Amazon founder Jeff Bezos mourned the loss of his mother after she died surrounded by family in her Miami home at the age 78.
Jacklyn Bezos, also known as Jackie, died peacefully at home on Thursday, after a battle with brain illness, Jeff said in a post to his Instagram.
‘After a long fight with Lewy Body Dementia, she passed away today, surrounded by so many of us who loved her — her kids, grandkids, and my dad,’ Jeff Bezos wrote.
‘I know she felt our love in those final moments. We were all so lucky to be in her life. I hold her safe in my heart forever.’
Earlier the Bezos Scholars Program confirmed her passing in their own statement, writing: ‘ 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.
‘Jackie’s life of service was second only to her passion for family and gathering. 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.’
Jacklyn had been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2020, her foundation said, with her husband Mike remaining by her side throughout the struggle.
Bezos is seen here with his late mom at an Amazon event in 2016
According to the statement Jacklyn had been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2020
The family acknowledge the team of health care professionals that had helped her over the last few years.
News of her passing was shared by Bezos’ wife Lauren Sanchez, who posted a picture of her mother-in-law on Instagram with a breaking heart emoji.
After news of her passing was shared to social media by the Bezos Scholars, they were quickly inundated with tributes.
‘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.
Another added: ‘Jackie taught and lived by the ripple effect. The ripples she created will continue to magnify. How she touched so many lives.’
Jacklyn had met Jeff’s biological father Ted Jorgensen and gave birth to the billionaire at the age of 17, they had married the year previously.
When Jeff was just 17 months old she filed for divorce from Jorgensen, later going on to marry Cuban refugee Miguel ‘Mike’ Bezos who adopted Jeff. The two share their son Mark.
Jacklyn and Miguel went on the invest just under $250,000 into Amazon in 1995 to help their son with his new company.
When Jeff was just 17 months old she filed for divorce from Jorgensen, later going on to marry Cuban refugee Miguel ‘Mike’ Bezos who adopted Jeff, the couple are seen here
Jacklyn and Miguel went on the invest just under $250,000 into Amazon in 1995 to help their son with his new company
In 2022, Bezos helped his parents snap up a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom waterfront mansion in Miami in 2022 for $34 million
The sum that they lent him was considered not just a huge amount but also a massive risk as people were still skeptical of the internet.
But the gamble paid off, as their son is now worth over $243 billion dollars – with Amazon a $2 trillion company.
Bezos spoke about the original investment his parents gave him at a 2015 event, recalling telling 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.’
It is unclear how much stock they still hold in the company, they donated just under 600,000 shares to the Bezos Family Foundation from 2001 to 2016 according to filings.
In 2022, Bezos helped his parents snap up a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom waterfront mansion in Miami in 2022 for $34 million.
The property was bought by a Delaware company linked to Bezos’ parents with the help of a $5million loan from the Bank of America.
Jeff added to his own tribute: ‘Her adulthood started a little bit early when she became my mom at the tender age of 17.
‘That couldn’t have been easy, but she made it all work. She pounced on the job of loving me with ferocity, brought my amazing dad onto the team a few years later, and then added my sister and brother to her list of people to love, guard, and nourish.
‘For the rest of her life, that list of people to love never stopped growing. She always gave so much more than she ever asked for.’