06/28/2026
One billionaire gave away $7 billion in a single year accounting for nearly one third of all America's biggest charitable donations in 2025.
MacKenzie Scott, the former wife of Jeff Bezos, quietly donated billions to thousands of nonprofits supporting housing, education, disaster recovery, and other causes. New data shows her generosity helped fuel a record-breaking year for U.S. charitable giving, which reached more than $617 billion overall.
Scott's approach is also challenging the traditional world of philanthropy. Instead of attaching strict conditions to her gifts or seeking publicity, she often provides unrestricted funding and stays out of the spotlight sparking debate over whether billionaires should have this much influence over social causes or whether their wealth is being put to extraordinary public good.
Do you think billionaires giving away billions is the best way to solve society's biggest problems, or should governments play the larger role?
