Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is grieving the passing of his mother, Jacklyn.
He announced the heartbreaking news on Instagram, sharing a heartfelt tribute to the woman who had him at just 17 years old.
“She pounced on the job of loving me with ferocity, brought 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. 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,” Bezos wrote.
He continued, “After a long fight with Lewy Body Dementia, she passed away today, surrounded by so many of us who loved her — her kids, grandkids, and my dad. 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.”
Bezos closed his tribute with, “I love you, mom.”
His wife, Lauren Sánchez, also shared his message on her page, adding a broken heart emoji.
Jacklyn had Jeff with his father, Ted Jorgensen, but the two split when Jeff was still very young. She later married Miguel “Mike” Bezos, who helped raise him. In 1995, the couple invested $250,000 into Amazon to help launch the company — a move that would prove monumental.
Over the years, she was often seen at events and fundraisers alongside her son. In a 2022 Mother’s Day tribute, Bezos wrote, “Mom, I have no idea how you did what you did… Thank you for sharing your strength and for all the sacrifices you made. I love you.”
Jacklyn Bezos was 78.
