MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, donates ‘historic’ sum to LGBTQ+ charity

Philanthropist, author, and the billionaire ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, MacKenzie Scott, has donated a staggering $45 million to one of the world’s largest LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention non-profits.

The Trevor Project, a US-based LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention charity, confirmed on Monday (12 January) that it had received the historic donation from the 55-year-old novelist.

Jaymes Black, the organisation’s CEO, said the team was “thrilled” by the gift – the largest single-sum donation the charity has seen in its 28-year history – adding that it would provide a “safety net” for the Trevor Project’s work at a time when LGBTQ+ young people need it most.

She ensured the investment would be used “not only to meet the current moment for our organisation and the LGBTQ+ youth we serve, but also to strengthen and sustain The Trevor Project for years to come”.

A report from the charity published in October highlighted the worsening mental health crisis for LGBTQ+ young people in the US as Donald Trump’s administration continues to attack the community.

Every year, an estimated 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people in the US seriously consider suicide. It is estimated that 40 million LGBTQ+ youth consider suicide globally each year.

In June last year, the administration followed through with its plans to shut the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – a specialised service which provided support for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing a mental health crisis.

The Trevor Project, which was heavily involved with the lifeline, described the closure as “devastating” at the time and has continually called for the government to reinstate the hotline.

The $45 million investment, the organisation said, marked a “powerful step” toward rectifying the damages caused by the closure.

While no specific plans have been made for the money as of yet, officials said they are currently planning a “strategic and thoughtful” investment plan which will focus on strengthening the “core” of its suicide prevention services.

Scott previously donated $6 million to the charity during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In total, she donated $1.7 billion to 116 non-profit organisations, including LGBTQ+ and racial equality groups, that year alone.

Following her divorce with Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos, which included owning a 1.3 per cent stake in the company, her net worth is estimated to be over $40 billion.

She confirmed in 2025 that she had donated a total of $7.1 billion to nonprofits in 2025. Her largest gift last year was a $90 million donation to Forests, People, Climate (FPC).