Jackie Bezos, the mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has died at age 78, the billionaire announced in a heartfelt statement.

Jacklyn Gise Bezos, who was born in 1946, “died peacefully in her Miami home” on Thursday, according to the Bezos family foundation.

“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,” the tech billionaire wrote in an Instagram post Thursday evening. “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.”

She was diagnosed with the disease in 2020, the foundation said. Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive brain disease that affects one’s thinking, memory and movement, is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, according to MayoClinic.

Jackie is survived by her husband, Mike, children Jeff, Christina, and Mark, 11 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

She was born in Washington, D.C., before her family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she gave birth to Jeff at 17.

“Her adulthood started a little bit early when she became my mom at the tender age of 17. That couldn’t have been easy, but she made it all work,” her son wrote.

“She pounced on the job of loving me with ferocity, brought my amazing dad onto the team a few years later, and then added my sister and brother to her list of people to love, guard, and nourish. For the rest of her life, that list of people to love never stopped growing. She always gave so much more than she ever asked for.”

Bezos’ wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, wrote in the comments: “We will miss her SO much. Love you ❤️💔.”

The young, single mother was “relentless,” the foundation said. She took night classes after high school and worked at a bank. That’s where she met Miguel Bezos.

They got married in April 1968, and the foundation stated that Jackie “poured her heart” into her children.

“She made countless trips to Radio Shack for Jeff, spent numerous hours supervising cheerleading practices with Christina, and hauled drums in the back of the family station wagon for Mark. She dedicated her life to her family and poured her heart into raising her children with compassion, patience, and wisdom,” the statement read.

Jackie and Mike — along with their children and their families — created the Bezos Family Foundation in 2000.

Jacklyn Bezos’ Final Words: A Private Recording for Jeff and Lauren

On August 14, 2025, Jacklyn “Jackie” Gise Bezos, the mother of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, passed away at her Miami home at the age of 78 after a five-year battle with Lewy body dementia. Her death marked the end of an extraordinary life defined by resilience, love, and an unwavering commitment to her family. In the wake of her passing, a close family friend has revealed the existence of a private audio recording capturing Jackie’s final words, intended solely for her son Jeff and his new wife, Lauren Sánchez. This recording, shrouded in secrecy, reportedly contains personal instructions and revelations that have never been shared beyond the intimate confines of her final moments. This article delves into Jackie’s life, the significance of this mysterious recording, and the emotional weight it carries for the Bezos family.

A Life of Strength and Sacrifice

Born on December 29, 1946, in Washington, D.C., and later raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jacklyn Gise Bezos faced profound challenges early in life. At 16, as a high school sophomore, she became pregnant with Jeff Bezos, giving birth to him at 17 in 1963. Married briefly to Jeff’s biological father, Ted Jorgensen, Jackie navigated the hardships of single motherhood in an era when societal stigma and financial strain made such circumstances daunting. With the support of her parents, she completed high school, took night classes, and worked at a bank to provide for her son, demonstrating a tenacity that would later inspire Jeff’s entrepreneurial drive.

In 1968, Jackie married Miguel “Mike” Bezos, a Cuban immigrant who adopted Jeff and helped raise him alongside their two younger children, Christina and Mark. Jackie’s fierce dedication to her family was evident in her hands-on support for her children’s passions, from Jeff’s tech experiments to Christina’s cheerleading and Mark’s music. Her influence extended to Jeff’s early ventures, as she and Mike invested approximately $250,000 in Amazon’s infancy in the mid-1990s, a decision that helped launch the company from a garage startup to a global powerhouse. Jackie’s life was a testament to turning adversity into opportunity, a lesson she passed on from her own father, Lawrence Gise, during summers spent on their family ranch in Cotulla, Texas.

Beyond motherhood, Jackie was a lifelong advocate for education. At 45, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Saint Elizabeth University in 1991, embodying her belief in lifelong learning. She co-founded the Bezos Family Foundation in 2000, which supported initiatives like the Bezos Scholars Program, empowering students from the U.S. to Africa. Her philanthropy reflected her nurturing spirit, touching countless lives through education and community support.

The Battle with Lewy Body Dementia

Diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2020, Jackie faced a progressive neurological disorder that affects memory, movement, and behavior. According to the Mayo Clinic, Lewy body dementia, caused by abnormal protein deposits in the brain, leads to symptoms like hallucinations, slowed movement, and cognitive decline, with no known cure. Jackie’s five-year battle was marked by the same courage that defined her life. Her husband, Mike, remained a steadfast caregiver, and her family surrounded her with love in her final moments. Jeff Bezos shared on Instagram that she passed peacefully, enveloped by her children, grandchildren, and Mike, feeling their love until the end.

The Bezos Family Foundation described her final years as “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.” Her passing, just weeks after Jeff’s high-profile wedding to Lauren Sánchez in Venice, Italy, attended by figures like Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates, cast a bittersweet shadow over the family’s recent celebrations.

The Enigmatic Audio Recording

In the days following Jackie’s death, a close family friend revealed to media outlets the existence of an audio recording capturing her final words, intended exclusively for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez. The friend, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the matter, claimed the recording contains deeply personal instructions and revelations that “have never left the room.” While the exact contents remain undisclosed, the friend suggested that Jackie used her final moments to impart wisdom, guidance, and perhaps unresolved sentiments meant for her son and his new wife.

The recording’s existence has sparked intrigue, given its private nature and the emotional weight it carries. Jeff, in his Instagram tribute, did not explicitly mention the recording but emphasized the love that surrounded his mother’s final moments, hinting at the profound intimacy of her passing. The friend’s account suggests that Jackie’s words were carefully chosen, reflecting her lifelong role as a guiding force in Jeff’s life. Whether the recording addresses personal family matters, reflections on her life, or advice for Jeff and Lauren’s future remains known only to them.

The secrecy surrounding the recording aligns with the Bezos family’s approach to Jackie’s passing, which has been marked by quiet dignity. Unlike the public spectacle of Jeff’s wedding, Jackie’s final moments were a private affair, shared only with her closest loved ones. The friend’s claim that the recording’s contents “have never left the room” underscores the family’s desire to preserve Jackie’s words as a sacred, personal legacy.

A Mother’s Lasting Impact

Jackie Bezos’ life was a beacon of resilience, love, and service. As a teenage mother, she defied odds to raise a future billionaire, instilling in Jeff the determination that fueled Amazon’s rise. Her philanthropy through the Bezos Family Foundation extended her nurturing spirit to communities worldwide, while her courage in facing dementia inspired those around her. The reported audio recording, though private, adds a layer of poignancy to her legacy, suggesting she left behind words meant to guide her son and his new wife into the future.

Jeff’s tribute captured the depth of his loss: “We were all so lucky to be in her life. I hold her safe in my heart forever.” Lauren Sánchez Bezos echoed this sentiment, commenting, “We will miss her SO much. Love you ❤️💔.” Public figures like Sharon Stone and Naomi Campbell also expressed condolences, reflecting Jackie’s far-reaching impact. She is survived by Mike, her three children, 11 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, the Bezos Family Foundation encouraged acts of kindness or support for nonprofits in Jackie’s memory, a fitting tribute to a woman who lived for others. The audio recording, if it exists, remains a private treasure for Jeff and Lauren, a final gift from a mother whose love and wisdom shaped a family and a legacy that will endure for generations.

Sources: NBC News, USA TODAY, People.com, Mayo Clinic, Instagram posts by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez