Bezos’ divorce may rob him of ‘world’s richest person’ title
Cash split could put Bill Gates back on top
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie, are divorcing after a relationship that started at a New York hedge fund and is ending a little more than a year after he became the world’s richest person.
“After a long period of loving exploration and trial separation, we have decided to divorce and continue our shared lives as friends,” the pair tweeted on Wednesday.
While Wall Street took the announcement in stride, investors will be watching to see if the divorce settlement af- fects Bezos’ control of Amazon.
As long as the company is growing and returning profits, he’ll probably maintain their confidence.
“It sounds friendly and she doesn’t have any motive to mess with the business,” said Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities Inc. “I presume it will be business as usual.” Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos met in New York at D.E. Shaw.
Jeff was the first person to interview her for a role at the hedge fund and the pair ended up having offices next to each other, according to a 2013 interview.
They married in 1993 and a year later drove across the country to Seattle, where Jeff founded Amazon. They have four children.
Bezos often discussed the bond with his wife.
He liked to say that as a single man, he sought a partner who could “get him out of a thirdworld prison” and MacKenzie fitted the bill.
At work, Bezos often lit up when discussing his wife and children.
MacKenzie, an author, played a significant role at the company in the early years.
MacKenzie’s presence with the company faded in later years. Most high-ranking employees saw her at social events the couple hosted at their Me- dina home and elsewhere.
They’d also be spotted at Lakeside, a Seattle private school, with their children.
MacKenzie also accompanied her husband to Hollywood events after Amazon began a concerted push into video and original programming.
After her husband became rich and famous, MacKenzie strove to retain her privacy, according to people close to Bezos.
Bezos, 54, is worth $137 billion (U.S.), according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
He owns about 16 per cent of the retailer as well as the Washington Post and space exploration company Blue Origin.
“Jeff remains focused on and engaged in all aspects of Amazon,” said Drew Herdener, a spokesperson for the retailer.
A divorce could reshape the global wealth ranking. If the couple split their fortune equally, it could leave MacKenzie, 48, with $69 billion, making her the world’s richest woman.
It could also make Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates, currently worth $92.5 billion, the planet’s richest person once again.
Bezos eclipsed Gates in October 2017.
So far, there’s every indication the Bezos split will be amicable.
“We ... see wonderful futures ahead, as parents, friends, partners in ventures and projects, and as individuals pursuing ventures and adventures,” the couple tweeted.
“Though the labels might be different, we remain a family, and we remain cherished friends.”