TLDR
- MacKenzie Scott reduced her Amazon stake by 42% over the past year, selling 58 million shares
- Scott now holds 81.1 million Amazon shares as of September 30, down from 139.1 million shares a year ago
- The share reduction is valued at $12.55 billion based on Amazon’s closing price of $216.39
- Scott received a 4% Amazon stake worth $36 billion in her 2019 divorce from Jeff Bezos
- She has donated more than $19.25 billion to over 2,450 nonprofit organizations through her Yield Giving foundation
MacKenzie Scott has sold nearly half of her Amazon holdings over the past year. The billionaire philanthropist reduced her stake in the tech giant by 42%.
A regulatory filing dated September 30 shows Scott now owns 81.1 million Amazon shares. This represents a decrease of 58 million shares from the previous year.
The sale is worth about $12.55 billion based on Amazon’s stock price of $216.39 on October 14. This marks one of Scott’s largest share reductions since her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2019.
Bloomberg News first reported the filing details. Reuters could not independently confirm the regulatory document at the time of reporting.
Jeff Bezos Maintains Voting Control
A separate SEC filing shows Jeff Bezos still controls a large portion of Amazon stock. He beneficially owns more than 964 million shares in the company.
The filing indicates Bezos exercises sole voting authority over 81.1 million shares. These are the same shares now held by Scott.
Amazon declined to comment on the regulatory filings. The company’s stock closed down 2% on the day the news broke.
Divorce Settlement and Philanthropy Work
Scott received approximately 4% of Amazon as part of her 2019 divorce settlement. The stake was valued at $36 billion at the time.
Since the divorce, Scott has been steadily selling shares to fund charitable work. Her focus has shifted to large-scale philanthropy through her Yield Giving organization.
Through Yield Giving, Scott has donated more than $19.25 billion to date. The funds have gone to over 2,450 nonprofit teams across various causes.
Her donations support education programs, healthcare initiatives, and women’s rights organizations. Scott has become known for her no-strings-attached giving approach.
The latest share sale continues her pattern of converting Amazon stock into philanthropic funding. Her total charitable giving has exceeded $19 billion since 2019.
Amazon stock has declined 1.4% year-to-date as of mid-October. However, the stock has gained 15% over the past twelve months.
Wall Street analysts maintain a bullish outlook on Amazon stock. The consensus rating remains a Strong Buy from 44 analysts.
The average price target for Amazon shares stands at $267.24. This represents a potential upside of 23.50% from current trading levels.
