Jeff Bezos’ Mother, Jackie, Passes Away – Details

Less than two months after marrying the love of his life, the Amazon founder announced his mother’s death and revealed the cause in an emotional tribute.

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Jackie Bezos, the mother of Jeff Bezos, passed away on August 14, 2025, at her home in Miami, surrounded by close family. From raising her first child as a teenager to co-founding a major philanthropic foundation, she built a life marked by determination, generosity, and a deep commitment to others.The Bezos Scholars Program remembered her as a compassionate force who challenged the status quo, championed others, and lived with heart and purpose.

Born Jacklyn Gise on December 29, 1946, in Washington, D.C., she spent much of her childhood in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after her family relocated there.

While a junior in high school in 1964, just two weeks after her 17th birthday, she gave birth to her first child, Jeff — a moment that would set the course for her life.School administrators initially told Jackie that he would not be allowed to finish her education.

She refused to accept that decision and persuaded the school to let her return under strict conditions: arrive and leave within minutes of the bell, avoid speaking with other students, skip lunch in the cafeteria, and miss walking the stage at graduation. She accepted these rules and successfully graduated.Determined to support her son, Jackie took a job at a bank during the day while attending night classes. There she met Miguel “Mike” Bezos, a Cuban immigrant working the night shift. The two married on April 5, 1968, beginning a nearly 60-year partnership grounded in mutual respect and shared joy.Together, they raised their three children — Jeff, Christina, and Mark. Jackie approached motherhood with energy and dedication, from picking up electronics for Jeff’s early projects to cheering Christina at practices and hauling Mark’s drum kit to performances.Her generosity extended far beyond her own family. Friends of her children often found a second home in the Bezos household, welcomed with food, conversation, and a listening ear.

Education remained central to Jackie’s life; at 45, she returned to school to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with High Honors from Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey, reinforcing her belief that learning never stops.In 2000, Jackie and Mike, with their children, founded the Bezos Family Foundation, dedicated to advancing early childhood development and youth leadership.

Jackie played a central role in two initiatives: Vroom, which translates brain research into practical tools for parents, and the Bezos Scholars Program, which supports emerging leaders in the United States and Africa.Jeff has often acknowledged his mother’s influence. In 2017, he shared a childhood photo of them together on X, expressing gratitude for all she had done for him.

In his tribute following her death, he reflected on her determination as a young mother, her devotion to family, and her lifelong habit of expanding her circle of care. He then revealed that his mom had been living with a degenerative neurological condition.“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,” he said.The family expressed gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and friends who cared for Jackie in her final years. They encouraged donations to a nonprofit organization or a simple act of kindness in her memory.

Jeff Bezos poses with his parents, Jackie and Mike Bezos, at the Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Awards in Washington, D.C., on December 8, 2016 | Source: Getty Images

Jeff’s mother died less than two months after his wedding to Lauren Sanchez in Venice, Italy.

Lauren said “I do” to Jeff in a wedding that became one of the most talked-about events of the year. She later shared their first wedding day photo, showing her dress that had everyone talking.

A netizen's comment from a post dated June 27, 2025. | Source: Instagram/pagesix

A netizen’s comment from a post dated June 27, 2025. | Source: Instagram/pagesix

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In the picture posted on June 27, Sánchez walked hand-in-hand with Jeff down the aisle. The bride wore a lace-blanketed gown with a sweeping train and veil, while Bezos wore a classic black tuxedo. Her caption read, “06/27/2025” with a pink heart emoji.For her dress, Lauren selected Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana of Dolce and Gabbana to craft the gown. Instead of choosing a modern silhouette, she aimed for timeless glamour inspired by the 1950s.Lauren Sánchez from a post dated June 28, 2025. | Source: Instagram/cnn

According to reports, the design was based on the dress Sophia Loren wore in the 1958 film “Houseboat,” featuring a white boned corset with a sweetheart neckline, lace extending to a high neck, and long sleeves, and 180 chiffon-covered buttons running down the middle.

But unlike Sophia’s full ’50s skirt, Lauren’s version had a fluted mermaid silhouette topped with a sweeping tulle-and-lace veil, reportedly taking more than 900 hours to create.