let Jeff retain voting control over her stake. Jeff will keep around 75% of their former combined stake. MacKenzie is now Amazon's third-biggest shareholder behind investment fund Vanguard and Jeff. Additionally, MacKenzie relinquishes any rights to The Washington Post and Jeff's space exploration company Blue Origin. As of now, it remains unclear how the couple is splitting their collection of jets and homes.
Background of the Bezos Divorce
Unlike many other high-profile divorces, where one party arguably earned the fortune on their own or before the couple came together, this case with Jeff and MacKenzie was different. When they first met, Jeff was a mid-level investment banker, and MacKenzie played a crucial role in supporting him during the formative years of Amazon. She helped him transition from Boston to Seattle, where he launched what would become one of the most powerful companies in the world. The narrative surrounding their marriage led many to believe that MacKenzie deserved at least 50% of their combined assets, given her contributions.
This perspective raised concerns among investors. Questions arose about what Amazon would look like if both exes maintained equal control of the company. What if MacKenzie decided one day to sell all her shares in the open market? Or even worse, what if she used her shares to vote against Jeff's decisions? Fortunately, Jeff and MacKenzie appear to have reached a very amicable resolution, which has eased the minds of investors and stakeholders alike.
The Record-Breaking Settlement
In case you are wondering, $36 billion is BY FAR the largest divorce settlement of all time. Prior to this, Rupert Murdoch held the record when he paid his ex-wife Anna $1.7 billion. The uncertainty surrounding the actual amount that Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev paid to his ex-wife Elena further complicated the conversation. At one point, a Swiss court ordered Dmitry to pay Elena $4.5 billion, which was 50% of the value of his fertilizer business. However, after seven years of legal disputes, Dmitry and Elena ultimately settled on undisclosed terms, likely far less than $4.5 billion.
It doesn't matter anymore, however! Jeff Bezos now officially holds the titles for both the richest person on the planet and for the most expensive divorce in human history! These are two very impressive accomplishments that have captured the attention of the world. Their story is a reminder of how personal and financial lives can intersect in high stakes, and the outcomes can reverberate through society.
Congrats, Jeff!
