Jacklyn Bezos is well-known as the mother of Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. However, her life is not just about raising one of the world’s richest men. She has an inspiring story of her own, filled with challenges, hard work, and resilience. In this article, we’ll look at her background, her family, and her role in Jeff’s success.
Quick Facts About Jacklyn Bezos
| Full Name | Jacklyn Bezos (née Gise, formerly Jorgensen) |
| Birthdate | December 29, 1946 |
| Occupation | Philanthropist, Co-founder of the Bezos Family Foundation |
| Husband/Wife | Ted Jorgensen (ex-husband, married 1963–1965), Miguel “Mike” Bezos (husband, married 1968–present) |
| Education | College of Saint Elizabeth (graduated at age 40) |
| Age | 78 years and 4 months old |
| Parents | Lawrence Preston Gise (father), Mattie Louise Strait (mother) |
| Siblings | Lawrence Preston Gise Jr. (brother) |
| Children | Jeff Bezos, Mark Bezos, Christina Bezos |
| Net Worth | Estimated between $15 billion and $30 billion |
Early Life and Family Background
Jacklyn Bezos was born Jacklyn Gise on December 29, 1946, in New Mexico, USA. She is of Mexican descent. Jacklyn had a brother, Lawrence Preston Gise Jr. Her father, Lawrence Preston Gise, was an employee at Sandia National Laboratories, and her mother, Mattie Louise Strait, was a homemaker. A bit of trivia is that Jacklyn is second cousin to country artist George Strait.
Teen Motherhood and First Marriage
At the young age of 16, Jacklyn became pregnant. She and her high school boyfriend, Ted Jorgensen, were wedded in 1963. One year later, on January 12, 1964, she bore Jeff Bezos. Unfortunately, her marriage with Ted was unsuccessful. They had divorced in 1965. Jacklyn did not stay with Ted due to financial issues as well as because of his problems with drinking alcohol. Even under these adverse conditions, Jacklyn did her best to bring Jeff up as a single parent.
Struggles and Hard Work
It wasn’t easy raising Jeff by herself. Jacklyn was a secretary and only made $190 a month. She even had to use walkie-talkies to talk with her parents due to her financial woes. She went to night school to gain more education, usually taking baby Jeff with her in duffel bags. This is just how determined she was to give her son a better life.
Second Marriage and Adoption of Jeff
In 1968, Jacklyn married Miguel “Mike” Bezos, who was a Cuban immigrant. Miguel adopted Jeff at the age of four. Jacklyn and Miguel had two additional children, Mark and Christina. Mike had a great influence on Jeff’s life, and he is frequently regarded as one of Jeff’s strongest supporters.
Education and Later Achievements
Though Jacklyn put off her higher education to assist her family, she finally graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth at age 40. Such a feat proves her dedication to self-development, regardless of having children and facing life’s hardships.
Role in Jeff Bezos’s Success
During the 1990s, when Jeff founded Amazon, Jacklyn and Mike invested $245,573 to assist in establishing the business. This early investment was instrumental in Amazon’s early success and development. Amazon developed into a global giant over time, making Jeff Bezos a billionaire. Jacklyn’s assistance made this achievable.
Philanthropy and the Bezos Family Foundation
Jacklyn and Miguel Bezos founded the Bezos Family Foundation, which aims to provide support for education. Through this foundation, they have donated millions of dollars to various causes, including $166 million to NYU Langone Health in 2019. The foundation still supports different charitable causes, especially in education.
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Jacklyn’s Net Worth
As of now, Jacklyn Bezos’s net worth lies between $15 billion and $30 billion. This is attributed to her wealth from Amazon investment and continuous charitable activities. Her story is evidence that with enough hard work and commitment, not to mention assistance from loved ones, one may achieve success.
