Jackie Bezos, the mother of billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos passed away at the age of 78on Thursday just weeks after her son was married in a luxury European wedding.
The Bezos Family Foundation announced the news of Jackie’s passing on Thursday, saying she died peacefully at her Miami home. The Foundation did not reveal a cause of death but did note that the 78-year-old Bezos had been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2020.
The statement from the Foundation also thanked her healthcare team that cared for her throughout her sickness, as well as her Mike, for staying by her side through it all – reading “A quiet final chapter to a life that taught all of us, friends and family alike, the true meaning of grit and determination, kindness and service to others. It comes after Jeff Bezos’ three-word request to wedding guests ahead of Venice ceremony was revealed.
“Jackie’s life of service was second only to her passion for family and gathering. As a grandmother Jackie found immense joy in watching her family grow.”
“She passed down not only traditions and stories, but also her values – kindness, resilience, and the importance of togetherness.”
The news comes weeks after Bezos married Lauren Sanchez in a lavish 3 day wedding bonanza in Venice, Italy.
Dozens of private jets had flocked to Venices airport, and yachts pulled into the citys famed waterways. Athletes, celebrities, influencers and business leaders converged to revel in extravagance that was as much a testament to the couples love as to their extraordinary wealth.
Venice is famed for its network of canals, where gondoliers croon for lovestruck couples and even ambulances are aquatic. But water transport of everything from bouquets to guests makes Venice among the worlds most challenging cities for a party, according to Jack Ezon, CEO of Embark Beyond, a luxury travel advisory and destination event service.
Its a very tight-knit community; everyone there knows everyone, and you need to work with the right people, said Ezon, whose company has put on a dozen high-end events in Venice. Theres very tight control, especially on movement there with boats.
It at least triples the cost versus staging the same soiree in Rome or Florence, he said. Veneto Gov. Luca Zaia was first to give an estimated tally for the Bezos/Sánchez bash: He told reporters the most recent total he saw was between 40 million and 48 million euros (up to $56 million).
Jeff and Lauren issued one request at the top of the invite: “Please, no gifts.” Instead, they made a grand gesture, promising donations in honor of each guest to three cherished Venetian charities focused on preserving the city’s centuries-old charm.
The rest of their wedding invite read: “Instead, we’re making contributions in your honor and with gratitude to you for making the journey to celebrate with us in Venice.
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