MacKenzie Scott Tops Her Own Record With CSUN’s Largest-Ever Gift

NORTHRIDGE, CA — MacKenzie Scott — Jeff Bezos' ex-wife and one of the world's wealthiest women — has made another major donation to California State University, Northridge.

The $63 million gift, announced Tuesday, comes after her $40 million donation to CSUN in 2021. Her collective donation to the university is the largest in CSUN's 67-year history and among the largest provided to any university, according to school administrators.

“We are deeply honored by MacKenzie Scott’s continued and increased confidence in our work,” said CSUN President Erika D. Beck. “This extraordinary support enables us to strengthen the systems and resources that help our students thrive. Our outcomes demonstrate what’s possible when you combine rigorous academic programs with comprehensive support that ensures all students have the opportunity to succeed.”

University officials said it will utilize the donation "with intentionality and foresight, guided by the university's strategic priorities."

"Strategic investments will balance immediate impact with endowments that ensure permanent support for students, creating infrastructure, seeding innovation and establishing support structures that will transform the campus for generations to come," officials said.

Scott wrote on her website Tuesday that she has donated $7.17 billion over the last 12 months.

"This dollar total will likely be reported in the news, but any dollar amount is a vanishingly tiny fraction of the personal expressions of care being shared into communities this year," she wrote.

As a signatory of The Giving Pledge, Scott has promised to give away at least half of her wealth, which largely comes from her 2019 divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Her "no strings attached" style of philanthropy leaves nonprofits with full control over how to spend her gifts, Forbes reported.

Forbes estimates her net worth at $33.8 billion, making her the 63rd richest person in the world as of Tuesday.

Scott won an American Book Award for her 2005 debut novel, "The Testing of Luther Albright."