Ted John Jorgensen lived a humble life, but his association with one of the world’s most renowned individuals, Jeff Bezos, turned him into a person of interest later in life. Ted is recognized as the biological father of Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. Here’s a detailed look at Ted’s life and his association with Jeff.
Quick Facts About Ted John Jorgensen
| Full Name | Ted John Jorgensen |
| Birthdate | October 10, 1944 |
| Occupation | Bicycle shop owner |
| Husband/Wife | Jacklyn Gise (1964–1965), Linda (after divorce) |
| Died | 16 March 2015 |
| Age | 70 or 71 (at the time of death) |
| Parents | Theodore John Jorgensen, Dolores Pollack |
| Siblings | Gordon Jorgensen |
| Children | Jeff Bezos |
| Net Worth | <$1 million |
Early Life of Ted Jorgensen
Ted John Jorgensen was born on October 10, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois. Ted was brought up in a Danish-American family. His parents were Theodore John Jorgensen and Dolores Pollack. Ted also had another brother named Gordon. Ted’s early life was not luxurious, but he did do things that caught his interest, such as unicycling. He was even famous for playing unicycle hockey, which he did when he was a young man.
Marriage and Family
Ted was 19 years old when he got married to Jacklyn Gise, who was just 17 years old. In 1964, they were blessed with a son, Jeff Bezos, who was born as Jeffrey Preston Jorgensen. Their marriage was short-lived, though. In 1965, after just one year of Jeff’s birth, Ted and Jacklyn divorced. Jeff was just 17 months old then.
Jacklyn divorced Jack and married again in 1968 to Miguel Bezos. Miguel adopted Jeff, and Jeff’s surname was changed to Bezos from Jorgensen. Ted lost contact with his son afterwards. Ted agreed to take a step back and let Miguel raise Jeff.
Ted’s Later Life
Ted was confronted with many issues after divorcing Jacklyn. Ted had issues with alcohol and money. Ted later ended up in Arizona, where he lived a quieter existence. He had a bike shop in Glendale, Arizona. Ted’s life was quite low-profile, and he didn’t receive much publicity.
He married another woman, Linda, after his divorce. They led a quiet life, and Ted did not frequently make headlines. He spent his years operating the bike shop and living out of the spotlight.
Discovery of Ted’s Connection to Jeff Bezos
Ted Jorgensen did not know that Jeff Bezos was his son for most of his life. He even did not know that Jeff had become one of the richest men in the world. Ted became aware of his son’s identity and success for the first time in 2012. A journalist researching a book titled The Everything Store made contact with Ted. The journalist informed Ted that Jeff Bezos was his biological son.
Ted was amazed. He had not been in touch with Jeff for a long time and was surprised to hear about Jeff’s amazing success. Ted regretted that he did not have a relationship with his son and was in disbelief as to how Jeff became so famous.
READ ALSO: Jeff Bezos Net worth, Age, Girlfriend, Family, Facts & More
Ted’s Death and Legacy
Unfortunately, Ted John Jorgensen died on March 16, 2015, at 70 or 71 years old. He never re-established contact with Jeff, either, before he died. Although Ted’s life was less in contact with the public eye than Jeff’s was, his involvement with the Amazon founder did make his tale one of late discovery and what could have been.
Ted’s life is best described as a tale of failures and lost opportunities, yet of serendipitous connections. He had a humble existence but left behind an enduring legacy as the biological father of one of the most influential people in the world.
Interesting Facts About Ted Jorgensen
- Ted was Danish-American and was raised in a Baptist household.
- He was famous for being a unicyclist.
- He owned a bicycle store in Glendale, Arizona.
- He later remarried after divorcing Jacklyn and lived a low-key life.
