Jeff Bezos makes vulnerable post honouring his mom as she dies at age 78
They say that behind every great man is a great woman, and that comes as no exception with Jackie Bezos. As an early believer in her son's business acumen, Jeff Bezos' mother invested some $245,000 in the first year of Amazon's trading.
Of course, the Amazon of 1994 was a humble online bookstore operating out of Bezos' garage. It's since grown to be worth $2.46 trillion and has made Jeff Bezos one of the richest men in the world. After all, not all of us can afford to splash $56 million on our own wedding.
More than just running Amazon, Bezos also has his fingers in the pies of Blue Origin and The Washington Post, helping his fortune climb to an impressive $243.6 billion.
Now, Bezos has posted a heartfelt tribute to Jackie Bezos after she passed away at the age of 78.
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Taking to Instagram, the business billionaire explained how his mother had been battling with the Lewy body dementia neurological disorder. Saying how his mother's life was dramatically turned around when she gave birth to him at the age of just 17, Bezos admits things were easy for his mother. Jeff Bezos' biological father is the late Ted Jorgensen, while Jackie married Miguel Bezos in 1968. She's survived by Jeff, Miguel, and their two children, Mark and Christina. The family foundation states that Jackie Bezos is also remembered by her 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Gushing about how his mom took on the job of loving him with 'ferocity', he then pays tribute to Miguel "Mike" Bezos by saying how she added "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."
Praising his mother's personality, Bezos continued: "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."
Jackie Bezos died at her home in Miami with loved ones around her. Jeff Bezos concluded: "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."
"I love you, mom."
An obituary from the Bezos Scholars Program referred to her as a "fierce advocate and supporter, filled with heart for others, and never accepting the status quo." Quoting Bezos herself, the business mogul's mother once said: "Together, we can change the trajectory of an entire generation. We are not just building brains—we are building the future. Each of us has a role to play, and it will take all of us to really make a difference."
It continued to say how she battled her Lewy body dementia "with the same dignity and courage that shaped every aspect of her life.” Going on to praise Mike for being by her side for nearly half a century and remaining by her side until the end, the obituary concluded: "Although Jackie may be gone from our sight, her love remains with us always—a bright shining light that will never fade. She will be missed beyond words."