Jackie Bezos, who has died aged 78, helped to launch her son Jeff on the path to becoming a multi-billionaire by providing an initial investment of $245,000 to create the online retailer Amazon.

Jeff Bezos is mourning the loss of his mother, Jacklyn “ Jackie” Bezos, who died at the age of 78 on August 14, 2025. The late Bezos Family Foundation founder was living with dementia during her final years, and Jeff paid tribute to her in an emotional public statement.

Jackie Bezos and her husband invested about $245,000 in Amazon when the online bookstore was in its first year.