Jackie Bezos, mother of world’s fourth-richest man Jeff Bezos, dies at 78

The Bezos Family Foundation, which she co-founded with her son, confirmed her death in a statement on Aug. 14. She is survived by her husband Mike Bezos, her three children — Jeff, Christina, and Mark — as well as 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, People magazine reported.

Jeff posted a tribute to his mother on social media, recalling that "adulthood started a little bit early when she became my mom at the tender age of 17." He said she passed away surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and husband, and that she was diagnosed with dementia in 2020.

"I know she felt our love in those final moments," the 61-year-old billionaire wrote. "We were also lucky to be in her life. I hold her safe in my heart forever."

Jeff Bezos and mother Jackie Bezos. Photo from X

When Jeff was four, his mother married Miguel "Mike" Bezos, a Cuban immigrant who later adopted him. Jeff has said he only learned at age 10 that Mike was not his biological father, according to Business Insider.

Jackie and Mike Bezos were early investors in Amazon, contributing more than $245,000 in 1995 — a stake that could be worth billions today, Bloomberg reported. Their financial support, Jeff has said, gave him the confidence to take the leap to start the company.

"When you have loving and supportive people in your life, you end up being able to take risks because you kind of know somebody’s got your back," Jeff told Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Business Insider’s parent company Axel Springer, in 2018.

Jeff has often described his mother as one of his role models. In 2020, he named a Blue Origin rocket recovery vessel in her honor.